Chapter 111

• I read the decrypted message once more, my mind racing to grasp its meaning. The name Tori instantly connected the dots—she was Varen's mother. I remembered Varen recounting how Selene had plotted to poison Tori while she was pregnant. But this message suggested something more sinister. It implied that Selene had intended to kill Tori before she even conceived. Yet, for reasons unknown, the plan had failed. One cryptic note wasn’t enough evidence, but what if the other messages offered a broader context?
• I picked up another slip of parchment and scrutinized it. Judging by the handwriting, it appeared to be written by the same person. This gave me a glimmer of hope; perhaps using the same keyword to decipher it would yield results. With a deep breath, I tested the keyword, and relief washed over me as it worked. For the first time in hours, I allowed myself to pray that this note might provide something more concrete.
• "Our spy became the King's concubine's maid.