Royal Revelations

A heavy, suffocating silence descended over the sprawling banquet table. The echoing, ferocious roars from moments ago finally faded, replaced by the mundane, sharp scrape of silver forks against fine porcelain plates. My heart hammered a frantic, erratic rhythm against my ribs. I kept my gaze fixed straight ahead, forcing my ragged breathing to steady. Beside me, Liora sat rigid as a board. Her s