The café was bathed in a soft, golden light—the kind that made the wood tables glow and the steam from fresh cups of tea shimmer like a dream. Elias sat alone near the window, a fresh cup of Ceylon tea steaming in front of him, his coat draped over the back of the chair, sleeves rolled to his elbows as he worked in his usual silence.
Two sheets of paper were laid out before him. It held weight: upgraded security cameras, reinforced locks, perimeter lighting, and a computer system to monitor every angle of the store. Everything listed was practical and thorough—meant to deter, to monitor, to protect.
To ensure the queen's safety.
He tapped his pen once, then wrote a new line:
Back door lock needs replacement—add keypad with auto-lock timer.
The chair across from him shifted suddenly. E
