As Amara stacked the papers in her hands, she remembered Savanah writing about Queen Regent, Claudia, confining her.
She looked at Kai, her brows drawn tight. "Why did Lady Savanah write in her letter that the Queen Regent was confining her?" she asked.
The lords exchanged glances. Kai's eyes met Amara's.
"The reason my mother died… is because of the Queen Regent," he said, his voice low as his gaze dropped to the floor. "She killed my mother."
Amara slammed the letters onto the desk.
"I believe that you are Lady Savanah's son," she said, her voice shaking, "but blaming her death on Lady Claudia is wrong."
The fear in her eyes hardened into anger.
Kai moved toward her in an instant.
"You can believe I'm blaming her," he said sharply, his voice rising, "but everyone in this chamber knows the truth."
He stepped closer, towering over her.
"She fed my mother to her hounds," he said, his eyes burning into hers. "You think of that woman as your mother… but in reality, she is a devil waiting to devour you."
Amara glared back, refusing to step away. "Do not dare speak such lies about her."
Theron's voice cut through the tension.
"You wanted to know what revenge I promised Lord Kai?" he said calmly.
Amara turned toward him.
"I promised him vengeance for his mother… in exchange for his loyalty."
Amara moved past Kai, shaking her head. "Lady Claudia did not kill Lady Savanah," she said. "She died in a fire."
Kai turned sharply. "Did you see her body?" he demanded.
Amara faltered.
"No… because the Queen Regent…" Her voice lowered. "She said her body was burned…"
The memory surfaced.
The hounds being chased by servants…
The smoke rising from Savanah's chamber…
No scream.
Only silence.
Amara swallowed hard.
"You're trying to confuse me," she said, her voice trembling. "There is no reason for Lady Claudia to kill her."
"Because she discovered the Queen Regent's plan to remove you," a voice interrupted.
Amara turned.
Farheen Khai.
The man who had remained silent until now.
He watched her with his single visible eye, the other hidden beneath a dark patch.
"You are the Crown Princess," he said, his voice calm yet commanding. "As long as you remain unmarried, you are a threat to Seraphina's succession."
His gaze didn't waver.
"She was born from the second marriage. You are older. You come before her in the line of succession."
"Claudia will do anything to place her daughter on the throne," Ramsey added. "She has killed before… and she will not stop."
Theron spoke again, his tone laced with quiet disgust.
"She even devoured her own father's throne."
Amara looked at him sharply. "You don't mean—"
"Yes," Ramsey said. "She poisoned King Syon."
Amara staggered back.
For a moment—
There was no sound.
"Stop," she whispered. "Do not feed me lies."
Her voice broke as it rose.
"You are all lying!"
"That woman will wipe out your entire family," Theron said evenly, "and you will stand there… doing nothing."
The room fell into heavy silence.
At the far end of the chamber, Braylon leaned against the wall, watching. His gaze drifted briefly to the window—the sky outside now swallowed by night.
He exhaled, bored, as if the argument meant little to him.
His eyes shifted to Edward.
They met.
Edward stepped closer. "Do you think she will believe us?" he asked quietly.
Braylon let out a slow breath, glancing toward Amara.
"She has been with Claudia since she was a child," he said. "But Claudia has taken more from her than she realizes."
He looked back at Edward.
"It will take time. But when she understands that even the people she has left are not safe…"
His gaze returned to Amara.
"She will want the crown."
He crossed his arms.
"To protect… one must have power."
Amara collapsed to the ground.
Tears streamed down her face.
"She would never do such things…" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Claudia cares for me…"
Her vision blurred.
The room faded.
Her heart refused to accept it.
But her mind—
Her mind was beginning to see.
Memories surfaced.
Her mother's worried glances.
Her father's constant warnings.
The careful words she had been taught not to say.
It had all been there.
And yet—
She had believed.
There is no one like Aunt Claudia.
Her chest tightened.
She loved Claudia.
But she also loved Savanah.
The aunt who taught her to write…
To run through open fields…
And King Syon—
Who held her in his arms and gave her the name she carried with pride.
Her heart and mind collided.
Which one was truth?
Which one was lie?
Her vision darkened.
Her body gave way.
And she fell.
Silence filled the chamber as every gaze turned toward her.
Theron stepped forward and lifted her into his arms.
Her body hung limp, her hands falling loosely at her sides. Tears still traced silent paths down her cheeks, though her voice had gone quiet.
Braylon watched as Theron carried her out, the others following behind.
Edward moved to leave—
But Braylon's voice stopped him.
"I'm riding to Solana."
Edward's jaw tightened slightly.
"I'll be gone for a month," Braylon added.
Edward placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Be safe."
Then he turned and followed the others.
Braylon remained alone in the chamber.
His gaze lifted to the portrait of Lady Savanah.
For a moment—
He said nothing.
Then he exhaled heavily.
Turning away, he walked out, pulling the doors shut behind him.
With a final thud—
The chamber fell silent once more.