"Your Majesty?"
Alaric's mind raced.
Then he leaned a little.
"Your Majesty. I—"
"It was you."
Vesperine's green eyes held his.
"The disturbance in the trade routes. The collapsing contracts." Her smile remained pleasant. "I heard a certain someone has suffered quite a lot from this."
Alaric straightened slowly. Kept his posture respectful. But not submissive.
Before he could formulate a response—
"And don't try to fool me." Her tone stayed light. Almost amused. "I was watching you. What you were doing here tonight. How you made that woman betray her husband in front of everyone."
She tilted her head, her smile widening.
"Quite scandalous. And—"
"I didn't make her do anything."
Alaric met her eyes without flinching.
"She did that on her own—Urgh!"
Pressure crashed down again.
Alaric's knees buckled slightly. His breath caught.
"How dare you interrupt Her Majesty!"
Sebastian's voice came from beside him. The red mask turned toward him with barely contained violence.
