The annexed palace—no, the Imperial Palace, or rather, the entire imperial capital—was in complete disarray.
The chaos had reached such a pitch that the scandal of Duke de Winter breaking down the infirmary door no longer ranked among the top disturbances. After Vlad led Nerva into Liliette’s bedchamber, Ivan was left outside to clear out the vassals and knights who had gathered outside.
“If you keep causing a ruckus, it will only make things harder for the Duchess. Go back to your quarters or stay quiet!”
Only after his stern reprimand did the crowd finally come to their senses and quiet down. He let out an exasperated sigh before opening the bedroom door. Through the crack, Liliette’s pained cries pierced the air, only to be muffled again as the door closed.
“V-Vlad, I’m so scared… argh!”
