[color=lightgray][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/clIHoiY.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/3wGoS7n.png[/img][/center]

[color=DDB775]Time:[/color] Eveing
[color=a187be]Location:[/color] The Castle Dining Hall
[color=DDB775]Interaction/Mention:[/color] [@Oso] Killian
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Queen Alibeth Danrose remained perfectly poised, the stoicism in her features a maintained mask of composure. Yet internally, a spark of dark satisfaction flickered through her veins like an electric current. She had anticipated this moment. Planned for it, even. 

And now, as Kilian strode through the hall, dragging iron chains, Alibeth felt a surge of vindication. Here was a tangible message delivered to those fools, a clear statement: magic and its chaotic undercurrents would not be tolerated in Caesonia.

And [i]especially[/i] not from Marek’s pawns. 

Her eyes glittered with carefully restrained triumph, the only outward sign a subtle tightening at the corners of her mouth. This man, Kilian, was exactly as promised—a blade to cut away the kingdom's festering corruption. 

King Edin, however, was in an entirely different state of mind. Inebriated and flushed from his indulgences, he initially watched, open-mouthed, as the display unfolded. For a fleeting moment, there was a sharpness in his gaze—a flicker of sober awareness that betrayed he had, in fact, anticipated this. Alibeth had warned him ahead of time, after all. But as the chains scraped louder and the drama crescendoed, his expression shifted. The seriousness evaporated, replaced by a lazy, self-satisfied grin, as if the entire affair had been orchestrated solely for his entertainment.

He slapped the armrest of his throne with a boisterous bark of laughter, thoroughly delighted.

[color=DDB775]“Oh, splendid! Absolutely spectacular!” [/color] Edin's voice echoed unnecessarily loudly in the silent hall. He leaned toward Alibeth, his breath thick with drink, [color=DDB775]“You really went all out, didn’t you, my dear? I suppose this is your way of spicing up the evening!”[/color]

A hiccup punctuated his enthusiasm, and he waved a hand towards Kilian, utterly oblivious to—or perhaps choosing to ignore—the tension vibrating through the room. Whispers of shock and outrage rippled through the guests, but Edin merely lounged back in his throne, smug and immensely entertained.

Alibeth allowed herself a subtle sigh, then rose gracefully to her feet, projecting  authority. [color=a187be]“Welcome, Kilian,”[/color] she addressed him, her voice steady and resonant. [color=a187be]“Your timing is impeccable, as always.”[/color]

For a moment, she let the silence hold, let the court wonder, let them fear.

[color=a187be]“For those of you who may not yet understand the necessity of this interruption,”[/color] she continued, her tone cool but not cruel, [color=a187be]“allow me to clarify. The woman you see before you has been apprehended under my directive. She was responsible for tampering with the refreshments at the Edwards’ recent gathering—a calculated act designed to sow chaos and bring harm to our noble class.”[/color]

Alibeth’s gaze swept across the assembly, allowing each noble to feel the weight of her words. [color=a187be]“It was not mere mischief,”[/color] she said. [color=a187be]“It was an assault. One that endangered many of you here tonight. And more gravely, one that put the royal children themselves at risk.”[/color]

The ripple that passed through the guests was immediate—gasps and murmurs as they shifted in discomfort, horror painted across their faces.

Alibeth let the reaction settle, then with a faint, chilling smile, she inclined her head toward Kilian. [color=a187be]“Please, seat yourself and enjoy what remains of the banquet. You have more than earned it.”[/color]

Then, without so much as glancing at her husband’s flushed and grinning form, she lowered herself back onto her throne with the effortless dignity of a queen.


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