After the meal, Gara cleaned his children's faces and hands first while the servants cleared the table. The heavy dishes were replaced with light snacks and tea.
As the heir, Gara sat at one end of the long table. At the opposite end, the Duke finished dabbing his mouth with a napkin.
Gara decided this was the right moment to speak his mind. He glanced at Karon, seated to the Duke's right. Karon gave a subtle nod, understanding the signal.
Before Karon could begin, the Duke spoke first.
"Tomorrow, the death of the Duke's heir's fiancé will be officially announced."
Gara frowned, certain he had misheard due to the distance between them. 'The Duke's heir's fiancé? My fiancé?'
The Duke said nothing further, despite the clear confusion written across Gara's face.
Karon drew in a breath and turned to Gara, offering an explanation. He had known about this decision, but even he had not expected the Duke to reveal it this soon.
