General Ernest stood in the open courtyard of his estate, the dusk sky casting long shadows over the training grounds. His soldiers trained in silence, their rhythmic movements precise and disciplined, but his mind was elsewhere—on the woman who had just severed herself from everything she once knew.
Anastasia's public confession had stunned the entire kingdom. It had thrown her reputation into the fire, leaving her vulnerable and disgraced. The palace gossips were ravenous with the tale, and nobles feasted on her downfall. Yet amidst the storm, what troubled Ernest most was not what had been said—but what might come after.
Would she come to regret her choice? Ernest wondered. He hadn't worried about this question before. Even though he had warned Anastasia about the king's plan to bring her back to the palace, there was still a chance she now regretted the path she had taken.
