Chapter 116: The Duke’s Interrogation

The Duke’s private study was as imposing as the man himself. The heavy oak desk that dominated the space had its surface cluttered with documents and reports that spoke of the responsibilities he bore as the Duke of Targu.

Conor sat across from the Duke, feeling the weight of the man’s scrutiny. The room was silent, save for the faint ticking of an antique clock on the wall. Conor’s heart thudded in his chest, not from fear but from the heavy mix of anticipation and determination.

He knew this meeting was a test, one that would determine how the Duke viewed him—not just as the newly declared Deinmaar of Celia, but as a man who now stood at Kerrigan’s side.

The Duke’s gaze was piercing, his emotions barely concealed behind his carefully controlled expression. “Conor,” he began, his voice low and measured, “I’ve been eager to speak with you, and I won’t waste time with pleasantries. You made quite the declaration yesterday. Deinmaar of Celia… stepping into the role your mother once held