I wait for Annie's response, knowing that the answer could change everything. And true to my guess, it changed everything—I wasn't responsible for her pregnancy.

I feel numb, unsure of how to process this revelation coming directly from the horse's mouth that the baby isn't mine.

Then it hits me—my father was right when he said, "Virtue has gone out of him," meaning that Lyra is truly pregnant with my heir.

My mind races with a mix of emotions—relief at not being tied to Annie's deceit, confusion about the circumstances, and a sense of responsibility towards Lyra and the unborn child who carries the future of our lineage.

"Everything I...