[Lavinia's POV—Imperial Palace—Grand Banquet Hall]
My spine stiffened. My face burned. My life flashed before my eyes.
I hissed under my breath, "Oh splendid, Osric. Just splendid. We've poured an entire barrel of oil on a fire of rumors."
Osric—calm as a spring breeze, utterly unbothered by the weight of a hundred gazes—kept his hand steady and warm at my waist. His eyes glimmered like secret storms, and his lips curved in a way that made my pulse stumble.
"Mm," he murmured, his voice low and velvet-smooth, brushing against my ear like a caress. "And what a glorious blaze it is." He leaned closer, his breath fanning over my skin. "But...I don't mind the rumors, Lavi."
I froze and Slowly turned. My eyes are wide. "W-What do you mean?"
