Everyone looked at her with varying expressions on their faces. Hypnos was still nonchalant, still smiling. Nian Zhen, however, was conscious of Castor besides him. Castor had stiffened at his mother's words. His eyes immediately flying to Nian Zhen, who met his gaze clearly yet with a spark of something like a silent plea in it. Perhaps it was due to his upbringing or to something else he saw in the man staring right back at him that inescapably moved him but Castor took a single step forward which brought him closer to Nian Zhen's side. Nian Zhen gripped his sword hard until his hand almost bled, too moved by his son's silent support to speak.
