He felt heat rise to his cheeks and fought to keep his expression neutral.
"Of course, your Majesty. I am honored to be invited by you. Truly."
Liu Xiu's smile deepened. Then her screen flickered, and she was gone.
Spectra gave Lancet a small nudge on the shoulder. "You're going up in the world, dear Master Lancet." She clicked her tongue approvingly. "I'm so proud."
Lancet said nothing. His face was very red.
The war room was now quiet, the five walls now dark and still. The Council Members rose from their seats, one by one, and approached the group.
Ressis was the first. She took Lancet's hands in hers, her elegant features soft with sincerity. "You have my deepest thanks, Lancet Leogardt. And my deepest apologies. We should have trusted you from the beginning."
"We were blinded by protocol," Uren said, shaking his head. "By fear of what breaking the truce might mean. But you saw the truth, and you acted. That took courage."
