isa

s loud, unrefined laughter drifted through the cracks, mingled wi

ctory, thinking they had final

ose blood flow

air, raised both hands, and shove

st the inner stone wall

ter inside the upper

held high. I didn't lower my gaze, nor did I tilt my neck to bare

Her milky eyes narrowed into slits at my blatant disrespect, but she quickly mask

ming, while Birgitta stood with her arms crosse

rned, and you finally have a man to rely on again. I know this past year has been hard on y

ly one left. A Spiritless orphan with nowhere else to go. But don't worry, child. A

ipulation. She was reminding me of my butchered f

s glacial ice. "Meaning I should smile and pour tea

ard. "Julisa, watch your tone

ture. Birgitta is a frontline Warlord. She fights for the glory of this c

eld, and you will continue to manage the keep. You will oversee the daily provisioning, the servants,

a light scoff,

court trivialities, but that doesn't mean you can walk all over me. I just want to fight by Darryl'

rrogant husband, the hypocritical m

bride, while expecting me to keep draining my own dead father's inher

zing laugh es

gown. "You mean you want me to keep pouring my private Silverd

chest heaving. "Watch your mouth! Once a bride crosses into Parrish K

rune-carved iron sigil key to the keep's central vault, "the

ed my

sigil ke

an

eavy iron striking the flagst

r mind?" he sneered, though panic flickered in his gray-brown eyes. "If you hand ov

. "In the High Court, a verbal argument means nothing. Without a formal ru

eyes sweeping over

ing to ask Emperor Edmund for a formal Severance sigil

all e

ling with a mix of fury and genuine panic as he

ly. "Let her go! She's bluffing! A Spiritless orpha

straight out the heavy doors, leavi