Estov bowed deeply—not the casual bow of a noble to an empress, but the profound bow of someone who genuinely owed their life to another.
Then he turned and left, the door closing softly behind him.
---
The moment the door clicked shut, Heena let out a long, exhausted breath.
She walked to the window, staring out at the darkening palace grounds, her reflection ghostly in the glass.
System 427 materialized beside her, his small lion cub form unusually subdued.
"Host..." he said carefully, "is this really necessary? Sending him away?"
Heena didn't turn from the window. "Yes."
