Chapter 50

Ayla Korr“I think it’s only fair that Vesper take the same test.”This time, the silence that fell over the hall didn’t feel like surprise.It felt like discomfort.Some people looked away. Others looked directly at Vesper, as though my question had opened a door that, until that moment, everyone had preferred to pretend didn’t exist.She remained beside her father, completely still.The hand that had been resting over her stomach slowly tightened around the fabric of her dress. Her fingers sank between the pale folds, and for a second her expression lost all of that carefully constructed softness.There were no tears, no fragility, only fear.Lord Hale noticed before anyone else and immediately stepped forward.“That is completely unnecessary.”The speed of his response almost made me smile.I tilted my head slightly.“Of course it is.”His eyes narrowed.“My daughter is not being investigated for adultery.”“No.” I glanced briefly at Vesper before looking back at him. “She’s only c

Last Updated : 2026-09-22

Chapter 51

Ayla KorrThe room they gave me wasn’t luxurious.But after the cell, it felt like it was.There was a narrow bed with clean sheets, a small table, a high window through which the last bit of daylight entered, and a basin filled with clean water.I stopped in the doorway for several seconds.It was strange how things so simple could seem almost absurd after weeks without them.At least the door was made of wood, without bars.That was the first thing I noticed.The second was the food.I was finally able to eat something decent.There was soup, bread, fruit.I stared at the tray for a while.My body was starving, but some part of me still expected someone to appear and take it away.Caelan pulled over a chair and sat near the bed.“Eat.”I looked at him, letting out a brief smile.“Are you planning to sit there and watch me?”“I am.”“How irritating.”He laughed.I picked up the spoon and tasted the soup. It was simple, but warm.With the first spoonful, my stomach seemed to remember

Last Updated : 2026-09-23

Chapter 52

Ayla KorrThe next morning, when they took me back to the Council hall, there were fewer people than the day before.Even so, it didn’t feel any less suffocating.The necessary members were already in their places, some speaking quietly among themselves while documents were arranged across the main table. Lord Hale remained close to Vesper, clearly determined not to leave her alone for even a second. Garrick was speaking with two councilmen, looking as serious as if he were negotiating some important item instead of his own daughter’s life.Caelan saw me as soon as I entered.He crossed the hall and stopped beside me before I even reached the center.“Did you sleep well?”“A little.”His gaze moved over my face.“Did you eat?”“A little.”“That doesn’t sound very convincing.”“Since when did you become some kind of healer, asking so many questions?” I teased as I walked beside him toward the center of the hall.“Good thing I’m not.” He laughed. “You’d be an unbearable patient.”I was

Last Updated : 2026-09-24

Chapter 53

Ayla KorrMy mouth went dry.Caelan lightly touched my back.“Come on...”I nodded and walked toward the chair.Darian immediately approached.“My sample is already prepared.”Edris looked at him.“Then we won’t need to collect another one.”I sat.The blade barely hurt when it touched my finger.Even so, I watched every movement Edris made as though I might find an answer before he said anything.A drop of my blood.Another container.The same silver liquid.The same procedure.I waited.But nothing happened. Edris frowned, examining the liquid carefully.My chest tightened more and more every time he moved the vial.He tilted the glass and waited several more seconds.Still nothing.“What happened?” I asked.He didn’t answer immediately.Darian moved closer.“Do it again.”Edris looked at him.“I intend to.”“I said from the beginning that it’s too early for her.”“Darian,” Caelan warned.He ignored him.“I already said... this test isn’t necessary. I’ve already recognized the child

Last Updated : 2026-09-25

Chapter 54

Ayla Korr“We’ll repeat the test when necessary. Until then, this child is mine.”I stared at Darian, trying to understand how he could turn even an inconclusive result into something that belonged to him.I had entered that hall wanting an answer. Instead, I had come out of the examination with exactly what I needed least: enough uncertainty for Darian to cling to.Before I could answer, Lord Hale approached the table again.He wasn’t looking at Darian.He was looking at Edris.“Healer, I want an objective answer.”Edris closed one of the small bottles and raised his eyes toward him, his expression showing very little patience.“Then ask a question that allows for an objective answer.”Several people shifted in their seats.Lord Hale ignored them.“In Ayla’s sample, considering only what you were able to observe today, was there or was there not any sign of Korr blood?”My body tensed.Edris didn’t answer immediately.Not because he seemed uncertain. Quite the opposite. He appeared t

Last Updated : 2026-09-26

Chapter 55

Ayla KorrI stared at the closed door.“This shouldn’t take long,” Caelan murmured beside me.“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”He turned toward me, and the look on his face answered before he could.It wasn’t.The silence inside that private chamber bothered me more than shouting would have. I couldn’t hear chairs moving, voices arguing, not even footsteps. Nothing. The thick walls swallowed everything, leaving the rest of us outside with nothing to do but wait while a handful of men decided what my life was worth.Darian began pacing several feet away, visibly irritated at having been excluded. Every few steps, his eyes returned to the closed door before shifting back toward me, as if he were already planning what would happen once they came out.Lucan remained farther back, silent.Vesper had taken her seat again now that her father was gone. Without him beside her, the fragile expression she had worn throughout most of the morning had disappeared. She sat very still, one

Last Updated : 2026-09-27