Those who had just been critical of Yuri Sinclair suddenly chimed in with praise.
Ashley Bowen popped a piece of festival cake into her mouth, her eyes casually glancing toward Yuri Sinclair's hand.
'His right hand is still injured. How can he take care of an elderly woman like that?'
She hadn't meant to look, but when she did, she was startled.
A stark bloodstain marred the white gauze.
The blood looked dry, but the sight was still jarring.
Yuri Sinclair deliberately hid his injured hand at his side so the Empress Dowager wouldn't see it.
The lanterns at the banquet cast a dim glow, so the Empress Dowager hadn't noticed at all that the wound on Yuri's recently-healing hand had split open again.
Less than half an hour later, the banquet finally drew to a close. Everyone headed for the cableway to take the gondolas down the mountain.
Ashley Bowen stood off to the side, watching her sullen mother.
