The silence that followed seemed to stretch endlessly across the palace courtyard.
Thousands of eyes remained fixed upon the Empress as she stood at the top of the grand staircase, looking down at the son she had once envisioned as Lechia's greatest ruler. The weight of the moment rested entirely upon her shoulders. Not only was she a mother whose child had betrayed her trust, but she was also the sovereign of an empire whose people demanded justice.
Her heart and her duty were at war.
The pain inside her grew with every passing second.
She could feel the eyes of the nobles behind her.
She could feel the eyes of the soldiers surrounding the courtyard.
She could feel the eyes of the countless citizens gathered beyond the palace gates.
All of them were waiting.
Waiting to see whether the Empress would act as a grieving mother or as the ruler of Lechia.
