Alexander
“Your Highness!” Minister Coltain greets me cheerily as I approach him and Sophia, but both his eyes and his thoughts betray his worry. “My daughter says you were looking for us?”
“Indeed. Please follow me.” I lead them discreetly to the side-door nearby, using the master key in my pocket to open the locked door.
I usher them inside, closing and locking the door behind us. I flip on a switch, glad that this isn’t one of the older rooms in the palace that was never retrofitted for electricity. The light overhead illuminates a small table for six.
I take the seat at the head of the table, while Minister Coltain and Sophia each take a seat by my sides. I fold my hands on the table, curious as to how this conversation is going to go.
“It has come to my attention,” I look betwee
