A soft murmur spread among the attendees.
Some still looked shaken.
Some were whispering, speculating.
But most of them knew—this wasn't Aelric's fault.
He had handled it well, ensuring that things didn't spiral even further out of control.
One by one, the guests nodded in agreement, accepting his words.
And soon—
The garden returned to life.
Despite the pits, the craters, and the lingering tension, people resumed their conversations, laughter, and socializing.
As if trying to erase the memory of what had just transpired.
While others moved on, Alice's mind didn't.
Her fingers tightened slightly, her heart still pounding from everything that had just unfolded.
Her gaze flickered to Anton, watching as her brother took a deep breath and walked toward Aelric.
He had probably seen enough for one day.
This was her chance.
A rare moment of freedom.
Her eyes lit up with excitement as she quickly turned to Princess Aveline, grabbing her hand with urgency.
