Even Duke Michelle had spoken, and the surrounding noblewomen all began to gossip.
"This is utterly disgraceful for us nobles."
"I wonder how the Aberji Family will maintain their footing in the royal circle after this. They're simply untrustworthy."
"It's just kneeling to admit defeat, not as if it's taking her life."
...
The relentless voices of criticism drilled into Alice's ears, making her feel like her head was about to explode. Her hands, hanging at her sides, clenched tightly at her waistcoat, teeth grinding as if she wished to bite her lips until they bled.
If she kneels, it won't take long before the entire royal circle becomes abuzz, and she'll be endlessly ridiculed by those women for it.
But if she doesn't kneel, who knows how Xia Weiyi will use this incident to spin gossip to the media, smear her name, and perhaps by the next day, "Dog spewing nonsense" might be plastered across the front pages of major English tabloids.
