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Riverus Arenied sighed as he slipped into the shadows of an alleyway, his movements quiet but purposeful.
Far off, the bonfire camp flickered in the distance, its warm glow illuminating the scene where monarchs, envoys, confidantes, and estate staff mingled before returning to the estate.
Yet Riverus's sharp eyes weren't on the festivities— they were fixed on Cheska, deep in conversation with another envoy.
He hadn't intended to reveal himself tonight.
But as fate would have it, while trying to evade a target he deemed suspicious, his path naturally crossed with Cheska's. She'd been drinking casually, a glass of wine in her hand, her demeanor oddly carefree.
It might have been inconsequential if not for the presence of Tasmin of Hiuen.
A disciple of the Master of Design, Tasmin was notorious for her sharp wit and insatiable curiosity.
