The council chamber dissolved into noise.
Nobles rose from their seats in outrage while accusations spread wildly beneath the vaulted ceilings of the imperial hall. Some demanded immediate arrests. Others insisted the evidence had been fabricated to destabilize the academy faction. Fear sharpened every voice until the atmosphere resembled the beginning of a riot disguised beneath royal decorum.
House Veridian.
One name had been enough to fracture the room.
Selene stood at the center of the chaos quietly, crimson eyes sweeping across the nobles with detached calm while panic spread through the council like fire through dry grass.
Interesting.
The empire truly was weaker than it pretended.
One exposed alliance and the entire political structure began shaking.
Kael remained beside her, unmoving despite the uproar around them. The pressure rolling from him had darkened subtly since the announcement, though his expression revealed nothing beneath the palace lights.
