A month ago, she'd been drowning—desperate, paranoid, drinking herself into oblivion while her five consorts openly courted Lady Seraphina. He'd pitied her then, even as he'd disapproved of her methods. The forced marriages, the political blackmail, the increasingly erratic decisions.
Now? Now she was sharp, focused, ruthless. She'd stripped Duke Adrian of half his power in open court. Demoted him from First Consort to Second Concubine with a smile. Humiliated Lady Seraphina before the entire nobility. Reorganized military command with surgical precision.
It was like watching a different woman entirely.
"Your Grace?"
Robbiston turned to find his aide, Captain Chen, approaching with a salute. "Report."
