Aria didn't hesitate. She glided forward with measured steps, skirts whispering against the polished floor, and lowered herself into the seat beside Zyren. Her posture was deliberately composed, eyes fixed ahead as though the dozens of curious, suspicious, and hostile gazes around the table simply didn't exist.
From behind her, a servant approached in silence, bowing before leaning close enough to hear her quiet voice. Aria spoke without rushing, her tone soft but carrying the weight of someone accustomed to being obeyed. One by one, she named the dishes she wanted, each request met with a deferential nod before the servant withdrew.
It was only then that Zyren's voice cut through the low hum of the hall.
"Aria was my pet."
The statement, delivered in a tone sharper and louder than his usual, was enough to command every ear in the room. The conversations died instantly. No one dared so much as to shift in their chair.
"…but clearly, that has changed."
