~Lyra~
By ten o’clock, the front doors finally opened. King Aldric stepped in first, flanked by Evelyn and Ana.
“Your Majesty.” I stood up, greeting.
King Aldric simply nodded, offering a brief glance before attempting to walk past.
“Your Majesty,” I said calmly. “I need a word. It’s important.”
He paused, then handed his coat to Carol before sinking into the center sofa, unbuttoning his cuffs with deliberate slowness. “What is it?”
Ana perched herself beside the King, possessive as ever. Evelyn took a seat across from me, expressionless.
I placed a tablet on the table. A video already queued.
“During the trial’s early selection,” I began evenly, “a candidate named James approached me with… inappropriate intentions.”
I tapped play. “As I predicted, James wasn’t acting alone.”
The
