THE hospital room was silent except for the soft beeping of machines and the muffled sounds from the hallway beyond. The curtains were drawn halfway, and the sterile scent of disinfectants lingered in the air. A nurse had just left moments ago when the door quietly creaked open again.

Lady Frances walked in, her heels clicking softly on the tiled floor. She was dressed in an elegant but somber outfit, flanked by two of her guards who remained outside after holding the door for her. Her eyes scanned the room and rested on the figure of her son.

Carlson was seated upright on the hospital bed, his back to the...