Chapter 139: The Window That Remembers
Lyria's POV
Duke Thorncrest and Baron Redwick both turned to me at once, their attention sharpening as the deep resonance of the kingdom-wide broadcast continued to roll through the library like distant thunder.
Baron Redwick adjusted his spectacles.
"Are you certain, Your Highness?" he asked again, his tone precise, as though certainty itself required inspection.
I gave a quick nod.
"Yes," I replied softly. "I am."
Duke Thorncrest let out a faint chuckle, the sound light even in the heavy stillness.
"Then I must confess," he said, "our briefing was rather… lacking."
"Y-you must be mistaken," I said quickly, shaking my head a little. "Surely y-you were informed upon j-joining the competition."
Baron Redwick answered first, calm as ever.
"We were told only that we had been selected to attend the competition upon reaching the appropriate age."
Duke Thorncrest nodded once.
