Lord Edmund's eyes swept across the room slowly, taking in every face, lingering on some longer than others. When his gaze passed over Henrik, it remained there for an extra second before moving on without expression.
"Gentlemen," Lord Edmund began, his voice deep and unhurried. "I thank you for answering the call. What we do here over the next days will determine the future of my family and, by extension, the future of the one person in this world whose happiness matters to me above all else."
He paused deliberately.
"My daughter, Evelyn."
A quiet murmur rippled through the hall. Lord Edmund let it settle before continuing.
"I will not waste your time with lengthy speeches. You are all here because you believe yourselves worthy. The challenge will determine whether that belief is justified."
He gestured to a servant standing beside the platform, who unrolled a large cloth banner displaying a detailed map of the hunting grounds.
