The corridors seemed to echo with the haunting cries long after they had faded. The ministers and courtiers present in the hall exchanged uneasy glances, their gazes flitting between the stoic Emperor and the path Hyejin had been taken.
Silence pervaded the hall, a heavy and oppressive atmosphere that seemed to emphasize the gravity of the situation. One of Baekhyun's closest advisors approached him cautiously, voice low, "Your Majesty, are you certain about this decision?"
Baekhyun's gaze did not waver from where he last saw his sister. "I am certain of the duty that I must uphold. The empire expects its Emperor to maintain justice, irrespective of personal ties."
The advisor bowed slightly, acknowledging his words. "Yes, Emperor, but the public might see this as too severe a punishment for a princess. Rumors and dissent might spread, undermining your rule."
