The tension in the courtyard lingered long after the last word had been spoken.
For a moment, no one moved.
The guards still stood stiffly at their posts, their eyes darting between Sebastian, Aliena, and the man who had just casually spoken about demons, wolves, and princes as if discussing the weather. The servants had long since fallen silent, their whispers dying into nothing, replaced by a heavy, almost suffocating stillness.
Sebastian exhaled slowly.
"…Inside," he said quietly.
It wasn't loud.
But it carried authority.
Immediately, the guards straightened further, stepping back as the massive gates opened fully. The atmosphere shifted—not lighter, but contained. Whatever had just been said… whatever had just been revealed… was no longer for the courtyard to hold.
Dranis said nothing as they began walking.
He simply followed.
