It had been several tense and anxious days since the imposing gates of the grand estate were sealed shut. Whispers spread like wildfire among the inhabitants of the northern region, fueling a sense of fear and uncertainty.
Some speculated that the closure was a portentous sign of impending doom, while a select few, privy to clandestine information, suspected a different motive altogether—the Duke's hidden preparations to secure an heir.
The King, staunchly guarded and unyielding, refused to divulge the truth behind the sealed gates. Instead, he offered vague reassurances, claiming that all was well within the estate's walls.
Meanwhile, the Queen had locked herself away in the opulent palace and withdrew from public view. She shunned banquets, neglected her responsibilities as the Queen, and ceased all interactions with the nobility, including her duty to preside over important celebrations and events.
