The air between Allen and Gerald felt heavy enough to slice through. Their gazes clashed like swords — Gerald's glare sharp and filled with silent accusation, while Allen's emerald eyes glimmered with calm defiance, utterly unbothered by the older man's intensity. Every breath that passed between them was like a quiet battlefield of unspoken challenges and restrained authority.
Gerald's fingers tapped the edge of the table, his jaw tightening. "So this is the great Emperor everyone fears," he muttered under his breath, though loud enough for Allen to hear.
Allen's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Fear?" His tone was dangerously smooth. "Respect would be the more accurate word."
Giovina sighed, already massaging her temple. "Gerald, please," she whispered. "Not at the breakfast table. The children are here."
