"And," Viktor continued, his eyes narrowing slightly, "request an audience with His Majesty. You will meet him personally. Question Serestia Phoenix. Obtain her statement in full. We will compare her account with our findings."
Bogdan's lips pressed into a thin line. "If she is innocent?"
"Then we withdraw quietly," Viktor replied. "If she is not, the Imperial Family will compensate the families of every fallen elite."
The words were measured, yet they carried the unmistakable tone of someone prepared for escalation.
Bogdan hesitated before voicing the question that burned at the center of his thoughts. "And what about Kiara?"
The name lingered like a blade suspended in midair.
Viktor's gaze shifted toward the horizon once more. "We do not yet know her full strength. Sending elders may result in further casualties. And we cannot afford to send a guardian."
His voice grew colder, not louder.
"We wait."
Bogdan's fingers flexed unconsciously.
