Forcing his professional composure, Mahir lowered his head, his voice tight. "Greetings, Empress Regent. Greetings to the Regent's fiancé."
"Yeah, yeah," Julian muttered, completely bypassing the formal pleasantries. He didn't even slow his stride, pulling Elara right past them. "Let's go."
Mahir instantly stepped sideways, his broad shoulder cutting off their path as he came directly between them. "Wait. Where exactly are you taking the Regent?"
Normally, Julian would have snapped or shouted in annoyance at Mahir's overbearing presence. But this time, he didn't raise his voice. He stopped, holding Elara's arm tightly, and pointed his other hand directly at her completely expressionless face.
He looked Mahir dead in the eye and said with absolute, frantic gravity, "Elara—this woman does not even know how to laugh. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"
Mahir and Ken stood in absolute, stunned silence.
