52

"I was too occupied at the time to discuss this agreement," Liam confessed, and I sensed the weight of responsibility in his words. "So, my beta, Daniel, went to Minerva in my place."

The room seemed to hold its breath, each word carving a path through the shadows.

"The deal took longer than we anticipated," Liam's eyes conveyed a depth of complexity, "and Daniel had to stay in Minerva. It was during his absence that I found you. I got married."

The confession hung in the air, a tapestry of emotions woven into the silence that followed – a revelation that stretched beyond the boundaries of politics and alliances.

The words hung in the air, each one a sharp edge cutting through the tension in the room. Liam's confession echoed with a weight that seemed to alter the very atmosphere.

"About Vallen... Vallen was my scribe at the time, and she went with Daniel to Minerva," Liam admitted, his eyes holding mine in a moment of transparency.

A wave of questions surged within me, demanding cla