Lady Ashford quickly switched her smile to a frown, saying, "Ely, before we go on, I need an explanation. You nearly failed to protect Lord Theo."
Ely nodded solemnly, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I won't have any excuse, Lady Ashford. After returning to the palace, I will accept any punishment I receive. It is my duty to serve and protect."
Theo set his cup down, placing a firm hand on Ely's shoulder. "Hold on," he said, his voice firm. "What's done is done. We faced a demon together, and we survived." He turned to Lady Ashford, his eyes steady. "If it wasn't for Ely, I wouldn't be standing here. She's proven her worth, and she's earned her place by my side."
"But still, she didn't succeed because she didn't get the right information," Lady Ashford commented, her tone firm but not unkind. "We need to rectify that, don't we, Ely?"
Theo felt the tension in Ely's shoulder beneath his hand. "Yes, Lady Ashford," she murmured. "I will do better."
