Chapter 161: The Rejection

The morning sun had barely risen over the capital when the whispers began anew. The king had made his move, and every hour and day Kerrigan didn’t respond sparked new rumors.

Kerrigan stood at the window of her chambers, her gaze fixed on the city below, bathed in the early light. Today was the day she would publicly reject the King’s proposal—a choice that carried more weight than any she had made before.

The night before had been filled with deep, earnest conversations with Conor, where they laid their fears and hopes bare. In the quiet moments between them, Conor had proposed, and she had said yes.

It was a promise made in the privacy of their hearts, still hidden from the world, but it strengthened her resolve for what she had to do next.

The King’s offer had been nothing more than a gilded trap, one that threatened to strip away her independence and bind her to a man she could never love.

But rejecting him publicly was a dangerous game. She knew it would unleash his wrath and ign