Ulrich stood calmly as Kaliantha raised her hand toward him.
The evening had not unfolded as he had intended.
Antonias had returned to the ballroom far sooner than expected, drunk, bleeding, and furious enough to drag half the court into the scandal he should have kept hidden. Yet, in the end, his interruption had made matters easier for Ulrich. The King had destroyed his own dignity before the nobles, spoken too freely of leaving with Louise, and raised his hand against Kaliantha in full view of everyone.
Now Kaliantha stood before Ulrich with her hand extended.
He took it.
For several seconds, the ballroom did not react.
