Everyone could feel the tense moment in the room but no one spoke until Ashen broke the silence.
"Why did you call us here, Mother?" he asked bluntly.
Queen Sephora took a delicate sip of her wine before answering. "The First Flame Festival is near," she said.
"It is the first time the Crown Prince will attend it along with his wife, and I would advise you not to appear with your wife. It would not look good for the realm."
Ashen's lips curled into a humorless laugh. "So that's why you called me here," he said. "I knew there was no way you wanted to share a meal with me out of care."
Lumina's head tilted toward him slightly, her brows knitting. She didn't understand why this woman could not love her own son, at least pretend to care.
Queen Sephora's expression didn't change. "You should not go. The festival has a great cause… You're going to it won't be a good omen."
