The chamber fell into silence after Marcus's report, the air thick with tension.
"Enough." Alaric's voice cut through the heaviness like steel. "Tonight, we move the Emperor to the Blake Estate."
Aidan's brows shot up, but he didn't interrupt.
"Carlden. Marcus. You'll accompany me. I want the roads and the shadows cleared before his carriage touches the cobblestones. Not a whisper, not a trail. If anyone watches, they vanish before they can even blink."
Both men bowed, answering in unison. "Yes, Regent Majesty."
Alaric turned to Aidan, his closest friend. "You will guard the secret. Not one soul outside this chamber can learn of the Emperor's true location. If a word slips, if a shadow spreads rumor, you'll silence it."
Aidan gave a short nod, the weight of the command clear in his sharp eyes. "Consider it done."
