'But you must understand,'Levka said, her voice firm. 'His death was not a conclusion. We offered him a truce—a chance to forge an alliance, to end the bloodshed,' Her eyes, heavy with the weight of countless years, fixed on Isabella. 'He was blinded by greed. He refused. He had to be stopped.'
Levka leaned forward slightly, her gaze unwavering. 'I imagine your clan's story conveniently leaves out the offer of peace. It is far easier to build a legacy on vengeance than on the truth of a flawed ancestor, isn't it?'
'You should let go of your grudge,' Isabella retorted, though her defiance wavered. 'Erza rarely fought unfairly. You should question your sources. They think no one remembers the truth, but they are wrong.'
As Levka spoke, she became so immersed in her own defense that she failed to notice Aki observing her.
Catching his unreadable gaze for a fraction of a second, she faltered and looked away, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. Levka disappears.
