The scent of lilies, still potent from the wedding celebrations, clung to the air in Ashford Hall. Yet, the atmosphere was far from celebratory. A thick fog of suspicion had settled over the castle, heavier than the coastal mists that often rolled in from the sea. Ever since their return from the hastily cut-short honeymoon, a palpable tension had gripped everyone, from the highest-ranking advisors to the lowliest kitchen staff. The joy of their union, so briefly experienced, was now overshadowed by the chilling discovery of a conspiracy that burrowed deep within Ashford's own ranks.