LUCY
Adrian takes his time to study Mina.
"Study" is the only word that truly describes the way he looks at her, his eyes unblinking as the silence in the hall becomes deafening once again.
Everyone is waiting on the Prince's words, waiting for his verdict—including the Supreme King.
It makes me realize with a jolt that the testing has already begun; whatever Adrian says, the people will take as gospel.
"She is telling the truth," Adrian says. His voice is the same—level, detached, just there. "Only to save her ass, though. At least she is smart enough to know when the game's up."
And for the first time today, even for the first time in my life, I know for a fact that an Ashkaran noble is lying.
Not completely, perhaps, but there's a lie woven somewhere into the fabric of his words.
Because I know Mina lied.
I know she is not some helpless, manipulated female like the one she has painted for the court.
