Chapter 1242:
Eager as ever, Lance fired off question after question at Lydia, and she answered every one with a patient smile, never growing tired of his curiosity. After some time, talk shifted naturally back to Elena.
Clearly itching to ask, Lance finally blurted out, “Alright, El, who was that guy hiding out in your room earlier?”
Lydia’s ears perked up, her gaze sharpening with interest. “You’re hiding men now, Elena? Getting bold these days. Aren’t you worried Wesley will flip if he finds out?”
Spinning her glass between her fingers, Elena shrugged as if nothing in the world could bother her. “You can ask him if he’s mad.”
Understanding dawned quickly for Lydia, and she shot Elena a knowing wink. “So it’s Wesley you’ve been sneaking around with?”
Lydia hadn’t expected Elena to find Wesley on her own. She was honestly happy for her friend. “Well, no wonder you’re sitting there like it’s just another day. You actually tracked him down. That calls for a drink, don’t you think?” Glasses came together with a happy clink.
Setting her glass on the table, Lydia glanced over in confusion. “So if Wesley’s alright, why haven’t you gone back to Klathe yet?”
A quick deflection came from Elena. “Do you happen to know Earle’s real identity in this country?”
Without hesitation, Lydia replied, “Torin Duncan.”
Surprise flashed in Lance’s eyes. “You actually know Torin?”
A crease appeared between Lydia’s brows. “What are you getting at, Lance? What does any of this have to do with Torin?”
Shock settled on Lance’s face. “Hold on—you really didn’t know? The man El’s been searching for is the same one Torin chased straight into the sea.”
Only then did Lydia realize she had been left out of something crucial. A frown formed on her lips. “What’s Torin doing all the way out in Yoswye, anyway? Staying in Avaloria would have made more sense. She couldn’t imagine why he’d show up here.”
Lance explained, “He’s the Duke of Blackwood. Yoswye is his territory.”
Find the latest updates g𝒶𝓁𝓃𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁𝓈.𝒸𝑜𝓂
Lydia and Elena locked eyes. Elena gave a quiet nod.
Lydia’s expression darkened. Torin was impossible to shake, always lurking somewhere just out of sight. Determined not to back down, she set her jaw. “Whatever you’re planning—I’m in.”
Nobody had imagined that things would spiral out of control so fast. Just two days after Lydia arrived in Yoswye, everything descended into chaos.
It all started when His Royal Highness, Prince Randell of Yoswye, spoke up, complaining about how overbearing Torin had been during a major meeting. As King Terrance’s only younger brother, Prince Randell had the backing of many aristocrats who supported the royal family.
Torin, leading the Duncan family, held sway over Yoswye’s army and finances, easily overpowering the aristocrats with his authority.
For years, Prince Randell had felt resentment toward Torin, but Torin’s powerful hold meant Prince Randell only dared to grumble behind closed doors, always keeping up polite appearances in public. This time, his anger set off a chain reaction. The other aristocrats, bitter about Torin’s dominance, quickly added their own complaints.
.
.
.