"I'm sure you'll tell me about it later," he said, voice pitched low enough that only Gabriel could truly hear the weight behind it.
Across the salon, chairs shifted, and fans fluttered uselessly. Lady Serathine delicately adjusted her bracelet. Countess Myrenne reached for her tea with a hand that wasn't as steady as she wanted it to be.
Prince Christian, arriving at a pace more relaxed than any of the others, caught the final exchange and snorted under his breath. He passed by Max, who arched a brow at the display, entirely unsurprised.
Caelan Lancaster moved toward Alexandra without hesitation, while Theo lingered near the entrance for a beat longer than necessary, eyes tight as he scanned Gabriel, Julian, and then the Emperor, reading the room like a man measuring the distance between what was expected and what was already lost.
Gabriel, meanwhile, let his hand fall casually back to the armrest, the faintest hum of amusement in his posture.
