~Lyra~
The bedroom window was cracked open, letting in the crisp bite of morning air.
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring out at nothing.
Now that the Royal heir had been officially named, I should’ve felt victorious. I was closer than ever to the truth I’d spent years chasing.
And yet, unease clawed at the edges of my thoughts.
Was Ivy truly alive? Or was this just another illusion—another cruel, calculated manipulation?
Just as I lost in my thought, Kael stepped inside the room. He tilted his head, eyeing me curiously. “You’ve been zoning out more than usual. Is something bothering you?”
“Nothing,” I said gently. “I was just thinking of stopping by my herb shop.”
“Mind if I come with you?”
“Not at all.”
…
I led Kael to one of the private lounges on the second floor, then sl
