Vyan stood among the high-ranking nobles at the imperial court. His posture was straight, yet his mind wandered far from the echoes of Emperor Edgar's voice. He already knew what was going to happen, so it didn't interest him much either.
On the contrary, the imperial court buzzed with murmurs of approval and awe as Edgar showered Althea with praise. "Your actions have saved our nation, Princess Althea. To find Princess Maria when all others failed is nothing short of extraordinary. You have shown unparalleled courage and leadership."
Vyan watched the spectacle with half-lidded eyes. He knew he should be paying attention and minding his business—especially after Clyde's scathing reprimand and the warnings from his abductor. But he couldn't help it.
Standing in the Diamond Palace—the only place where he hadn't looked for Aster—he couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that today might be the perfect opportunity to slip away and search for Aster.
