A breathless silence gripped the room until an aged voice cut through the tension.
"Enough."
Everyone turned.
There, in the centre of the room, stood the spirited old woman who had moments ago danced among them with unmatched vigour. But now, she bore herself with regal stillness, her eyes sharp beneath silver curls. Gasps rippled through the chamber.
"Grand Empress Augusta Amelia," the ladies and gentlemen murmured in unison, bending into low bows. Lola remained frozen, stunned by the transformation.
What in heavens is happening today? she thought, blinking as the emperor's grandmother moved to her side.
"That was entirely uncalled for, Aurelia," the Grand Empress said, her voice calm but firm as she faced the Duchess of Valemount.
"Mother," the Duchess hissed, face burning. "You cannot possibly be taking her side…"
"I take no sides. I speak truths," the Empress replied evenly. "Lola did not know Kaelin was your son, nor that he is a duke's heir. And even if she had, what harm was there in it? He is a boy who wished to sing and brought joy to this court. Why ruin that?"
"I was enjoying myself," she added with a hint of humour, her eyes twinkling. "If you could not join the merriment, you might have simply stayed out of the way."
"Mother!" Duchess Aurelia exclaimed, aghast.
"Then be angry, child," the Empress said without missing a beat. She turned back to Lola. "Now, Aurelia, you will apologise."
"You expect me to apologise to her?" the Duchess snapped, incredulous.
"Yes," Grand Empress Augusta said crisply. "And you will do it properly. Let us not drag this into more shame."
Aurelia's face twisted in resistance, but her hands clenched at her sides. Just as she began to lower her head, Lola stepped forward.
"If Your Grace is to offer me an apology," she said clearly, "then it must be addressed to me as your Empress. And you must bow accordingly."
The room erupted in soft gasps. Even the musicians stilled. Emmeline and Beatrix exchanged subtle, gleeful glances. Silas leaned back with a smirk tugging at his lips.
The Duchess recoiled as if struck again. "I will not…!"
"You will," the Empress cut in, her voice now icy with finality. "She is correct. Show her the respect due her station."
With eyes blazing and jaw set, Duchess Aurelia dipped into a shallow curtsey.
"My deepest apologies, Your Imperial Majesty," she said through gritted teeth before turning on her heel and grabbing Kaelin by the wrist. The boy looked back apologetically as she dragged him out of the hall, her fury echoing in the staccato of her heels.
As the doors closed behind them, the Empress turned to Lola and gently took her hand.
"It is all right, dear. Now, shall we resume our dancing?"
But before a note could be played, the herald appeared once more.
"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Alex…"
The doors flew open mid-announcement. Emperor Xander rushed in, breathless, his coat slightly askew and eyes scanning the room with urgency. His gaze found Lola immediately.
"What happened?" he demanded, voice echoing with authority and something else, something deeper.
Lola's heart stilled.