"Your Highness!"
They all greeted me with formal courtesy. Even the Countess—whose absence at my arrival had been noted moments before—now stood stiffly by her side, her expression an uneasy mix of respect and barely concealed disdain.
I could already sense the spectacle Laura intended for me. It was as if she wished to drive home the stark contrast between us. I may have earned the title of Archduchess, yet she still held the upper hand as the heir to the throne. The very notion irked me.
"What nonsense," I thought bitterly. If she sought to stage a grand performance so that everyone would learn a lesson, then she should first be shown the true extent of my power and authority.
I rose slowly, allowing the eyes of the assembled courtiers to lock onto my every move. In one calculated motion, I swept the tablecloth from the table.
