The more the silence stretched, the more Mertyll wished for a hole to open up and swallow her whole. Because whatever tension she had stepped into was growing even more by the second ever since she said what she said. She couldn't even bring herself to look at any of them.
Reluctantly, she glanced at the Empress, who, to her shock, was smirking. She didn't what amused her so, but whatever it was, she knew the Emperor didn't share that sentiment. For the man looked beyond furious.
"That was an order from the Emperor."
Mertyll held herself back from flinching at the sudden voice of Tesarius who she didn't expect to be the first to break the ice. She internally winced, preparing to say something in return. But thankfully it was Sera who spoke, which, for Mertyll, didn't help the situation at all.
"What are you going to do then? Drag her by force?"
