Chapter 31: The Same face.
The grand doors of the dining hall swung open with a creak, drawing everyone’s attention as the Draconian royal made their entrance. Malakar is now fully in his guise as Crown Prince Vincent.
He stepped in with an air of regal grace, his eyes scanning the room with a predatory gleam. Alongside him, King Rhyzar Draconius Lysander followed too; his towering presence and commanding aura were enough to silence even the faintest whispers in the hall.
Every step they took seemed to echo louder than it should as if their very presence demanded the attention of all.
The Aetherlyn nobles sat frozen at the sight of Crown Prince Vincent; they were glancing at each other with masked curiosity.
King Alaric sat straight and imposing, his dark eyes reflecting a mix of strength and wisdom. Beside him, Queen Selena exuded an air of regal elegance, though her haughty gaze hinted at how honorable she felt, and she looked at everyone that was beneath her.
Princess Aurelia is dressed in a gown of deep sapphire. She stood quietly at her mother’s side; her thoughts were hidden behind a mask of composure. Meanwhile, Prince Dorian maintained his usual stoic demeanor, his thoughts unreadable as ever.
While the noble consort is seated in their designated positions along the table, they whisper behind their gloved hands. Consort Elara was sitting next to her son Adrian; he was the second Prince. She kept her back straight as she exchanged polite but cautious smiles with Consort Seraphine.
Seraphine is the second consort of King Alaric. She sat to the side with her daughter, Lady Sanadi; her child was still too young to understand the tension in the room. Their seats reflected their status, but they still gave prominence.
Each consort was dressed immaculately, their outfits chosen to reflect their importance but subtly different to avoid outshining Queen Selena.