"Are Rose and Lucian siblings or not?" Celestia asked, her voice sharp yet controlled, eyes locked unblinkingly on Olivia, who now stood only inches away.
"I... I..." Olivia's mouth opened, but no words came. Her tongue felt like lead.
Celestia didn't rush her. She simply stared, waiting. Her expression was unreadable no smile, no frown, just unsettling stillness.
"No… not really," Olivia finally said, forcing a nonchalant tone. "What are you even talking about? They've both been with me since birth."
But her voice wavered.
Her eyes wouldn't meet Celestia's.
And that was enough.
Celestia's gaze narrowed. Her lips curled into a faint, mirthless smile. It didn't reach her eyes.
Something was off.
She could feel it.
Then her head turned sharply toward Avey.
"How did you know Rose is adopted?" she asked, voice quiet too quiet. There was no visible threat in her tone, but the suspicion laced within it was suffocating.
Avey stiffened like a deer caught in the open.
