The Marquess glared at her, his anger only barely held in check, but after a moment he gave a sharp nod. "Fine. Let's discuss how you've decided to court disaster—privately."
He motioned for her to follow him, leading her through a winding corridor into a sparsely furnished office. The door slammed shut behind them, making Adeline jump.
"Well?" He demanded, crossing his arms. The sparks around him finally subsided, but the heat of his anger lingered in the room. "Speak."
Adeline hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "I... I agreed to meet with Edward," she admitted, watching his reaction closely.
The Marquess froze, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Edward? As in the Holy Temple's head priest? Have you lost your senses completely?!"
"Wait, let me explain!" Adeline quickly interjected, raising her hands defensively. "I didn't just agree for no reason. He asked me to come to the Holy Temple for testing."