Word reached the royal pavilion faster than the Empress herself.
By the time she and Lucas stepped into the command grounds, the atmosphere had already shifted. Guards stood straighter than usual, servants moved in tense silence, and the nobles gathered nearby avoided speaking above a whisper. At the center of it all stood King Highmoor, his expression dark, his presence radiating restrained fury.
The moment his eyes fell on her, whatever patience he had been holding onto snapped.
"What exactly were you thinking," he demanded, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
The Empress did not flinch. She walked forward at an unhurried pace, her posture straight, her gaze steady as it met his.
"I simply asked the for an invitation," she replied calmly.
"By tearing down their defenses," the king shot back, taking a step toward her. "By humiliating them within their own territory. Do you have any idea what that could lead to."
