Kieran looked like he'd been punched in the stomach. Adrian's mind was clearly calculating the economic implications and coming up with numbers that made his face go pale. Damien's analytical expression had cracked into something like genuine disbelief. Raphael's hands were white-knuckled on his prayer book. Even Lucian looked stunned.
Several nobles were actively protesting now, their voices rising in a chaotic din of objection and disbelief.
Heena raised one hand, and silence fell instantly.
"If anyone has objections," she said coldly, "you may write them down, seal them in an envelope, and set them on fire. Because I don't care."
That shut everyone up very effectively.
The secretary, clearly enjoying himself now despite his professional demeanor, cleared his throat and continued:
"''Fourth'', Emperor Consort Larus is hereby granted the ''Muram Banquet'', with all rights, privileges, and honors pertaining thereto."
This time, the reaction was different.
