Renault's boots thudded against the marble as he strode into the grand hall, a hush falling over the assembly like a velvet curtain. He didn't miss the way conversations died on lips, how every eye turned to him with bated breath. With the ease of one born to it, yet none of the arrogance, he ascended to the head table and sank onto the throne that seemed as much a part of him as his crown.
A side door creaked discreetly, and in slipped Gerardine, her insignia and sword pommel catching flecks of torchlight. She leaned back against the wall, an island of stoicism in a sea of finery.
Renault gaze swept across the courtiers' wide, expectant eyes. "I owe all of you an apology."
The collective gasp from the crowd could have filled the sails of a galleon. Renault pressed on, undeterred. "Recently, I fell back into princely habits unbefitting your king. As such, I gave one of my most dedicated knights an order that was grotesque and tyrannical."
Across the room, Gerardine crossed her arms.
"I was fortunate that the knight in question understood honor better than I and refused my immoral order," Renault continued, his voice steady but laced with humility. "I beseech your understanding and your forgiveness in this misstep in my carrying out the duties as the servant of my people." A sheepish smile tugged at his lips. "After all, I've only had the job a month."