Chapter 55. Confrontation at Court

Anastasia's POV

The number of people now paying attention to the discussion that started with Raven and me triples. Everyone at the ball has their eyes on us. The music, which had been joyfully echoing through the hall, is abruptly interrupted, leaving a tense and heavy silence in the air. The circle of people around me rapidly expands, turning into a curious and uneasy crowd. The once beautifully decorated hall, with its bright chandeliers and colored lamps, now casts only a dim, yellowish light that seems to intensify the atmosphere of tension and discomfort.

The nobles I had spoken to just moments before, proving my knowledge of etiquette, now look at me with discontent and suspicion, some even with thinly disguised contempt. My legs feel weak, and I sense I could collapse at any moment.

The revelation that King Ethan lied to me all this time hits me like a cruel and unexpected blow. King Ethan lied to me all this time! I was involved with the king, the kin