Silence reigned between Amara and Countess Elysia. The latter was focused on reading her book and completely ignored the former. She didn't even spare Amara another glance after that.
On the other hand, Amara felt uncomfortable in her seat. She tried to focus, but the words the countess relayed kept resurfacing in her mind. She felt defeated as she couldn't even retort her. She was a countess, someone part of the nobility that held power more than her.
Just a few words from her, Amara's life will be difficult. Aside from that, she was still under the care of the royal family. She was afraid that if she did something selfish or returned those snarky remarks, the royal family's reputation would be tarnished.
So, Amara held back her words and hid the hurt behind her eyes. She quietly and diligently read the books, without inciting a conversation.