As dawn broke after a day had passed, Yuri stepped out of her quarters and hurried forward.

The message had come from the Crimson Feather. He had summoned her to his quarters immediately.

“Could it be?”

Her pace quickened. He had said he’d think about it for a day—could he have already made a decision?

“I was still trying to find a way to persuade him.”

The sudden news came as she was searching for alternatives, fearing rejection. Yuri forced herself to calm her erratic breathing.

She couldn’t afford to show impatience. Even if much had already been exposed, she …