The palace was unusually quiet that afternoon, as if the walls themselves sensed something was coming. Servants whispered in corners about the demons advancing. Guards sharpened their weapons even when not asked. The air carried that strange heaviness that made the back of a person's neck prickle.
And in the middle of that growing tension, Lucien rushed through the palace halls with his heart pounding so violently he could hear the pulse in his ears.
He had left the Vortellion estate about twenty minutes ago. He should have stayed with Rin and pretended he didn't care about what Rin told him... But the moment he heard the new accurate information, he knew it was urgent. So he turned around and sprinted straight back to the palace.
The demons were closer than anyone expected.
Lucien did not even knock. He shoved the heavy doors open and barged into the crown prince's office.
