I allowed myself the faintest hint of a smile. "I'm going to resolve the situation, of course."
Aurelia's eyes narrowed, studying me with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. It was a look I had seen countless times before, in the eyes of those who tried to gauge my intentions, to discern whether I was serious or merely playing a game. The Queen was not easily impressed, and she was even less inclined to trust, but I could see the subtle shift in her expression—the momentary flicker of doubt giving way to something more akin to intrigue.
