Reinfort's weathered eyes studied his prince's crimson face, the way Valdris's fists clenched and unclenched, the barely contained fury simmering beneath that aristocratic mask.
'He's too emotional,' Reinfort thought, his old mind working through the situation with the cold clarity of decades of experience. 'His pride is wounded. He'll say something we all regret. I need to end this before he makes things worse.'
He pushed himself upright, ignoring the protest of his battered body. His voice, when it came, carried the weight of a man who had spent his life navigating impossible situations.
"Enough. Let's settle this rationally."
All eyes turned to him. Even Valdris's rage seemed to falter in the face of that calm authority.
Reinfort met Adam's crimson gaze directly, his expression neutral but his eyes sharp.
