The hall was already waiting. Eyes followed them the moment the doors opened, and the heavy wood closed behind them, sealing the outside world away. The sound echoed through the chamber like something final, like a door that would not open the same way again. The silence that followed was not empty, but heavy with expectation.
The walls stood tall and cold, carrying years of fear and obedience within them. The nobles lined the edges in silk and gold, their expressions carefully arranged but not enough to hide the tension beneath. Their eyes moved too quickly, never settling, never still. They knew why they were here, and none of them mistook this moment for anything less than dangerous.
Alaric walked forward without slowing, each step deliberate against the stone. He did not look at the nobles or the guards placed at every column. He did not acknowledge the weight of the room at all. He was not here to be judged by them, and he made that clear without saying a word.
