Liora stared at her trembling hands, her voice a whisper lost in the quiet of the room. "I did not... I swear I did not..."
"She's lying," Evelyne interrupted coldly. "She seduced the stable boy and was caught in the act."
The words cut through the air like a knife. Liora flinched. Seduce? The accusation was absurd and vile. Her chest tightened with the weight of humiliation, not just because of the lie, but because her aunt's voice carried no hesitation. No mercy.
Lucien's gaze remained unreadable. A part of her had hoped even now that he might see the truth in her. That he might defend her. That someone might.
But his silence was damning.
"You see, Your Highness," Evelyne said, turning to him now, her tone sickeningly sweet. "It is not our daughter who is unsuitable. It is her. My husband and I discussed it thoroughly. We would never subject your Highness to scandal."