It was as though a bomb had dropped. The entire hall erupted in noise—soft whispers at first, which quickly swelled into a loud murmur as distress and disagreement spread. The officials' faces were etched with clear defiance.
Aries was not so different, only that most of his turmoil was buried deep within him. His mind reeled as he processed what he had just heard, but to be certain, and not jump to unnecessary conclusions, he spoke.
"What did you say, Your Majesty?"
"It appears I might have heard wrongly," he added, his breath uneven as he waited, each passing second growing more suffocating than the last.
Then the king confirmed the bomb that had been dropped. He slammed his hand hard against the table, the force vibrating through the hall and silencing every sound of displeasure from the officials.
The hall quieted down as everyone waited on the king's words.
"I do not speak to you people," the king said coldly. "Hence, you shall not air your opinions anyway."
