"Hey, purple!!" A group of smug-looking men emerged from the dense underbrush, their dark attire blending seamlessly with the twilight shadows. She stood beside the unconscious form of Cleo, her heart racing as the man who had called her "purple" tossed a heavy bag of coins in her direction. She snatched it from the air, her instincts screaming at her to flee. Without a second thought, she darted away, leaving Cleo at the mercy of the men clad in black.
"What are you saying, Viktor?!" Duke Cheadle Morris glared at King Viktor, his voice a mixture of disbelief and indignation. He rose from his seat, but Keiran placed a calming hand on his lap, urging him to remain seated. "My wife was angry over some trivial dress! Why would I kill her over something so foolish?!" The duke's voice cracked with emotion as he spoke, the rims of his eyes turning red with unshed tears.
