Chapter 52: The Rules of the Moon
Lyria's POV
I lingered in the shadows once more, pressed against the marble pillar whose cold surface seemed to seep into my bones. The ballroom thrummed with murmurs, the soft shuffling of silk on polished floors, and the occasional clink of crystal as chandeliers caught candlelight.
The King gave the footman a nod, and sensing the cue, the footman drew a deep breath and cleared his throat.
He unrolled a parchment, the soft crackle of the vellum breaking the tense silence. I leaned forward just slightly, hidden in the folds of shadow, and felt the familiar ache in my bones deepen.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the footman intoned, voice formal, yet carrying a tremor of deference, "His Majesty wishes to announce the rules by which the forthcoming competition shall proceed."
The King's dark gaze swept over the assembly, landing briefly on each noble before returning to the footman. The scroll trembled faintly in the footman's hands.
