/-Kaelynn's pov-/
I gasped, caught off guard by the sight. Was this what it meant to be royal? I blinked, trying to take it in, as Nephroma, Syrr, and Evangra, all knelt, their heads bowed low in full reverence.
It was... fascinating. I glanced around, realizing I was the only one still seated at the table. And unfortunately, bowing to my knees wasn't an option.
From where I sat, I couldn't see my mother or brothers clearly, so I let my attention drift back to the Five Houses instead.
I spotted a beautiful lady in a violet cloak, two twins in blue cloaks who giggled until an older boy beside them shot them a glare, and a Lord whose red head was bent in a stiff bow, but his eyes still lifted to eye the queen with a charming smile on his lips.
Then there were the women in thick gray cloaks, kneeling in silence, and another lord in a yellow cloak whose scowl was as fixed as his eyes were to the floor.
Clearly, not everyone was happy to be here.
Just as I was about to look away from the House of Varek, I felt a strange weight of someone's eyes on me.
My gaze swept back over the gathered nobles, but every head was still bowed.
No one met my eyes.
So who had just been staring? I narrowed my eyes and scanned each face again, searching slowly for anything unusual. But nothing stood out… until I looked up.
Warm, black eyes stared straight into mine.
My breath caught and I immediately looked away. Who was that? I'd found whoever it was, but the moment I did, I didn't feel comfortable anymore. I tilted my head slightly, trying to sneak another glance, and there he was… still looking at me.
What in the world?
I looked down again, feeling weirded out. Why was he still staring? I couldn't meet his gaze, but I found myself studying him anyway. Judging by the color of his cloak, he was likely from House Varek—the one with the seahorse banner.
But unlike his lord, his head wasn't down.
What audacity!
He wasn't bowing so how did I not notice him earlier?
I swallowed.
"All shall rise to introduce their Houses to Her Majesty, Queen Isolde, and the Prince Heir to the Black Throne."
At once, the Five Houses stood.
The first Lord stepped forward with the kind of smugness that made you look twice, even though his head was bowed in respect and his eyes were fixed on the Queen.
"I am Lord Alrik Thorne of House Thorne," he said in a smooth voice. "My condolences, Your Majesty. The King was… efficient during his Black Reign."
A long silence followed.
One by one, the other Houses gave their formal greetings, saying what they had to say, all in the expected tone and order.
When House Varek was called, I let myself properly ogle at the man.
He had a build that belonged in stories… tall much taller than most men here, and those powerful thighs looked like they belonged to two people instead of one. His face was something else entirely. I couldn't resist staring at his thick black brows framed by dark, intelligent eyes that seemed to study me.
My eyes trailed down his jawline. They were carved, but not in a pretty-boy way… and that nose was straight, sitting above full, serious lips.
His hair was closely cropped on the sides and just long enough on top to hint at a curl, and dark as ink.
It was rare to see a man that tall still carry the features the Creator gave him… unblemished.
He was… beautiful.
He stood silently next to a much shorter man who introduced himself as Lord Vikar Varek.
I needed to know his name.
Who was he?
I was about to turn away when something flashed next to the tall man.
Another skinny man, standing near the Violet banner… he wasn't supposed to be there. He looked anxious, shifting from one foot to the other, darting his eyes around nervously.
And right beside him stood the widow, Lady Nysha.
Her silver-like hair fell just beneath her long ears, and her face was so familiar, like someone I knew.
My eyes snapped back to the skinny man.
Sweat was glistening across his forehead, and his dark eye sockets made him look haunted.
Something was wrong with him. Then I saw his hand dipping into his pocket.
He pulled out a knife.
"Look, behind you!" I shouted, pointing directly at him.
Every head in the court turned toward me instead.
No, not me! Him! That's when I realized I had interrupted the ceremony, not helped it. But it was too late to care.
The skinny man let out a guttural cry and lunged at the silver-haired woman.
"Arghh!!"
Everything happened fast.
The tall man who had been watching me finally tore his gaze away. He dashed forward in three powerful strides, slapping the knife from the man's hands.
The knife slipped from the attacker's hand and clattered loudly to the floor.
Lady Nysha stumbled back in shock.
Without further ado, the tall man grabbed the attacker by the neck, lifting him effortlessly to deliver a blow to his forehead.
The skinny man went still.
The room buzzed with panic.
Members of House Evermoor scattered behind their lady, guards reached for their swords, and gasps filled the hall.
"There's an assassin in court!" someone barked.
General Loric in full army regalia appeared like smoke. "Everyone, to the inner courtroom. Now."
He pointed toward a massive brown gate—thick enough that even fifteen men would struggle to break it down.
I looked up at the banister and saw my mother and brother were already gone, no doubt rushed into the throne room where they'd be safe behind locked doors.
Typical for royals to save themselves first before wondering what happened to the rest of us.
Evangra appeared at my side, sounding urgent. "We need to find you a chair."