[The Throne Room]

"Throw His Majesty into the cell, and issue a decree to the people of Valmoria. Anyone found in alliance with him will answer for it—at the palace steps, beneath my blade."

The knight bowed his head and turned to carry out my command. Tens…hundreds…perhaps thousands? That old fool was always unpredictable.

[The Queen’s Bedchamber]

An hour or two might’ve passed when the doors to my chamber opened. Two armoured men entered with a woman between them. I didn’t lift my head at first, just sighed and reached for the silk robe draped over the chaise.

“Explain.”

One of them lowered their gaze: “This woman was found to be His Majesty’s mistress. We thought you would prefer to decide how she’s handled personally.”

I lifted a hand to dismiss the guards, not bothering to watch them leave. Only when the door latched shut did I rise, letting the silence settle thick between us. She was exactly what I expected: a common entertainer wrapped in silk, standing too still for someone so used to being touched.

“My men tell me the king paid well for your…services,” Her clothes clung carelessly to her body, the sweet, heady scent of her skin betraying where she had been. “I imagine you weren’t expecting one of the maids to turn traitor so easily.”

She said nothing. Typical. So I began to undress—slowly, deliberately…not to entice her. Only to remind her who set the pace in this room.

"You can walk out that door, and no one will stop you. I’ll make sure of it.”

The last garment slipped from my shoulders, pooling soundlessly at my feet.

"Or…you can choose to stay, and serve me the way you served him. But I must warn you…I’m not as forgiving as the king.”