[BL]Reborn as the Empire's Most Desired Omega

Vanessa dipped into a low curtsy, the fabric of her skirt whispering against the marble floor. "Your Grace. Thank you for granting me an audience."

Lucas inclined his head by a fraction—no more. The stylus continued its soft rhythm against the tablet edge.

"I was told you had something to say."

"I came to apologize," she said, straightening slowly. "Formally. For my behavior at the garden event. It was... inappropriate. I spoke out of turn and in poor judgment."

Lucas set the stylus down without looking at her. "You’re not wrong."

Vanessa’s lips parted, just a moment’s hesitation, maybe surprise but she pressed forward. "I didn’t realize, at the time, how serious the circumstances were."

"Do you mean Trevor?" Lucas asked, finally lifting his gaze to hers. "Or your brother forcing you to apologize?"

The silence that followed cracked, brittle as ice.

Vanessa flinched—only slightly, but Lucas caught it.

"My brother..." she began, then stopped, regrouped. "Caesar advised me to offer a proper apology."

Lucas’s expression didn’t change, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop. "How noble of him," he murmured, each word sharpened like glass, "but he’s not the kind to let you go without punishment. Do you realize what would have come of you and your family if he wasn’t who he is?"

Vanessa’s breath hitched. Her gaze flicked to the floor, then back up—wary now, but still clinging to pride like a shield. "He wouldn’t—"