Under Xainte’s watchful gaze, Yegor and Lady Herodias exchanged a long look before both suddenly burst into quiet laughter.

“Girl,” Lady Herodias said, her sharp eyes fixed on Xainte, “you seem to know something.”

Caught off guard, Xainte stiffened, then shook her head quickly. “N-No, Aunt, I just… feel something’s off about you two.”

“This isn’t a feeling,” Yegor said with a faint smile. “Do you know what hate really means?”

Xainte blinked, confused.

“Hate,” Yegor continued, enunciating each word, “is something you can never reconcile. When you truly hate someone, you can’t even breathe the same air as them—let alone step foot where they once stood.”

Xainte frowned slightly, trying to process his words. Even James and Thea—still masked by their disguises—glanced at each other in surprise.