They had nearly forgotten about the Rothschilds, their existence pushed to the edges of memory beneath the overwhelming work of cleansing and restructuring the Empire. Yet the moment the inaugural ceremony concluded and the grand ball began, the family appeared, as if drawn by the scent of opportunity.
Roxanne felt Vivianne's eyes on her back and turned, meeting her gaze. Vivianne watched her with a blend of uncertainty, unease, and something like resignation.
Roxanne exhaled quietly. She already knew how this would unfold, especially with Valdemar and Genevieve, whose greed had always outweighed their sense, and now, with Liselotte vanished and Dietrich long dead, they're bound to come crawling.
"Get them into the restroom." Roxanne said to Red.
Red bowed and slipped away. Roxanne turned to Gerhard Eisenwald, giving a subtle nod for him to continue entertaining the guests while she and Vivianne stepped aside. Gerhard responded with a solemn, respectful nod.
