Another lady leaned in, voice dropping conspiratorially. "It must have been so frightening, what happened. We heard—well, there are rumors, of course, but no one knows the full story—"
"I don't wish to speak of it," Seraphina said quickly, lowering her gaze to her lap. "It's too painful. I only hope that in time, certain... misunderstandings... can be forgiven."
'Misunderstandings'.
Heena's teacup paused halfway to her lips.
She set it down with a soft 'clink' that somehow cut through all the ambient chatter like a knife.
"Misunderstandings," she repeated, voice perfectly pleasant, perfectly poisonous. "What an interesting choice of words."
Seraphina looked up, eyes widening as if surprised. "Your Majesty?"
Heena smiled, and it was the smile of a predator that had just spotted wounded prey.
