The courtyard went silent.
"She will return with us," the Second Prince declared. "The Land Empire will grant her the highest possible status, second only to the Queen herself."
Han Soi finally lifted his eyes fully.
Before he could speak, a loud scoff was heard.
It was Feng Yansheng. The sound was quiet, but it was like a bucket of cold water for the prince and his men.
"Second only to the Queen?" Feng Yansheng repeated lazily.
His gaze lowered, sharp and mocking. "Does your Queen even have a position in front of a dual S+++ ability?"
The Second Prince froze.
Feng Yansheng stepped forward slightly, his robes whispering against the stone. "Why do I feel," he continued calmly, "that you are diminishing her value rather than honoring it?"
The pressure in the air intensified.
The Second Prince's jaw tightened. After a pause, he replied smoothly, though his knuckles had gone white.
"Of course not. The Queen is merely an elder figure."
