"He served faithfully for years. Devoted his life to getting stronger, to be able to protect those around him and those he cared about. But..." Her hands clenched into fists.
"But power breeds jealousy. And jealousy breeds betrayal."
The pain in her voice made Arthur's chest tighten. He recognised that particular flavour of anguish.
"The nobles he served alongside couldn't stand his strength. His popularity. The fact that people looked to him instead of them."
Jasmine's eyes blazed with fury.
"So they conspired against him."
Arthur remained silent, but his jaw clenched. He knew this story.
I've lived a variation of it.
Politics. Power plays. The strong are torn down by the envious.
Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, but her voice remained steady.
She paused, swallowing hard.
"They killed him."
The words fell like stones into still water, creating ripples of understanding between them.
