บท 53: The Dance

AYLETH

Man after noble man, waltz, after waltz, Ayleth smiled and nodded through stilted conversations, barely veiled political offerings, and simpering compliments.

She rolled her eyes whenever they weren't looking. She hated all of it. And yet, she forced the pretty smile and made the same jokes over and over again for an eternity—anything, if it kept her mother from asking pointed questions, and the Advisors from trying to force her hand. With Falek's decision still undetermined, and rising talk of bad feeling against the Summitrans for Etan's "weak" win against Dugg, Ayleth would do anything to keep eyes off of Etan and on herself for the entire night.