Lucian merely offered a thin smile from behind the hood of his cloak. He didn't rush to reply, letting the silence hang between them for a few seconds. Then, he raised his arm slightly and turned his palm towards the ceiling, shaking his head slowly.
"Unfortunately, Your Majesty," he replied casually, "I merely wished to ensure our conversation remained uninterrupted. Believe me, I come with good intentions."
His tone was gentle, but something underlay it—something that made his words feel like a carefully laid trap.
"So, who are you?" Queen Evelynine finally spoke, her voice laced with suspicion. "Are you part of that knight's group?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, trying to pierce the shadows concealing the masked figure before her.
"Truly, I commend your audacity in confronting me directly like this."
