Atheline stared at her.
"And while he was married to me, he decided he was in love with Yander."
Atheline's eyes widened.
"Yander?"
Lilith continued, unaware of Atheline's reaction.
"If my supposed husband decided that being married to me was less important than falling in love with the Dark Elven Saintess, then the marriage was useless."
Simion's expression tightened.
"That still didn't justify killing him."
"I didn't ask for justification."
"You executed a member of the High Elven nobel family."
"He wasn't innocent."
"The High Elves didn't see it that way."
"Of course they didn't." Lilith's smile contained no warmth. "They never do when it's one of their own."
Simion exhaled slowly.
"The marriage was supposed to stabilize relations between our kingdoms. His death destroyed years of diplomacy."
"The marriage was already destroyed."
"Politically, it still mattered."
