"Besides… which Duke would dare declare us enemies?" Jessica's voice lilted, cold and sharp as a dagger's edge. "Only Duke Asher could be that reckless. And once we secure an alliance with the imperial family through Yuna, our house will be unrivaled — the most powerful in the empire that is soon to rise."
Her words struck like a whip, sending a shudder through Yuna, Korah, and their mother, Kira. It felt as if the very walls of the chamber recoiled. An invisible weight pressed against them, suffocating and heavy.
As if to seal his mother's ruthless pronouncement, Kohath leaned forward. From within his tunic, he withdrew a letter, its wax seal gleaming under the council hall's light. He laid it on the polished table with a solemn reverence. "This is Prince Aaron's letter," Kohath announced, his voice rich with triumph. "It bears his intention to betroth Yuna and claim her as his wife. Through her, she will bear the heir to the imperial throne."
