e Winte
as surrounded by his family, Beryl clinging to his side like a frightened rabbit. The boy,
d we might have had, had he ever truly come home to me.A sharp pain lance
goblets. They were made of dragon-crystal, shimmering in the firelight, v
t. "I'm not thi
ed. "Delphine,
thing to talk about
hand was hot, like a br
e dripping with ice. "Please let g
gent. "Beryl and Theo will be living here now.
e estate. By tradition, it was the home of the lady of House Ward. I had l
e sound. "Of course. It won't be
easy agreement, completely miss
o my own residence, the Whispering Willow Court. I could feel his gaze burning into my back, but I didn'
my maids, Clara and Min
pered, her eyes red.
Mina poured me a cup of hot tea
Mina asked, her voice
the cup and watching the steam
e time. Patience. An
the door. It was Erwin
d Lord Ward's presence. The lord is... in a temper. But h
in, coming here? Forced
g it open. He had changed out of his uniform and into a casual tunic embroidered with the red-gold d
aids away, le
g to the window instead. "M
ve' on the battlefield? Or how you can live comfortably on my f
fury at being so accurately called
rated sigh. "Delphine, I know I owe you. But you can't d
excuse for betra
nly pacing the room
lifeblood of House Ward truly lay. She was afraid I would cut off the funds in a
o late. My heart had died
He stood before me, reaching
ce strained. "Just give me s
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