Sensing the shift in the courtroom, Minister Rueben clicked his tongue in frustration. He had long known Iliza was a liability, but even he hadn't expected her to be this careless. How could she have left such damning evidence in her room?
He had warned her, repeatedly, not to leave the potion behind. She was to use all of it at once, destroy the remnants, and make sure nothing could trace back to them. And yet now... the vial had surfaced.
Stupid girl. Had she really believed she could hold onto it as leverage against him? That she could threaten him if he ever tried to discard her?
Now, her foolishness would drag them all down.
Rueben's eyes flicked toward Queen Morgana, barely a second of contact. But it was enough. Between them passed a silent, wordless exchange, swift, precise, and lethal in understanding. They both knew what must be done to contain the fallout.
Just then, the courtroom doors opened with barely a whisper.
