"I welcome all of you to my kingdom."
Harvey and James stepped forward with a graceful precision, placing their hands over their chests and bowing their heads respectfully. "Your Majesty."
I noticed that all the students around me followed suit, mimicking the gesture with varying degrees of elegance. Even Rodolf, who usually seemed to disregard rules, bowed his head—no doubt his upbringing as a prince was kicking in.
Suddenly, I heard a sharp whisper, almost a hiss, from a few classmates away. "Amael!"
It was Victor. He was signaling for me to bow my head and perform the customary greeting. But I feigned ignorance, keeping my gaze firmly fixed on the Queen. This was the woman who had turned her back on my mother when she needed help the most, even voting against her help. I couldn't bring myself to show her any respect.
