Elias exhaled subtly, only now realizing how tense his shoulders had been. He lowered his gaze, focusing on his hands resting in his lap,
but the weight of the room's attention remained. He could feel the silent stares, the questions lingering in their minds, yet no one dared to voice them.
The air in the dining hall was heavier than before. The servants moved carefully their usual efficiency laced with hesitation.
Dishes were placed before them, the quiet clinking of porcelain and silverware was the only sound filling the hall.
Elias kept his eyes on his plate, struggling to find a sense of normalcy.
But how could he?
He was seated beside Cassius. He was eating at the master's table.
His appetite was nonexistent, but he forced himself to take a bite, chewing slowly. The food was good, warm, exactly as he had suggested.
Yet, every swallow felt difficult. He could still feel eyes on him, could sense the unspoken tension that filled the room.
