The royal council chamber was quieter than usual that morning. Sunlight filtered through the towering windows lining the black stone walls while members of the council spoke in lower voices than normal, careful and measured beneath the heavy presence seated at the head of the room.
Emperor Aldric Varros rarely needed to raise his voice to control a space. Silence usually did the work for him. Kael stood near the center table with one hand resting behind his back, his expression unreadable while military reports continued around him. Border disputes. Trade negotiations. Missing settlements near the eastern territories. Normally, his attention never drifted during meetings but today it did.
“You seem distracted.” Aldric’s voice cut cleanly through the chamber. The room immediately fell sil
