Chapter 87: Waiting
Not far away, Cyruz crossed his arms tightly, watching the interaction with a frown on his face, clearly annoyed that Axelius was being noticed. A few of Cyruz’s friends leaned toward him and whispered something that made him narrow his eyes and tighten his jaw, but he didn’t respond—his glare was already saying enough.
Then, without warning, the crowd’s murmurs slowly faded as a presence entered the space near the front table where the elders were seated.
Elder Mairead, the only female among the four, stood from her chair. She didn’t speak, not yet, but she looked toward Axelius again—just like she did earlier during the ceremony—and this time, her stare lasted longer.
Axelius felt it again.
A strange weight in the air. Not like before, when she looked at him with killing intent, but something heavier, colder, yet almost... curious. Her golden eyes stared deep into him, like she was trying to pull his soul out with just a glance, and although Axelius kept a neutral face, something inside him shivered for just a second.
Owen noticed and glanced sideways at him from his bowl. "She’s looking again," Owen said, his voice lower this time.
"I know," Axelius replied, blinking slowly.
Elder Mairead tilted her head slightly, as if she’d confirmed something. Then, slowly, without a word, she looked away and picked up her tea. But there was a smile now—small, brief, but real—and that made Axelius frown again.
"What the hell that old hag want?" he muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes.
A few nobles closer to him heard it and gasped slightly, turning their heads in his direction, and one of the older Dravenhart uncles, sitting nearby, clicked his tongue and gave him a sharp look.
"Watch your mouth, kid" the man said sternly. "You carry our name."