The conviction in her voice—the absolute certainty—made Heena pause.
She held Seraphina's gaze for a long moment, searching for any hint of deception, any sign of manipulation.
But all she saw was fear, determination, and what looked disturbingly like genuine honesty.
Heena let go of her throat and stepped back.
The silence was deafening.
Then Larus's voice came from behind her, soft and careful:
"Your Majesty... we should call the consorts. All of them. To address this... claim."
Heena turned to look at him. His expression was serious now, all traces of earlier humor gone. He looked calm but alert, his mind clearly working through the implications.
"We should also," he continued quietly, "summon the imperial physicians. And witnesses. This is not something that can be handled privately."
Heena nodded slowly, her jaw tight.
She turned to the nearest guard, her voice absolutely controlled:
