Alderic ordered a simple meal, but Jessamyn could barely force herself to take a bite. Her thoughts swirled in a chaotic storm, every piece of information weighing down her heart like lead.
She stared at the plate, her appetite consumed by the growing dread inside her. Whatever was happening now, one thing was clear: nothing would be the same when Jerrick returned—if he ever returned.
She knew that in the shadows of war, Lady Celena had likely spun a web of propaganda, painting Jerrick as the kingdom's savior. The thought turned Jessamyn's stomach. Celena, with her dangerous influence, always found ways to twist public perception to suit her ambitions.
But how had the Council allowed such a blatant narrative to take hold? Had Celena's reach grown so vast, so insidious, that even they were powerless to stop her?
Unless…
