Brunhilde sighed inwardly, but her glare never wavered from Lucian despite internal conversation.
Lucian released a long sigh, which held a mix of exhaustion and resignation as he glanced around. Then his gaze dropped to the Star Jewel in his hands, examining the artifact as if seeing it for the first time.
"I knew things would go this way..." Lucian muttered quietly across the suddenly silent battlefield. "But I do feel a bit of regret seeing the end of another of my dear friends."
Everyone trembled with their expression shifting. The casual admission of premeditated betrayal was delivered with a tone suggesting mild inconvenience rather than catastrophic loss.
Veryn shouted from where she stood among the others, her voice cracked as she lost her composure. "Y-You knew Honor was going to attack Reinhard!?"
