Aldous emerged from the building flanked by his remaining loyalist Council members, his expression absolutely murderous. He had to walk through the celebrating crowd, people who days ago would have bowed now treating him with open contempt.
Someone threw rotten fruit. It hit his ceremonial robes, leaving a stain.
Guards moved to identify the thrower, but Aldous waved them off – responding to the insult would make him look even weaker.
He passed Elara on the steps without acknowledging her, but Damien saw his lips move, saw Elara's expression flicker.
Whatever Aldous had said, it was a threat.
This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
———
That evening, back at the Valcrest estate, Elara finally allowed herself to show exhaustion.
"We won," she said, collapsing onto a sofa in the study where Damien and Cornelius were reviewing the day's results. "I can't believe we actually won."
