Everyone faced Elvin at once as they scrambled to make sense of his claim. Their united gazes then fell upon Clairette.
"You slapped Elvin?" Rosrell couldn't hold back his disbelief.
Vivia glanced at Elvin once. "Brother seems to be a terrible story-teller. Otherwise, he wouldn't have failed to tell the beginning of it - that it was him who had resorted to violence first. I simply reciprocated what he gave me."
"Elvin, you…Is this the truth!?" Regina cast him a stunned gaze.
"Only because she humiliated us in front of the demons, Mother! I lost it when Crown Prince Zerath proposed the engagement and all because Clairette wasn't aware of their stupid tradition."
"But Brother didn't give me a chance to speak. I admit I erred, but is ignorance such a harsh sin now? Being of different races, there're many customs we don't know about which demons hold important to them. You accused me as if I did it purposely, and judged and slapped me. It was I who was wronged and humiliated."
"Was that how you should've acted towards your sister, Elvin? She had already gone through such a vicious-"
"Regina, that's enough," Rosrell raised his palm, throwing her a piercing stare.
"But Elvin-"
"Clairette's misunderstanding cannot be overlooked here. It was her naivety that gave Crown Prince Zerath such blatant confidence to propose something so ridiculous!"
His icy gaze fell upon Vivia next. "This must not happen again, Clairette. We must never give the demons a chance to humiliate us, and you handed it over to them on a silver platter! And the audacity to retaliate against Elvin? Elvin is Emberlain's Crown Prince and as such, there must be respect and decorum."
Despite her burning indignation, the smile on her lips never faded away to ashes even once.
"Naturally, Your Majesty. It's my duty to be subservient to Brother Elvin and trample upon my own self-respect, isn't it?"
The Senate stared at her, silent and aghast. The ministers were used to seeing a Clairette who would bite down on her lip and apologize, never push back.
"Is it just me dreaming or am I actually watching my lady…revolt?" Welles whispered.
"Clairette! Don't forget that you're standing before the King!" Rosrell's thunderous voice bellowed across the hall.
Even in the face of his blaring animosity raising the tempo of her heartbeats, she refused to yield.
"Yes, I understand that now. I'm standing in front of a King and not a father. If it had been a father speaking, then he wouldn't have taken such a long time to respond to Crown Prince Zerath's letter. A father would've personally come to fetch his daughter, and he might have some news to share as to who tried to kill his daughter and reassure her that he'd protect her at all costs."
Even without Rosrell's rage-laced voice cutting through the room, his glacial gaze was enough to fill the gaps.
"So now you'll speak to me with such disrespect too? Clearly, you've had a change in heart since living in the Demon Realm. Have the demons completely brainwashed you!"
Regina stepped forward, attempting to dissipate the tension, but Rosrell disallowed any interference from her.
"I can easily punish Clairette for such rebellion! But…" his eyes narrowed. "I'll give Clairette one chance."
"Father, this is…" Elvin's jaw clenched, utterly disagreeing with Rosrell's stance.
"I understand your fury, Elvin. But she seems to be tired and needs a good rest. I'm giving her a chance to cool her head. I hope by tomorrow, she regains her senses, or I might have to take some harsh steps."
He glanced at his sons next. "Come with me, Elvin, Aeren. We've a lot to discuss, especially regarding the envoy we'd send to Rudaheim."
"Father, I don't agree with this whole envoy business. Aeren didn't even bother to consult with me before suggesting something like this."
Aeren bowed. "Apologies, Brother. I only did what I felt prudent at the time. We couldn't have agreed to the marriage proposal at any cost."
"Are you insinuating that I failed in the negotiations?" A chilly smile laced his lips. "Or how I don't deserve to be the Crown Prince?"
"I claim no such insinuations, Brother."
Magic Minister Eugene, said, "Considering the circumstances, Second Prince's suggestion makes perfect sense, though it does bring its own challenges I agree. At least, it's far better than to sacrifice your own sister I'd say."
Elvin chuckled, a hint of danger looming in his voice. "You're quite chatty today, Sir Eugene."
"What can I say? My idiot son is lost somewhere. There's no one to talk to," he simply shrugged.
"Can you be a little less direct in provoking the Crown Prince?" Vernon grimaced, whispering to him.
"Where's the fun in that now?"
Rosrell said, "We'll discuss everything in the office. I want the Senate to be present too."
The short but also painfully long reunion adjourned, with Sierra, too, quietly withdrawing in silence. Only Regina stayed back, who gently squeezed her hands.
"No matter what Rosrell says, you did the right thing, Clairette. It's good that you retaliated! You're not a kid to get bullied anymore. You always held back as a kind sister. That's why…" her eyes ached, "I feel glad to see you taking a stand for yourself now."
Warmth gushed into Vivia's heart. Behind her stern gaze, love and doting filled those emerald eyes of hers. As a wife, whose voice was oppressed more often than not, she understood why Regina appreciated Clairette's defense and will.
"Thank you…"
"Good, good. You mustn't falter now. Remember that, okay? Anyway! This stifling meeting is finally done with! We should head back to your chamber. It's all clean and sparkling now," her face lit up.
"Of course," Vivia smiled.
"Good, good. You wait here. Let me see what the maids are up to."
As Regina's footsteps faded away, the grand court fell into a deep silence. A quiet but tired breath escaped her lips.
"Can I see your hand, my lady?"
Vivia slightly gasped, taken aback. Thoughts had spiraled in her mind and consumed her so much that a figure's approach towards her failed to reach her ears.
An elegant woman in her fifties appeared before her, her calculative eyes similar to Asmodea.
If I remember it correctly, she's the Health Minister, Madam Miriam…
Her sudden request came to be unexpected when she had barely spoken before.
"I-I'm sorry, what did you ask?"
"I asked if I could see your hand."
A light gulp passed her throat. Her gaze reminded her of Asmodea's, but her stern voice rang familiar to Doloros's.
"Yes."
Nervousness inched closer and closer to her heart as she lifted her hand.
Miriam's eyes narrowed, every flutter of her lashes acutely studying her hand. Her thumb brushed over her wrist - then came a light pinch as she gently lifted a transparent film.
Vivia's heart took a deep dive into the icy depths. It was the same magical film Doloros had masked her burn injuries with to prevent the Emberlain Convoy from learning of Astaroth's incident.
Miriam slowly peeled off the film layer by layer, revealing her buried wounds. Vivia's heart hammered against her chest hard, yet not a single change passed through Miriam's impassive countenance.
"It seems like we did have something else in our favor to call it equal and go our way like Sir Vernon said."