Lady Z was trapped.
Her choices had led her here, step by step—trusting the competent advisor who appeared at just the right time, relying on his counsel, promoting him to positions of authority and access. Each decision had seemed reasonable in isolation, but cumulatively they'd created a web of association she couldn't simply cut herself free from.
Lady Z sank back into her chair, the fight draining out of her as reality settled in.
"You've been manipulating me from the beginning," she said quietly. "Everything—joining the Red House, helping against the Fanged Serpent, positioning yourself as loyal and useful—all of it was designed to reach this point. Where I'd be too implicated to betray you, too compromised to refuse cooperation."
"Not manipulation," Rey said, though he didn't deny the basic accuracy of her assessment.
