(Opening Scene: The tense standoff continues. A bewildered Prince Lysander is now sitting up, supported by Lady Elara. Zane stands protectively with Eclipse, the venomous serpent a silent threat. The remaining guards remain frozen, unsure how to proceed.)
Lysander, his head still throbbing and his arm aching, finally pieced together the events that had transpired. He glared at Zane, his confusion hardening into anger. "That… that creature… attacked me! Without provocation!"
Zane met his gaze, his own hardening. "It acted to protect Lady Astrid from your unwanted advances, Prince Lysander. Your forceful attempts to coerce her were interpreted as a threat."
"Coerce?" Lysander sputtered, his royal pride wounded. "I was merely… ensuring her understanding of her duty! She is betrothed to me! She will obey!"
Astrid stepped forward, her voice ringing with defiance. "I am not an object to be commanded, Lysander. And I will not be forced into a loveless marriage. Eclipse understood that, even if you did not."
Lady Elara, her face a mask of controlled fury, intervened. "Enough! This… this is spiraling out of control. That creature has attacked a royal prince and killed a member of my guard! Its continued presence here is unacceptable."
She turned to the remaining guards, her voice sharp. "Seize that… familiar! Now! And restrain the void mage if he interferes."
Zane tensed, a flicker of dark energy dancing around his fingertips. He wouldn't let them harm Eclipse. He wouldn't let them take him.
Lysander, still feeling the effects of the venom, but fueled by his injured pride and royal entitlement, pointed a shaky finger at Zane. "Seize him too! He is clearly responsible for this… this outrage! He is a danger to us all!"
The guards hesitated, torn between their orders and the palpable danger emanating from Eclipse. The tension in the room reached a breaking point, the fate of Zane and Eclipse hanging precariously in the balance.