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Chapter 275: Leo's Promotion
"You look miserable," Anna observed, finding Leo in his new office surrounded by stacks of paperwork and looking overwhelmed.Leo glanced up from the security reports he was reviewing. "I am fine.""You are a terrible liar. What is wrong?"He gestured helplessly at the chaos around him. "This. All of this. Being Head of Security for an entire nation is different from being Jacob's personal guard. I have seventeen departments reporting to me, three hundred personnel under my command, and decisions that could get people killed if I make mistakes.""Welcome to leadership.""I am not qualified for this. I am a soldier, not an administrator."Anna sat down across from him, pushing aside a stack of budget proposals. "When I became Lady of Seron, I felt the same way. I was a merchant's granddaughter suddenly running a government. I had no idea what I was doing.""But you figured it out.""With help. Lots of help." She pulled one of the reports closer and scanned it. "Who is your second-in-co
Chapter 274: Roseline's Romance
"I need to tell you something," Roseline said, cornering Jacob in his office a week after the family dinner. "Before you hear it from someone else."Jacob looked up from the security reports he was reviewing. "That sounds ominous.""Not ominous. Just... complicated." Roseline shifted her weight, looking uncharacteristically nervous. "I am getting married."Jacob blinked in surprise. "Married? You?""Why do you say it like that?""Because in ten years I have never seen you show romantic interest in anyone. You once told me that feelings were a liability in our line of work.""I was wrong." Roseline sat down across from him. "Or maybe I just met someone who made me reconsider.""Who is it?""That is the complicated part." Roseline took a breath. "Do you remember General Lin from Argo? The one who defected early in the war and brought three thousand troops over to our side?""I remember. Brilliant tactician. Her defection turned the tide of several battles.""Her. Yes." Roseline emphasiz
Chapter 273: Family Reconciliation
"We need to talk," Aria said, catching Anna in the hallway after Elizabeth's funeral three days later. "Please. Just five minutes."Anna had been avoiding her sister since learning the truth about her heritage. Too much was happening too fast, and she did not have energy for Aria's usual drama."I am very busy—""I know. You are always busy saving the world or running the government or fighting demons." Aria's voice cracked. "But I need to say something before I lose my nerve."Anna stopped and turned to face her sister. Aria looked terrible, eyes red from crying and face pale from grief. But there was something else there too. Genuine remorse."Five minutes," Anna agreed.They walked to the garden where they had played as children, back when their relationship had not yet been poisoned by jealousy and cruelty. Aria sat on the stone bench and Anna remained standing, arms crossed defensively."I was awful to you," Aria began without preamble. "For years. I said terrible things, did ter
Chapter 272: Grandfather's Truth
"Everyone out," Ben Tate commanded, his voice carrying an authority Anna had never heard from him before. "I need to speak with Anna and Jacob privately."Aria and Kelvin protested but Ben was firm. "Your mother is gone. Grieve later. Right now there are things that must be said that you cannot hear."The siblings left reluctantly, closing the door behind them. Ben waited until their footsteps faded down the hallway before turning to face Anna and Jacob."I should have told you this years ago," Ben said heavily. "But I made a promise to Mei, and I kept it even when perhaps I should not have."Anna still held the jade medallion, its surface warm against her palm. "Tell me everything. No more secrets."Ben walked to the window and stared out at the night. "Mei arrived in Seron twenty-four years ago carrying an infant. You. She had no money, no connections, nothing but the clothes on her back and fierce determination to protect her daughter.""From who?""From her own family, apparently.
Chapter 271: Tate Family Crisis
"She knows who poisoned the wine?" Anna demanded, gripping the messenger's arm. "Are you certain that is what she said?""Word for word, my Lady. She said she knows who did it and why, and that you need to hear the truth before she dies."Jacob was already forcing himself to sit up despite Doctor Foster's protests. "We go now.""You can barely stand!""Then I will crawl. If Elizabeth knows something about the poisoning, we cannot wait."They reached Tate Manor within the hour. Jacob leaned heavily on Anna the entire carriage ride, still weak but determined. The mansion looked dark except for lights burning in Elizabeth's chambers on the second floor.Ben Tate met them at the entrance, his face haggard. "She has been asking for you for hours. The doctors say she might not last the night.""What happened?" Anna asked. "She was stable two weeks ago.""The illness accelerated suddenly. Almost like—" Ben stopped himself."Almost like poison," Jacob finished. "Someone got to her too.""We d
Chapter 270: Recovery and Vigilance
"Clear the room!" Doctor Foster barked, her hands moving with practiced efficiency over Jacob's convulsing body. "Everyone except medical staff and Lady Anna out now!"Guards attempted to remove Anna but she refused to budge. "I am staying.""Then help me or stay out of the way."Anna knelt beside Jacob, her hands already glowing with healing energy. She could feel the poison racing through his system, attacking organs and shutting down vital functions. This was not some amateur attempt. This was professional assassination."What kind of poison?" Anna demanded."Nightveil extract based on the symptoms," Foster replied, forcing a tube down Jacob's throat. "Fast-acting, nearly always fatal. We have maybe five minutes before organ failure becomes irreversible.""I need antidote ingredients. Charcoal root, silver leaf, phoenix tears if you have any—""We do not stock phoenix tears! This is a hospital, not a fantasy apothecary!"Anna ignored the sarcasm and focused her healing powers direc
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