?Chapter 882:


    I gazed off into the distance, my tone steady. “Don’t you find their timing a little too convenient? They…”


    showed up right after Makenna and that wizard disappeared, iming they could cure Dayton’s illness. Something about that stinks.”


    Bryan approached with a knowing smirk, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “So, you’re really interested in Ailyn just because she looks like Makenna from behind?”


    I shot him a sharp, icy look. “If it has anything—no matter how small—to do with Makenna, I’m not letting it slip through my fingers.”


    My words wiped the smirk off Bryan’s face. His expression turned solemn, and for a moment, he said nothing.


    Then, with a sigh, he spoke again. “Dayton and Cody have always been at each other’s throats. I’ve already got people digging into their history of bad blood. As for the forest, after ourst infiltration, their defenses have tightened considerably.”


    He paused, frustrationcing his voice. “Marehelm’s security has more than doubled since then. It seems Dayton’s figured out we were behind the breach.”


    I nodded. “See to it that our men dig into Ailyn’s and Edward’s backgrounds. I have a feeling their arrival wasn’t just by chance.”


    Makenna’s POV:


    After an intimate afternoon, Jett was called away by the butler to check on Dayton’s condition.


    As twilight descended, I copsed onto the bed, utterly drained. My mind swirled with images of Jett’s eyes—those pools of affection that left me deeply troubled and restless in their wake.


    Deep down, I knew I could never truly reciprocate the intensity of Jett’s love.


    For me, what I felt toward him was primarily gratitude and appreciation. That passionate, romantic love that should exist between a man and woman? It was barely there. I had always viewed him as a brotherly figure. Yet somehow, against all reason, I found myself repeatedly surrendering to passion and making love with Jett. Just as these overwhelming thoughts threatened to consume me, a sudden knock echoed against the door.


    ???????? ???????????????? ???????? g???????ν????????﹐?????


    Could it be Jett returning?


    I frowned, uncertain how to face him, and called out in a voice muffled by hesitation, “I need to rest.”


    To my surprise, it was Alden’s clear voice that pierced through from the other side.


    “Ailyn, you promised to take me out for a meal. It’s already evening. Are you going back on your word?”


    “Oh, it’s you,” I replied, wearily rubbing my forehead. “Let’s do it another time. I’m tired.”


    Alden, however, was nothing if not persistent. “No way, you can’t back out. It has to be today!”


    This young man really knew how to stand his ground.


    Reluctantly, I dragged myself up, got dressed, and conceded with a sigh, “Alright, alright, you win.”


    As I swung open the door, Alden immediately poked his head inside, muttering with impatience, “What took you so long?”


    “You really have too many questions. Let’s go!” I grumbled, shooing him out the door with a gentle push.


    Once downstairs, I nced sideways at the spirited Alden bouncing beside me. “What do you want to eat?” I asked.


    Alden’s face lit up with a mischievous grin. “There’s a night market in Marehelm with loads of delicious snacks. I want to try some. Is that okay?”


    .


    .


    .