Meanwhile, Alaric—without even showing up—had given her exactly what she needed. The contrast between them couldn't have been clearer. The revelation hit Pantaleon hard. He finally realized that Emerald was no longer the same person she used to be.
But instead of feeling relief, he felt anger.
What he feared most was that she would follow the same path as Eula—the woman who once shook the empire to its core, forcing an emperor to abdicate, only to become a disgrace in high society.
And now, Emerald had also chosen wealth and status over dignity. With so many people around, Pantaleon managed to keep his temper in check. But the veins tensing on his hands betrayed the rage simmering beneath the surface.
Emerald knew exactly what Pantaleon was thinking. But she no longer cared. She took out her violin and fixed Samantha with a piercing gaze.
"Samantha, do you dare to compete with me—openly?"
Samantha's heart pounded, panic creeping in.
