[Lavinia's POV — Outside the Palace Gates—The Birthday Picnic Begins]
Papa's roar echoed through the courtyard like a war horn.
"YOU—YOU BASTARD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?"
Birds flew from the nearby trees. Even the horses looked mildly traumatized.
Osric flinched, visibly regretting every life decision that led him to this exact moment. Grand Duke Regis, however, merely adjusted his collar with the serenity of a man who's been yelled at by kings and lived to mock them afterward.
"Ah, Emperor Cassius," Regis said pleasantly, as though he'd just been greeted with a warm hug instead of a death threat. "So nice to see you too. What a fine day for a family outing, isn't it?"
"Family outing!?" Papa barked, his face reddening. "Since when are you part of my family!?"
Regis smiled with infuriating calm. "Since my future daughter-in-law kissed my son openly. Naturally, where my son goes, I follow. Family spirit, you know."
I buried my face in my hands. "Oh no…"
