Lila
The summons came mid-morning, delivered by hand in sleek parchment sealed with black wax. The message was brief:
Report to the western courtyard. His Majesty will address a challenge to the throne.
The phrasing was deliberate. A challenge to the throne, not a complaint or request. It was a warning hidden in formality.
Several of the other candidates were already gathered on a raised terrace overlooking the outer gates. Not all of them, just a selection. The best ranked. The boldest. The ones the Court wanted close enough to shape, or to monitor their reaction.
I took my place in the back.
No one spoke above a whisper, and even Vanessa looked wary instead of smug. This wasn’t just court drama; this was a serving of political posturing with a dash of potential treason.
Damon stoo
