King Malik trudged into his chamber, exhausted from a long day of attending to proposals from neighboring communities. He had pushed himself to the limit, trying to distract himself from the persistent image of Aurora that haunted him.
Just as he began to undress, Jaguar burst into the room. "My King, your brother has arrived from his trade mission!" he announced, beaming with excitement. "He's brought back a vast array of goods, and the horses are laden with treasures. This trade will bring immense profit to our kingdom!"
Malik's expression remained stoic, despite the good news. "Really," he said, his tone neutral.
Jaguar didn't seem to notice his king's subdued demeanor. "Yes, my king! This calls for celebration! Shall I inform Jericho to join us for tonight's banquet with the ministe
