Sairis's POV
Sairis's jaw tightened for a brief moment, the tension in the room was sharp, but he kept his face calm, his posture soft, exactly as Lady Candice would.
Then he noticed Loreen had stopped eating and dropped his knife. It made a small sound, but loud enough in the quiet tension.
"It is just dinner," Loreen said, reaching for his cup. "I do not think we need to complicate things, regardless of who is at the table."
Sairis almost exhaled in relief, but it did not last.
Greta tapped the table lightly with one finger, the sound sharp. "No one is complicating anything, Loreen," she said smoothly. "Every lady should be able to tell that this is not a family dinner."
Loreen let out a low hiss under his breath. "Well, it was supposed to be," he muttered, his eyes shifting briefly to the king.
King Markus said nothing and simply sipped his wine. In that moment, Sairis saw it clearly, the silence, and the choice not to interfere or take sides.
