( Amaryllis POV )
The purple fog spilled into the garden like a tidal wave, rolling over the manicured hedges and the marble fountain.
Lucien broke the kiss, his head snapping up. "What in the..."
He didn't finish. The [Nightmare Fog] hit him instantly. His A-Rank resistance crumbled before the admin-level command. His amber eyes rolled back, and he slumped forward, collapsing onto Amaryllis's shoulder.
"Lucien?" Amaryllis gasped, staggering under his weight.
She tried to summon her [Rimefrost Seal], but the fog didn't attack her body; it attacked her narrative. It whispered of duty, of failure, of a father who hit his daughter.
Her vision grayed. She sank to the ground, holding the unconscious Lucien in her arms, the red wine stain on her dress merging with the purple shadows.
The they were both down.
***
Silence reigned in the Grand Ballroom. Hundreds of nobles lay slumped on the floor or over tables, trapped in their own nightmares.
