|| Lilac's POV ||

The meeting had drained me, both mentally and emotionally. The weight of the decisions made, the alliances formed, and the battles yet to come pressed heavily on my shoulders. As the room emptied, I lingered for a moment, my mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. But I couldn’t stay hidden forever. The night wasn’t over, and neither was the game.

I slowly dragged my legs back to the grand hall, the muffled sounds of music and laughter growing louder ...