"Wait— what?"
Esme barely processed the rest of Emily's words. The only thing that stuck was the claim that the king was unavailable, hence, her expression was clouded with confusion.
"What do you mean the king is unavailable? That's impossible," Esme said, her voice laced with skepticism as she shook her head. The meeting had been scheduled for today, and the king's letter had explicitly stated that her presence was required, ensuring she would attend.
Emily's words didn't add up, and Esme's instincts screamed that something was definitely amiss here. She locked eyes with Emily, her determination unwavering. "There has to be some sort of mistake. Let me speak with the council, then. I know for a fact that they're in there, so order your guards to open the gates for me.
