The silence stretched on for a few very entertaining seconds.
Aegis stood in the center of the ballroom, every noble eye in Valdria fixed on her. Evangeline's face had cycled through about six different emotions before settling on something cold and calculating. She was already trying to figure out how to spin this. How to turn Aegis's interruption into a humiliation.
Good luck with that.
"Lady Starcaller." Evangeline's voice could've frozen wine. "You were not invited to this ceremony."
"I noticed. Your doormen were very polite about it, though. Lovely people. You should give them a raise."
A few titters from the crowd. Evangeline's eye twitched.
"Then you are trespassing. Guards—"
"I'm invoking the Right of Petition." Aegis made sure her voice carried to every corner of the room. "Under Valdrian law, any noble of legitimate standing may petition to present themselves as an alternative candidate for a royal marriage, provided they can demonstrate worthiness."
