Loholt's smirk remained, satisfied with the chaos he had created.
Rael turned toward him, his eyes cold enough to kill.
But before he could speak, Aurelius' voice cut through the air like a whip.
"Enough," the Duke said.
The single word carried so much authority that even Loholt stiffened, his arrogance retreating slightly as he remembered where he was.
Rael didn't wait.
He turned and walked out of the hall, ignoring the whispers, ignoring the stares, ignoring the nobles who pretended to be sympathetic while secretly enjoying the scandal.
Eon hesitated, then followed him halfway, but stopped, because she knew Rael would not want an audience.
Aurelius watched Rael leave.
Arthur's gaze followed him too, his expression unreadable.
Remia's lips tightened faintly.
And Raphael, sitting quietly at the far end of the hall, watched everything without moving, his eyes calm and cold, but the faintest flicker of something unreadable passed through them.
*
