[Imperial Palace—Grand Dining Hall—Continuation...]
Silas blinked, sensing the shift in temperature before he even fully registered what had just happened.
"…Lucien?"
Lucien didn't even look at him.He was too busy mentally drawing a glowing chalk circle around Silas with the intensity of a summoner sealing his demon.
Mine.The word wasn't spoken, but it echoed off every golden pillar in the room.
Across the table, Empress Elise raised one perfectly sculpted brow—sharp enough to slice through court decorum.
Lucien raised both of his dramatically.
There was a silence so tense it could have made soup curdle.
The Emperor smiled—tight and practiced. But sweat betrayed him, glistening discreetly on his royal brow.
Silas, oblivious to anything except the feel of Lucien's hand possessively curled around his arm for the first time ever, had stars shining in his eyes like a kid watching fireworks.
