Alice sighed, rubbing her temple.
"This is exhausting."
The banquet hall was already far behind them, yet the lingering tension refused to fade. The whispers, the looks, the half-swallowed fear—it all clung to her like dust.
…But Julies wasn't finished.
If anything, this was only the beginning of the lesson.
"Lady Alice," he said, his tone respectful but unyielding, "about the duel at the banquet today—why did you choose that response?"
Though phrased as a question, there was a quiet certainty in his gaze, as if he already knew her answer and was merely inviting her to say it aloud.
Alice halted mid-step.
For a brief moment, irritation surged through her chest.
'Is he… correcting me?'
The servant who was supposed to shield her reputation, to stand behind her without question, was now scrutinizing her decisions.
She turned toward him sharply.
"Your intentions are impure," she said flatly. "You're overstepping."
