CHAPTER 49
The grand hall was filled, She studied each face. Everyone was present, no one missing. Queen Jonah sat wrapped in her sleep coat, a clear sign she had not left the palace. Mathew Sterrn, as always, occupied his usual seat at the grand table, confirming he too had remained within the castle.
Grace furrowed her brows. A slow, seething frustration coiled in her chest, then erupted in a powerful, baritone scream that echoed through the walls. The sheer force of it sent a ripple of unease through the gathered crowd. The tension in the air was palpable.
She wasted no time. "Gather the council. Everyone must be present," she commanded with a sharp voice.
Within minutes, the nobles and key figures of the kingdom filled the hall. The citizens, drawn by whispers as a result of the body covered in blood, gathered at the edges, their faces were a mix of curiosity and unease.
