Chapter 280: What do you think?

It didn’t take long before Aria finally arrived at the grand hall. The scent of baked bread and roasted meat lingered in the air, warm and inviting, while the faint clinking of silverware echoed across the vast space as servants moved gracefully about, attending to the gathered guests.Aria stepped in, her heels clicking lightly against the polished floor, and was relieved to see that Zyren had somehow not arrived yet, even though it was clear that other people had. The werewolf delegation had already taken their places—all except their king.

Clara smiled the moment she saw Aria enter and immediately moved closer to her, her golden curls bouncing lightly with each step as sunlight caught in their sheen.

"You look well!" Clara said with a soft smile, her voice warm but cautious, even as Aria responded in the same manner, aware of all the eyes that watched them from nearby tables—people who were bound to be paying attention to whatever conversation the two women might have.

Clara clearly wanted to speak more freely, and though they did nothing more than exchange polite greetings, they were both aware that they would meet the moment breakfast was over.

They had just said goodbye, with Clara moving gracefully back to her seat, when the door of the hall was pushed open.

Zyren walked in.

He was dressed in black and gold regalia that shimmered faintly under the morning light, the subtle glint of the metal embroidery emphasizing the quiet authority in his stride. Beside him walked King Jared, mostly adorned in vibrant gold that made him look both regal and dangerously elegant, the polished metal reflecting the gleam of his sharp, commanding eyes.

Their expressions were amicable, but one look at Zyren and Aria instinctively felt that Jared had said something to him—something that had pissed him off. That feeling only grew stronger when Zyren’s gaze leveled on Aria, sharp and unreadable, and she couldn’t help but feel that some of that quiet, simmering anger was also directed at her.

It was subtle, but clearly it was there as he focused his eyes on her even as he moved over to his seat, sitting down without having to wait for anyone to speak first.

Aria also sat down, though her movements were slower, uncertain. She couldn’t help but constantly glance at Zyren, who didn’t seem to pay her any attention as he waved his hand, ordering the servants who stood behind them to begin serving the food.

For the vampires, blood was a staple food, thick and dark in the crystal chalices placed before them, while for the werewolves, they could eat normal food—but most of what filled the table on their side was meat, rich and steaming, the scent almost overwhelming.

The air wasn’t tension-filled at first, and King Jared had a soft, charming smile on his face. But where Aria sat, the air might as well have been set on fire. Her mind stirred uneasily as she wondered deeply, trying to figure out what King Jared could have said to make Zyren’s cool and calm aura suddenly change.

Words were not spoken even as each side ate, but it would have been better if they were. The silence was its own kind of sharp. Clara herself, who sat beside King Jared, seemed to have noticed what was going on even as she quietly ate her food, her gaze flicking once or twice toward Zyren before she looked away.

Aria also did her best to forget whatever was going on, forcing herself to focus on the delicate motion of lifting her cup, on the faint warmth of the drink between her hands. There was no reason to dwell on it—no matter how hard she tried, it would be impossible to figure out what exactly had happened.

Breakfast passed quickly. The scrape of cutlery against plates grew softer, until soon it was over. Zyren was done eating and drinking and merely held his cup in his hand, turning it slowly as though lost in thought.

Aria waited for him to get up and leave like he usually did, but it soon became clear that he had no intention to do something like that this time. He continued to sit there with a calm look on his face, though his eyes burned with an intensity that worried her.

Soon everyone was mostly done with their food but still didn’t dare leave the table, considering the fact that Zyren continued to sit in his seat. The tension only thickened—no one could bring themselves to speak as the silence in the room grew heavier, pressing down on everyone’s shoulders like weight.

It wasn’t until Zyren opened his mouth to speak, his voice low but distinct, that the spell broke.

"The rest of you should get up and leave!" he said.

He had barely spoken before everyone scrambled out of their seats, including the lords. Chairs screeched against the floor as hurried footsteps filled the hall.

Zyren’s gaze, however, was clearly fixed on King Jared, and even Aria, startled by the sudden authority in his tone, also rose to her feet, relief flooding through her—only to freeze when she heard him speak again.

"Not you!"

His voice was cold, cutting through the hall like a blade, and the command in it made her drop back into her seat instinctively. Her heart thudded in her chest as she watched everyone else rush out—everyone except King Jared and Clara, who sat comfortably in her seat with her head held high in a way that said that only King Jared could command her.

Within moments, the hall had emptied. Even the servants had slipped away, the doors closing softly behind them until only four people remained. The silence that followed was suffocating.

Aria shifted her gaze toward Zyren, a faint frown creasing her brow as she deeply wondered what he intended to say. Her pulse quickened as she waited, until finally, she heard his voice again.

"King Jared made a proposition that hinted at the fact that you could head to his kingdom and point out all the Zygons so they may be exterminated!" Zyren said.

Aria’s eyes widened in surprise. She turned sharply to glance at King Jared, who sat high and mighty in his chair, his expression calm but his eyes gleaming with something sharper than politeness.

"I proposed that since clearly your talents are yet to be put to good use, it might be better to start with the council leaders of my kingdom and those in higher rankings to ensure that there are no spies amongst us!" King Jared opened his mouth to speak, his tone smooth and convincing, even as Aria listened—her attention drawn almost entirely to every flicker of Zyren’s expression.

He revealed nothing. His face was carved in stillness, unreadable, though something in the depth of his eyes made her chest tighten.

"If Lady Aria is willing then we can start now!" King Jared continued, his voice carrying a note of practiced sincerity, his lips curving faintly into what could have passed for a genuine smile. But Aria didn’t believe it for a second.

She knew that Zyren wouldn’t, either.

Clearly, King Jared was looking for a way to get rid of Zyren—Zygon infestation or not. The realization chilled her even as she sat still, pretending calm.

Which was why she was surprised—utterly taken aback—when Zyren turned to her instead.

His gaze locked on hers, steady and piercing, as he asked, "What do you think?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and dangerous, the faint crackle of tension seeming to echo through the grand hall.