Vera nodded at the king's words, her posture composed, her expression calm despite the weight of the discussion that had just transpired.
"I will see to it immediately, Your Majesty," she said, her voice steady yet respectful. "You may trust that it will be handled with the urgency it deserves. If there is a witch within these walls, then by the time the sun sets, we will know exactly who she is, where her loyalties lie, and what purpose she serves within this palace."
She turned gracefully, already taking a step toward the door, but something lingered at the back of her mind—something that refused to be ignored. Her brows knit together slightly as she paused mid-step.
Then she turned back.
"There is… something else," she added carefully, though her tone carried an undercurrent of confusion.
"My king," she said, her tone shifting—lighter, almost conversational, though it carried an undercurrent that neither man missed, "it seems I should also offer my congratulations."
