Back in the woods, at the mansion hidden beneath towering trees, Gerald sat in his study, the glow of his laptop reflecting off the dark wood walls. The room was silent except for the soft tapping of keys. He hated interruptions.
A knock sounded at the door.
Without lifting his head, he said coldly, “Come in.”
The door opened and closed quietly. The butler stepped inside and bowed deeply.
“My King.”
Gerald continued working, his eyes fixed on the screen. “You know very well that I do not like being interrupted while I work,” he said calmly, though the warning in his tone was unmistakable. “Since you chose to enter, it must be important.”
The butler cleared his throat. “Your Highness… we have a situation.”
That made Gerald pause—just for a fraction of a second—but he didn’t look up.
