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The woman turned and tried not to face the bloody scene. She bowed low and thanked her before guards came to escort her out.

“This audience is over,” Valda declared and turned to Maris.

As Valda extended her hand towards Maris, a rush of fear and excitement surged through her. Maris hesitated for a split second, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. She couldn’t be truthful and say she agreed with what she had done, but at the same time, she wouldn’t have allowed a grown man to do what he wanted. Something sickening, something… horrifying.

With trembling fingers, Maris tentatively reached out and took Valda’s hand. The queen’s grip was firm, her touch electrifying, sending a shiver down her spine. Valda’s display of raw power and unwavering resolve had left Maris breathless. Her body betrayed her, her pulse quickening, her breath coming in short gasps.

As Valda placed her hand over Maris’s shoulder, silently asking her to return her to the throne, a mix of terror and desire coursed through her veins. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, but she couldn’t deny the overwhelming attraction she felt towards the queen. She tried to compose herself, but her body still tingled with the aftermath of the intense moment.

Maris cast a furtive glance towards Valda, who closed her eyes and released a heavy breath. A flush of heat spread across her cheeks as she quickly looked away, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to be cautious in Valda’s presence, knowing what she was capable of doing in front of a multitude of people, but she couldn’t deny the magnetic pull Valda had on her.

Her lower lip quivered, as a guard approached her quietly from her side. The young man moved close enough to whisper to her ear that Arwin was waiting for them in the cabinet. Maris nodded, taking a breath, and calming herself before touching Valda to get her attention. She delivered the message, and her stomach dropped yet again. She wanted to ask Arwin so many questions, but with Valda around, it wouldn’t be wise.

After the room emptied, Maris, guided Valda to the cabinet. As they walked in, Maris took in its walls adorned with rich tapestries depicting scenes of battle and conquest. The ceiling was adorned with gilded carvings. The room was dimly lit, with flickering candles casting dancing shadows across the space. A large, ornate desk stood in the center of the room, strewn with scrolls, quills, and inkwells, indicating its use as a place for conducting important affairs of state.

Shelves lined the walls, holding leather-bound tomes and ancient manuscripts. Soft, plush chairs and cushions were scattered around the room, providing comfortable seating for private discussions or consultations.

Arwin was already sitting on the other side of the large desk, his fingers tapping at the armrests. As the door opened, he turned to look at both Valda and Maris. Immediately, his brow furrowed as he sat up. Daggers were thrust into Maris’s stomach by Arwin’s glare. After Valda sat down, Maris stood behind her, her gaze locked with the General’s. His hazel eyes burned to her blue ones before he moved his stare to Valda. Arwin sniffed, his fingers tapping the large wooden table before him, restless.

“I called you so you can give me the briefing, yet I truly feel like you are uncomfortable for some reason, General.” Valda leaned back on the large plush chair. “Care to share why?”

“I will not share anything until this woman is out of the room.”

Valda’s upper lip twitched. Her hand moved to the seat beside her. She pushed it back and smiled. “Maris, if you please.”

Hiding her nervousness, Maris pulled the chair further back and moved to sit next to Valda. As she did, Valda reached into a small drawer on her desk, opening it up for Maris to look down. Inside a small notebook and a pencil waited for her. She picked up the notebook and the pencil and set them on the table, in front of Arwin.

“Maris will be helping me by taking notes. She is my assistant, and you will respect her the same way you respect me.”

“This woman hasn’t even been here for a month, and you are already taking liberties with her.”

“Commence the briefing, if you will.”

“Valda, but—”

“Begin. The. Briefing.”

Arwin gave Maris one last glance before wiping the sweat off his chin and looking down at the notes he had gathered. He shuffled the papers around before Maris opened her notebook and wrote something in it.

“I have a couple of reports that I would like to share with you,” Arwin began. “Where do you want to start?”

Valda shrugged and waved her hand. “Whichever.”

Arwin nodded, licked his lower lip, and before he could talk, Maris interrupted him.

“I would like to have a copy of those reports at the end of the meeting.” Maris kept her eyes on him, smiled, and added, “Please.”

“Of course…” Arwin flashed her a condescending smile. He pulled out one of the many reports written by the councils. He read over them, explaining how they had foreseen a decline in tax influx even though they raised them. This was due to the dry seasons and lack of movement in the exports. He also explained their worry about the low imports from the kingdom of Rhea and how they were low on medicine supplies.

He moved on to explain that there had also been an influx of Skylians moving to the destroyed islands of Agenor in the Sea Kingdom.

Maris arched her brow at the news.

Arwin explained that many lords and high-ranking knights were moving to the islands closest to the Sky Kingdom, and buying off destroyed homes, and lands abandoned by Sealians to restore it.

At first, Maris smiled at that. She had never heard news about any restoration going on in the Sea Kingdom. Her heart warmed with the idea of going to the Sea Kingdom and hopefully seeing it as it was back before the destruction but then Arwin continued explaining, that after each restauration, either the lords kept the land for themselves, or sold it back to the few survivors for an exorbitant price.

Maris’s smile disappeared in an instant. That… How was that fair? The Sealians still living on the islands of Agenor had no means to buy or rebuild their homes. Why were Skylians taking their land?