[Lavinia's POV—Dawnspire Wing—Her Chamber, Moments After Learning Osric is in the Dungeon]
"At the dungeon," Papa said flatly.
No emotion. No hesitation. Just cold, merciless steel wrapped in fatherly disappointment.
I blinked.
Did… did I hear that right?
Maybe my ears went blind—wait, no, I mean deaf. Gods, I can't even think straight
Because surely I did not just hear the words "Osric" and "dungeon" in the same breath.
I gawked at Papa, brain refusing to process. And then, louder than I meant, my cracked voice tore the silence—
"WH—WHAT?!"
Papa didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. Just stood there like a judgmental statue.
I stared at him, heart stammering in a rhythm only betrayal could write. "Why?" I asked, already dreading the answer.
And of course, he delivered it with the emotion of a dying glacier.
"Because he failed to protect you."
… Excuse me???
I went so silent you could hear my soul screaming.
Then—
