AidanThe Grand Hall settled into a strange kind of silence.On the surface everything still resembled order. Royal Knights, thoroughly embarrassed, maintained a wary vigilance while attendants aligned behind the royal family, unsure whether they should continue their duties or remain still. The nobles from the various factions within the court tried very hard to appear unaffected by the display of power from someone who, by every formal measure, should not have mattered.I did not blame them.The security of the palace was top tier, the Royal Guard elite, and Cale had moved through all of it like it did not apply to him. That kind of thing does not leave a room unchanged. People were watching more carefully than before, not openly but in the small adjustments that come when attention narrows and no one wants to be the first to acknowledge it.Talena looked like it was taking all her energy not to move. I could see it in her shoulders, in the tension of her stance, and in the way her hands had tightened at her sides. Her composure held. She remained the princess, even now.We had done what we came here to do. Now I needed to get Cale out of here so we could formalize his contract and move this out of the public eye.The last thing I needed was —"Your Majesty," Lord Halveth began, "I am afraid I must voice my concern for the sake of the princess."I resisted the urge to drag a hand down my face.Why was there always one?The room turned toward him as he stepped forward, carrying himself with the measured confidence of someone accustomed to inserting himself at moments like this and calling it duty. He inclined his head toward the princess with appropriate respect, then turned toward us, his expression composed, his tone controlled."Given the circumstances, it would be negligent not to address what has occurred."He allowed the words to settle before continuing. (...)