Time stood still.
Every gaze fell on Vanessa. Fear showed on the nobles' faces, Victoria looked at her in despair, and the guards and servants lowered their heads in panic.
Vanessa froze for a moment, then her eyes widened, as though she had only just realized what she had said.
That feeling, that familiar feeling...
Vanessa shuddered. This was actually the Great Being's will?!
She looked toward the throne in panic, only to find a somewhat frail old man there, dressed in luxurious robes, his back slightly bowed beneath his crown.
His face was dark as he looked at Victoria in displeasure. "Victoria, this is the Knight you chose?"
"For such insolence before the throne, I could have her head cut off on the spot!"
Victoria immediately dropped to her knees and tugged at Vanessa. Seeing that she was still in a daze, she simply let go.
"Your Majesty, Vanessa was just... it's just her first time at the Imperial Palace. She was so frightened that she started hallucinating..."
As she spoke, she turned toward Vanessa. "Vanessa, you..."
Vanessa gritted her teeth and turned her head away.
This was His will. If dying here was her destiny, then she would meet it.
Only, she had dragged Victoria into it...
Vanessa clenched her fists tightly.
A peculiar silence fell over Palace Hall. The nobles glanced discreetly at the throne and exchanged looks, their expressions subtle.
There was only silence from the throne, along with rasping breaths.
After a long while, a weary voice spoke. "Never mind. It's already too late. You... go back."
Vanessa froze, scarcely able to believe her ears.
Was this some sort of coded order? An instruction for the guards to kill her without warning?
Why did it sound as though he was simply letting her go?
Vanessa