Leon gave the guards a look, and they immediately understood.
The ornate doors had been closed, and the guards stood firmly, their expressions unreadable. The remaining guests, high-ranking female officials, exchanged puzzled glances. Lady Seraphina, among them, adjusted her gown, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the room.
Leon stepped forward, his voice steady but laced with a hint of sarcasm.
"Do you know why you're here?" he asked, letting the question hang in the air.
The officials looked at each other, confusion evident on their faces.
"I thought this was a celebration," one murmured.
Leon chuckled, but there was no humor in it.
"A celebration? Perhaps. But not in the way you think."
He paced slowly, his gaze fixed on the polished floor.
"I've recently discovered that just beyond these palace walls, people are living in squalor, struggling to survive. And yet, none of you thought it necessary to inform me."
