A veil lifted.
Iyana found herself in a new palace. Dressed in white. Being welcomed. After the wedding.
But it wasn't joyful.
Dreading.
That girl—Jade—stood under the arch of royal roses, veil pinned perfectly into silken hair, the weight of her crown heavier than the sky.
She smiled.
She had to.
But then…
The gift arrived. Multiple boxes.
Lined in velvet and sealed with wax. Blood dripping from underneath. One by one, they were brought before her as wedding offerings.
But she already knew. Before a single lid was opened, she knew.
Her breath caught as she stared at the first box.
Inside—was her swordsmaster's head. His eyes half-lidded. That faint scar near his jawline still visible.
Next came her knight's—the man who taught her how to ride a horse and once shielded her from a wild dog as a child.
Then the servants. People who had dressed her, fed her, whispered jokes into her ears when the palace felt too cold.
And finally…
Ravi.
