Chapter 78
Azalea dabbed her lips with her napkin, her eyes flickering toward Maya as the meal continued. The table glowed under the light of the chandeliers, the polished silverware catching reflections like tiny blades. For a moment, it seemed like a normal dinner, but the tension wrapped around the table was anything but ordinary.
She set her fork down with deliberate calm. “Maya,” she began, her voice carrying a smooth authority that made even the servants pause, “I’ll be needing your assistance in preparing for Federico’s coronation. It will be a grand event, and I do hope you’ll be willing to help.”
Maya froze, the spoon halfway to her mouth. A faint smile twitched at the corners of her lips, though her eyes betrayed the unease she tried to mask. “I think I’ll be rather busy… Ther
