After Steveren's apology, the hall was immersed in a dense, tense silence, where the air seemed as heavy as lead.
Kaizen almost choked on his food when he noticed the look Xisrith was casting at Steveren.
The butler, who stood at the edge of the table, watched the scene with a mixture of surprise and concern.
Steveren, with his serious countenance, seemed to bear the weight of Xisrith's words. He looked away after apologizing, turning away for a moment from the intense eye contact.
Xisrith stared at Steveren for a moment, seeming to assess the sincerity of his words. Her gaze, a mixture of caution and resolution, finally gave way to the tension that was overwhelming her. She let out a controlled sigh and loosened her grip slightly.
"Right... I believe you're being sincere, Your Majesty, but will you at least tell me why you rejected us?" Xisrith asked.
