The hall that had been buzzing moments ago fell completely silent.
No one spoke. The only sound was the clink of armor as the guards leveled their weapons at the trio standing in the center—Evangeline, Aiden, and Arthur.
A tense pressure filled the air.
Then a man stepped forward from among the nobles.
He looked to be in his twenties, with the same magenta hair as Eliana and Evangeline, and a handsome face marked by a confident gaze. His eyes, however, were anything but gentle as they fixed on Evangeline.
"Evangeline, what is the meaning of this?" he demanded.
His glare shifted to Arthur.
"Why is a monster walking side by side with you?"
The moment the word "monster" left his mouth, Jessica's expression darkened, the shock she had felt earlier disappearing in an instant.
"How dare he call an Imperius—"
She took a step forward, fury in her eyes.
Before she could move any further, Sylvia grabbed her wrist.
Jessica stared at her in surprise.
"Mother, what are you—"
