The morning after Nathan's discovery, the palace announced the inquiry.
It was to be held in the grand hall—a massive chamber of marble and gold, its walls lined with tapestries depicting the kingdom's history. Nobles, officials, and prominent citizens filled the seats. The king presided from his throne, his expression unreadable. Amelia sat beside him, her smile perfectly calibrated. The First Prince sat on his father's other side, his hands folded in his lap, his eyes watchful.
Nathan watched from the back of the hall, hidden among the servants. He had slipped in through a side entrance, using [Invisibility] and [Silent Step] to avoid detection. He wasn't here to testify—not officially. He was here to observe. To see how Amelia played the game.
The inquiry was a farce.
