The morning mist had not yet fully dissipated, casting shadowy reflections on the windowsill of the Kite Tower residence.
Eleanor Calvin sat quietly before the mirror, allowing her maid to comb her hair, her ceremonial dress layered and neat, with the gold buttons under the blue satin perfectly aligned.
Her gaze settled on the thin pages of intelligence reports spread open at the corner of the dressing table, and with a light blink, she recited the seventeen secret reports delivered the previous night back to her mind.
"The Ministry of Finance is holding a closed-door meeting this morning, with the agenda unknown."
"The Regent King has established a new reception procedure within the palace, even his personal knights must seek approval at every level to approach him."
"The Inspectorate has suddenly detained a knight from the original Helan family in the ninth hall of the inner city, identity unknown."
…
Eleanor did not frown, maintaining her usual calm composure.
