The moment those words left Isabella's mouth, the whole place fell into dead silence.
Even the snow seemed to stop for one strange second.
This was because nobody had expected that answer.
Not after the way Isabella had smiled and listened. Not after the way she had nodded at the healer as if she truly understood and appreciated her words. So when the order came out so cleanly and so coldly, it felt like a slap across the face of everyone who had thought she was about to choose mercy.
The kneeling traitors were the first to break.
