Chapter 93

With the letter completed, Lilian read it over, her heart heavy with the weight of her intentions. She couldn't bring herself to send it immediately. Athena was living her life in the company of Ardolf, a young man whose father was believed to be responsible for the tragedy that had struck Athena's family. The same truth that had burdened Lilian was now interwoven with the lives of two young souls.

The hours slipped by as Lilian paced the room, torn between her duty to Athena and her affection for Ardolf, who had become like a son to her. She remembered the laughter and camaraderie that had once filled their shared moments, the bond that had formed between Athena and Ardolf. But beneath it all lay the truth, waiting like a tempest on the horizon.

Finally, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting hues of amber and lavender across the city, Lilian made her decision. She sealed the letter with a wax stamp, imprinted with a symbol of protection, a symbol that she hoped would shield At