The expression on everyone's face tightened up immediately the King's words echoed thunderously through the hallway.
At this time, Sigrid was at a loss for what to do and what explanation to give, but her years of skilfully masking up her true emotions came to aid her at once. Thus, she stood still, elegant and proper; shoulders propped, straight-backed, and chin in perfect alignment with the rest of her features, while revealing no peculiar emotion.
The court lady, in this act, was to all eyes the most composed, despite the current situation. Even though Sigrid was thoroughly shaken up and greatly frightened on the inside, she did not incline herself to let it show.
Meanwhile, the brief second that had lingered on, before the arrival of Lord Briceus, the King's right-hand man-- Ezekiel, also accompanied by a number of able-bodied knights, the maid-servants who had only just helped Elizabeth back on her feet, had performed some magic.
