?Chapter 1638:


    Esteban’s chest tightened with anger, his hands balled into fists at his sides. “Reba, are you even human?”


    Without a word, Reba jabbed the pistol into his back, her smile a sharp curve, as deadly as a viper’s strike. “Less talking. You’ll do as I say. If I told you to die right now, you would die.”


    Esteban exhaled sharply, his fists still clenched with impotent rage, and began walking toward the stage. Elyse had already noticed their approach.


    She saw the rigid tension in Esteban’s posture, but after a fleeting nce, returned her focus to the violin, the bow dancing with practiced grace across the strings.


    “La ronde des lutins!” he called out, and the orchestra, having just finished their previous piece, dove into the frenzied, chaotic notes of Bazzini’s La ronde des lutins.


    Reba, ignored and bristling with fury, seethed at Elyse’s nonchnce.


    With a quiet hiss, she tucked her pistol back under her skirt and muttered under her breath, “Even now, why are you leading them in this performance? Don’t you see how dangerous this is?”


    Elyse showed no reaction to the interruption, her bow gliding effortlessly across the strings.


    The orchestra stayed in sync, their music swelling without a hitch.


    F??nd n?w ??h??????????s ??t g??l??ov?ls.?????


    Reba’s chest tightened as her words went unanswered. She fought down the surge of anger. “Stop! Stop this right now! You’re making things worse. Can’t you see that?”


    Elyse heard every word, but her bow never faltered.


    As the piece soared to its crescendo, Reba’s control slipped further. Her frustration boiled over.


    “Elyse!” she shouted, her voice raw with fury. “How dare you ignore me? This is illegal!”


    The final notes of La ronde des lutins faded into the tense silence left by Reba’s outburst.


    This time, Elyse lowered her violin. She stepped forward to the edge of the stage, her gaze unwavering as it locked on Reba.


    “Reba Dyson,” she dered, her voice ringing through the hall, “the real guilt is yours. You abandoned your people. This is on you!”


    Reba let out a sharp, bitterugh. “On me? Manfek’s army bombed ournd. We don’t even know when the next strike wille. And you, Elyse?” Her voice dripped with usation. “You’re the Manfek envoy sent here for this so-called peace concert. The government you represent shattered the treaty. You’re the one responsible!”


    Elyse raised the microphone, her tone firm. “You brought me to Virelia for this peace concert—not Manfek. And now you’re trying to push the me onto me. What are your intentions?”


    Reba’sugh was sharp and dismissive. “Me? Invite you? Why would I? We have plenty of talented musicians here. What reason would I have to make you concertmaster?”


    .


    .


    .