"Did Rose say all these things?" she asked suddenly, her voice cutting through the noise.
The hall fell silent again. Her directness shocked them. The accusing princesses exchanged glances, their hesitation betraying them.
Salviana's jaw tightened. "Did you tell her? Did you believe her nonsense?" Her voice rose, sharp and commanding.
Silence.
"I knew she was a gossip-monger, a blackmailer." Salviana's tone was biting now, and her words reverberated across the room. "She has no place in this family."
Her words struck a chord. Several princesses frowned, their lips tightening in discomfort, but no one dared refute her.
"I am the wife of Prince Alaric, son of the former queen," she continued, her voice unwavering. "I will not be reduced to someone you scorn and ridicule based on the lies of a commoner. I am not the one who should feel ashamed here."
