Alexander met his uncle's eyes directly. "I'm telling you the truth as I understand it. I loved Emily as a child. I've accepted her death as an adult. I support your rule because it's brought Norvale stability. But I won't pretend I have no complicated feelings about the past. That would be the real lie."
Marcus studied him for what felt like an eternity.
"Victoria's father has been conducting investigations," Marcus said, shifting topics abruptly. "Lord Edmund Whitmore. He believes Victoria was poisoned. He's been quite insistent about it, actually. Claims his daughter was silenced because she'd discovered something dangerous."
"I've heard his accusations," Alexander said carefully. "He's grieving. Looking for explanations that make his daughter's collapse someone else's fault rather than tragic medical event."
