Chapter 34

Having come down the stairs, Christine and Adele bowed before the imperial couple seated on their gilded thrones.

The Empress had made no secret of her displeasure the entire time. The Emperor, though, kept an easy smile on his face as he offered his congratulations, then beckoned to the chamberlain standing behind him.

"Bring it."

The onlookers watched the moment with their hearts in their throats, imagining the chamberlain handing the Emperor a sword, and the Emperor using it to take Adele's head off right there. A few of the women who envied Adele looked almost hopeful that he would.

But what the chamberlain carried out was a document stamped with the imperial seal.

Jan rose from his seat and spoke so that everyone in the hall could hear.

"Adele Grilles. By the Emperor's authority, you are struck from House Oswald as of this hour. Do you object?"

In that…