The gathering didn’t disperse immediately after the announcement.
If anything, the tension became heavier now that everything was out in the open. Conversations spread quickly across the grounds, quieter than before but far more serious. People weren’t reacting to rumors anymore. They were reacting to facts.
Lyra stood beside Kael, watching the shift happen in real time.
Some looked unsettled.
Some angry.
Some thoughtful.
But almost everyone looked divided.
“They didn’t expect that reaction,” Lyra said quietly.
Kael’s gaze remained on the crowd. “No. They expected resistance, not hesitation from their own side.”
That part mattered.
Because even among the northern representatives, there had been subtle shifts during the discussion. Glances exchanged. Expressions tightening. Moment
