Ian flicked his hand. The servant bowed and quickly disappeared toward the steps.
As they waited for the servant, Ian's gaze returned to the paper filled with names.
He ignored the crossed-out names and arranged the rest by expertise.
Silence fell as the queen consort worked. Some prayed to stay; others, hired through backdoors, had no such hope and could only hope to leave here with their lives.
Minutes later, footsteps echoed from the stairwell, and the staff looked up to see the servant descending with brown leather-bound books in hand.
Ian swiftly finished writing the new rules, set the brush down, and looked up.
"Your Highness, these are the books I found in her study," the servant said, placing them before Ian as he nodded.
Sarah paled at the sight of the books, her heart sinking with dread and regret.
If she could turn back time, she'd never have stolen from the shop's earnings over the past few months.
