"Orig, I don't usually interfere in your decisions, but the one in solitary confinement is your sister, Luyan. She doesn't deserve to be treated this way," said Queen Lucy in a soft, deliberately coaxing tone, hoping to sway Orig. Yet his hardened expression suggested her hour-long plea had been in vain.
"She's accused of kidnapping her husband, torturing him, and all within the walls of this palace. I might have pardoned her if she'd told me what was happening. You should be grateful—I didn't order her execution. I'll leave her fate to her husband, of course, after hearing his side of the story," Orig responded calmly. Lucy blinked in surprise. Was Orig actually hesitating to kill? That had never happened before. 'Could that witch Taya have clouded his mind? Does Taya want me to suffer by tormenting my daughter in front of me?'
"Did Taya tell you to imprison my daughter? She's a wicked girl," Lucy accused, only for Orig to raise a finger in her face.
