Bab 409: The Counter (4)

In one of the medium-sized rooms on the dome's 2nd floor, the five Courtenay representatives, deputy marshals of the Royal Army, the Crown Princess, two of her personal royal guards, and Ernst were gathered.

They were seated on carved chairs around a similarly carved, long wooden round table. At the head of the table was an ornamented high chair where Haylee sat. Her two personal guards, Lira and a man named Fye, stood behind each side of the chair. To her left sat the Royal Army's Deputy Marshals; Mannick, Ingrid, and Imman. And to her right sat the Courtenay Family members. Patriarch Ernst, a middle-aged man with short wavy blonde hair and olive-green eyes wearing a white collared coat, and five Courtenay representatives.

After Patriarch Ernst explained the situation to Haylee, the whole room fell into a tense silence.

They all looked at Haylee, who remained silent with her eyes closed the whole time. Her expression was unreadable.