Valex tilted his head, his brow furrowing deeply beneath his dark masquerade mask. He did not step back, but his entire posture turned incredibly rigid as he analyzed the stranger standing before him. He took in the way she effortlessly commanded the space, the breathtaking curve of her silhouette, and the way her silver hair caught the light of the crystal chandeliers, reflecting like starlight. Deep within his mind, Azure's rehearsed story about a "previous wife" who had died long ago began to clash violently with reality. Looking at this woman, Valex felt a terrifyingly powerful familiarity that he had never once experienced with Azure.
He stared straight into her eyes behind the mask, his voice dropping into a quiet, intense rumble. "Your voice... it carries a weight it shouldn't. Have we met before, Lady?"
