Upon returning to the palace, I was torn away from Hadrian. The King lay unconscious, and the fate of the kingdom needed to be decided without delay. I was ushered into the study, where I found Lucian, a group of lawyers, and Gareth waiting for me. I had no idea why I was there, nor did I care. All I wanted was to be by Hadrian’s side, waiting for him to wake up. But Gareth’s grip on my hand was firm, his silent plea unwavering. He insisted there was a protocol—one that, as the ...