Rain still tapped softly against the palace windows, leaving streaks of silver that seemed to mirror the unrest in Kael’s heart. The echoes of whispers from the council chamber lingered in his mind, each one a reminder that the Empire’s peace was fragile. He couldn’t shake the feeling that danger was weaving itself closer with every passing hour.
Seris moved quietly behind him, carrying a tray with two cups of warm tea. Her eyes, wide and careful, followed his every movement. Though she sat across from him, there was a tension in the space between them — a silent acknowledgment of the past and the unspoken pain that neither could fully confess.
“You haven’t slept,” she said softly, breaking the silence.
Kael ran a hand through his hair, his gaze fixed on the distant gardens outside. “Sl
