The meeting ended with assignments distributed and a shared sense of direction. As the elders filed out, Viktor paused near the door. "You push change quickly, my queen. Some roots run deeper than new alliances."
"Some roots also choke what they're meant to support," she replied evenly. "We grow stronger by adapting, not clinging to what no longer serves us."
He left without further argument. Lila allowed herself a slow breath once the chamber emptied. The flaw sat heavy in her chest — the habit of reviewing every detail herself late into the night because handing over full responsibility still felt like inviting cracks.
She had spent the previous evening going over supply numbers alone again, unwilling to risk oversights. The weight never fully lifted, but today it felt a fraction more manageable.
