Her gaze settled on Jesse.
No blink. No smile. Just silence.
Across the marble-dusted courtyard, the Lorian girl stood with her hands clasped behind her back, posture stiff enough to resemble discipline—but Valeria knew restraint when she saw it. And this wasn't peace.
This was containment.
Violet met orange.
Neither color blinked.
It would've been easier if Jesse looked away. If she let the weight of decorum pull her gaze aside. But she didn't. Not even after the duel ended. Not after Lucavion stepped away. Not even when the last echo of clashing steel faded from the air like smoke chased by wind.
She held Valeria's gaze like it meant something.
As if she had a right to it.
And Valeria—
Valeria didn't look away either.
Her chin rose by a fraction. Subtle. Intentional.
It wasn't posture. It was command.
