Page 60 of Billionaire Dragon King’s Rejected Mate

Randi allowed herself a small smile as she glanced up. “Sounding convincing without sounding desperate is a lot harder than it sounds. If I push too hard they’ll dismiss it as propaganda, and if I soften it too much they’ll ignore it completely. Right now we really can’t afford either of those outcomes.”

She picked up her draft letter that she used to copy from and reread the last line. It was too late to change them now with all the letters ready for delivery. But the words echoed in her head.

Noriveille does not ask for war. It asks for justice.

For a moment, she simply stared at the sentence. “That’s it. I’m done,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

The pile beside her had grown substantially. Each letter was addressed to a different neighboring province, especially the ones that Sven and Jakob had listed as directly affected by Gunner’s cruelty. They would stand to benefit the most if the throne changed hands, now that they had an option.

Now that Chance had returned.

Bryn leaned forward, her earlier ease giving way to something more thoughtful as she studied her sister. “Do you really think this will work?”

Randi met her gaze, and though there was a flicker of uncertainty deep down, what settled over her expression was something steadier and resolute. “I think it gives him a fighting chance,” she said, her voice calm but certain, “and I think he deserves that.”

Bryn’s expression softened and shifted into something more perceptive as she regarded her. “You’ve changed.”

Randi leaned back in her chair and exhaled slowly as she looked down at her fingers. “Yeah,” she admitted after a moment. “I guess I have.”

She paused and checked the seal on some of the envelopes. “I used to think the best thing I could do was stay out of the way. Just survive by keeping my head down and not making anything worse than it already was.” She let out a small laugh. “Turns out I’m actually kind of good at helping.”

Bryn’s lips curved upward immediately. “Kind of?”

Randi shrugged. “Okay, fine. I’m very good at helping.”

“That’s the sister I know.” Bryn pointed at her. “I’m actually pretty proud of you.”

“I just needed someone that needed help.” Randi’s tone was light but carried more weight than she let on.

She didn’t say his name, but she didn’t need to.

By the time the letters had been sealed and sent out with royal couriers, Chance and Sven had already departed to meet with Jakob, leaving behind a temporary quiet that felt almost unfamiliar after the rush of the morning.

Randi stood by the window with her arms loosely folded and stared at the mountains in the distance. “It feels strange,” she admitted after a moment.

Bryn adjusted the shawl around her shoulders as she moved to stand beside her. “What does?”

“Being useful. Not just in my world, but in this one too.”

Bryn laid her head on Randi’s shoulder. “You belong here more than you think.”

“I really want to believe that.”

A brief silence followed, and then, as if deliberately shaking off the heaviness of the moment, Bryn clapped her hands together with sudden brightness.

“Well, that’s enough serious talk for one day.”

Caught off guard, Randi just blinked at her sister. “That was random.”

“We’re going out.”

“Out?” Randi echoed.

“To the shops,” Bryn said, already turning toward the door with purpose. “I refuse to spend the rest of the day thinking about wars when I could be looking at tiny clothes and stuff that I actually have some control over.”

Randi laughed despite herself as she followed. “You’re unbelievable.”

“I’m pregnant,” Bryn shot back without missing a beat. “That means I get what I want.”