His words were met with a deafening response. Countless guests raised their glasses, and cries of "Long live the Queen!" rang through the room until the entire dining hall seemed to shake with the noise.
Lina had little choice but to raise her own glass in acknowledgment. With so many eyes fixed on her, she couldn't openly test the wine for poison without attracting suspicion. Instead, she brought the glass to her lips, took a small sip, and kept the liquid in her mouth without swallowing. Then, pretending to wipe her lips with a handkerchief, she discreetly spat the wine into the cloth.
Fortunately, no one expected her to drain the glass. The guests cheered again, and the feast officially began.
Lina had little interest in the food before her. Even when a waiter served her a particularly appetizing piece of meat, she merely pretended to taste it. She swirled the wine in her glass and observed the festivities with a detached expression.
