For a moment after Lilian hugged Albedo, the world seemed to freeze in reaction.
The tension of Morgan's outburst, Celeste's crushing authority, and Dorne's quiet restraint—all of it was swept aside like kindling before a storm as Lilian, the Daughter of the Grand Duke BloodHaven, one of the oldest vampire clans still allied to the Demon Throne, openly embraced a Human before the assembled delegations.
Her arms wound around Albedo's frame with casual familiarity, her crimson eyes half-lidded with delight, her lips curving in a smile that belonged to someone greeting an old friend… or something more, she intentionally made it vague, maybe to make others overreact.
The silence that followed was not soft. It was jagged, suffocating, as if every word unspoken was a blade pressing against the throats of those present.
And then came the whispers that immediately filled the entire field, echoing constantly as dozens of people chatted with each-other.
"She knows him?"
