When Edmund summoned Lyra to the palace all those years ago, she had been powerless and had little choice but to comply.
Back then, under Edmund's manipulations, rumors of an affair between her and Aurelius had spread.
But now? Lyra didn't even bother to fake a smile. She simply tossed out two cold words—"No time"—and turned to leave.
Raidor's carefully measured smile froze. Straightening up, he watched her retreating figure, stunned by her blatant disregard. Yet, what could he do? Nothing.
With the war raging, nobles suffered far more loss than commoners. They had no leverage over the government or the military; once the shock waves hit, they crumbled instantly, without time to recover.
The royal family fared even worse. While the government and military grew stronger, the powerless royals were little more than decorative mascots.
The Alliance didn't need "gilded lilies" right now; it needed vital support in times of desperation.
