At the outset of Vernadette's fit of rage, Ercilia realizes one significant detail.
There aren't only adults around. There are some children too.
She failed to notice it at first since they weren't moving around in the open. Some were standing at the corridor right outside the dining hall while others were keeping their presence hidden at the corners – all trying their best to be of assistance to the servants either by serving tableware or handing out platters of food. She felt disdain towards herself for not seeing it sooner.
'I had grown up in a place where scenarios like this were common, after all…' she brooded over, hands clenched into fists.
'But still, that's no excuse for me to let such atrocities go unnoticed.'
Ercilia does know what's going on, though, and it's all thanks to Ruxandra.
