Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

In banquets like these, no one truly ate with much enthusiasm. Most dishes were merely tasted before being set aside, barely touched before servants whisked

them away.

But the Nerathians were different. They treated every dish with genuine respect, cleaning their plates entirely, no matter what was served. Their wine glasses, once filled, were immediately emptied again. The palace servants attending to them must have been exhausted, constantly refilling their glasses and replacing empty plates.

Violet recalled their meal at Spring Pavilion. Just like tonight, not a single scrap had been left behind. She wanted to say something to Carissa, but the only sound in the hall was the clinking of cutlery and the quiet shifting of plates. Speaking now would be too conspicuous.

Still, one glance between them was enough.

Violet's thought was clear-the Nerathians' presence at this banquet must be tied to the negotiations. Carissa agreed.

However, their exact role remained uncertain. Were they here to mediate and broker peace? If so, the treaty could be finalized swiftly.

Or were they here to back Orivenia? If that was the case, then this would become a drawn-out battle. With Nerathia behind them, Orivenia would have little reason

position at the table would

struck the Starhaven envoys as well. Davis and the Diplomatic Affairs Minister, Alden Grey, who had earlier been brimming with excitement, now wore more somber expressions. They barely touched their food,

banquet they had ever attended. An eerie, foreboding silence hung

in the palace banquet, but each portion was very small. The servants came in one after another, placing dish after dish on the table, then quickly clearing them away. When someone tried to raise a glass for a toast, it was just like earlier with Lisandra. They took a quick glance around, drank their wine, and then set the glass down

just as quickly, the Nerathians finished. Only then did the rest of the hall dare

and speaking in fluent Westic. Carissa listened as the translator relayed his words. He was

fluent in Stellish the Nerathians had been back at Spring Pavilion, speaking as if they were

the Halcyon Monarch and his princess

in Westic,

between our two kingdoms, in the hope that both

A witness.

to avoid revealing their true stance. But what did it mean? Were they here to mediate and broker peace, or to back Orivenia up?

"Starhaven welcomes Prince Faelan

a witness to our negotiations. We will strive for a peace agreement that is faband just, one that