Dydra stopped barely two feet away from Princess Naiya.
Her entire body trembled.
She drew in a shallow breath, trying—and failing—to steady herself as she stood under the weight of the princess's gaze. Around them, the royal dining hall continued as though nothing had changed. Cutlery clinked softly against porcelain, servants moved in quiet precision, and the nobility paid them no mind. To them, she was invisible.
Naiya, however, was not.
The princess lifted a hand lazily and pointed at a nearby maid.
"You," she said, her tone crisp and indifferent. "Take the tray from her."
The maid reacted instantly, stepping forward and relieving Dydra of the silver tray before she even had time to process the command. Dydra's fingers hovered uselessly in the air for a second before falling back to her sides.
Then came the silence.
Not the usual kind that filled a dining hall—but something heavier. Sharper.
