Authority

The room grew silent, as even the sniffling Ori got quiet when she heard her brother speak up against her father.

The duchess looked shocked and Lucius seemed like he was about to burst with anger. The duke on the other hand was cold like he was contemplating his next set of words to say.

Trevain himself was surprised at his outburst. He didn't think he had it in him, especially not in front of the duke he so feared. However, seeing both Saphandra and Ning talk to their father with no fear, gave him the courage to speak his heart.

"I will give you one chance to apologize," the duke said with no emotion in his voice.

Trevain shuddered. He had used up his courage in an impulse to tell off his father, but now he was feeling like a deflated balloon. 

'What should I do?' he thought. But then, he saw Ning smile to the side and remembered what he had said back the boat. 'I should stand up for myself.'