"Oh, don't worry, Grandpa," Heena smiled brightly, standing up from her chair despite the throbbing ache in her head. "The capital is going to explode for a completely different reason. I am getting married in three days."
The room fell dead silent.
The grandmother paused mid-sip. The grandfather's jaw practically hit the floor.
"YOU ARE WHAT?!" the old Marquis roared, his blood pressure instantly skyrocketing back to dangerous levels.
The teacup in the grandmother's hand violently rattled against its saucer. The grandfather gripped the edge of the wooden table so hard the thick mahogany audibly cracked under his fingers.
"Married?!" the grandfather repeated, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "In three days?! Seera, Vanguard weddings take six months of preparation! The imperial decrees, the guest lists, the dowry negotiations—"
