Francois didn't move at first.
He just stood there, gaze locked onto Gabriel with a look so cold, so utterly still, that it sent a chill down Beatrice's spine.
Gabriel, to his credit, recovered quickly. He straightened, stepping back just enough to feign innocence.
"Your Highness," he greeted smoothly, as if he hadn't just cornered her. "I was merely keeping Lady Beatrice company on her way to her chambers."
Beatrice clenched her fists.
Liar!
Francois' expression didn't change. He didn't look at Beatrice, didn't acknowledge her yet. Instead, he let the silence stretch, letting Gabriel sit in his own words before finally speaking.
"Is that so?" Francois' voice was soft. Too soft.
Gabriel offered a small smile, casual, unbothered. "Of course. I would never let a lady walk alone at night unaccompanied. The palace can be… unpredictable."
Beatrice stiffened. That wasn't just a lie, it was a threat. A veiled one, buried beneath false concern, but a threat nonetheless.
