The reversed Ace of Swords indicates that the mind is confused, and is not focusing on the question optimally. This means that the mind is not yet ready to answer the question with a yes or a no.
The Knight of Swords shows that there is a certain energy and enthusiasm surrounding the question. This suggests that the body is reacting positively to the possibility of a promotion, even if the mind is not ready to respond with certainty.
Death indicates that there is change afoot, but that it is not necessarily something to be feared or avoided. Rather, the card suggests that this shift could be positive and lead to a new awareness.
From the three tarot cards analyzed, it seems that the most probable answer to the question "Were you recently promoted?" either no. Even if the energy around the possibility of a promotion is positive, the cards suggest that there is still no definitive certainty about the occurrence of any recent promotion. Furthermore, the Death card can symbolize a period of transition, leading to a new level of awareness without necessarily directly influencing the occurrence of a particular promotion. Therefore, based on the interpretation of the cards, it is reasonable to conclude that the most likely answer to the question is "no".