Namarie had witnessed Abel and Miranda's telling encounters, leading her to a singular conclusion: their relationship was far more intimate than met the eye. It was plausible that Abel had covertly aided Miranda in winning the competition.
As Namarie knelt before Lyrian, she couldn't shake off the thought. Lyrian, engrossed in examining her new jewelry, didn't acknowledge Namarie's presence.
"The maid who won the competition... she must have had help from Abel," Namarie murmured, seeking justification for her own failure.
Lyrian's gaze remained fixed on the glittering jewels, her lips curling into a subtle smile. "Is that so?" she asked, her tone laced with amusement.
"You're intelligent enough to have handled it yourself, Namarie. After all, Miranda was just a low-grade maid."
