Hoom
After Aro, Flora, and the three guards left the hall, their voices could already be heard echoing in the corridors as they began debating the best ways to cooperate and divide their responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Theo quietly returned to his seat, lowering himself with deliberate calm, then rested both hands firmly on his thighs as if to anchor himself in the moment. He raised his eyes toward Robin, his tone softer now that they were alone. "What's wrong, Father?"
With the chamber emptied of others, Theo no longer felt bound by the formality of court etiquette. He knew all too well that Robin disliked being addressed as Your Majesty when no outsiders were present. To persist with such formality now would only earn his father's irritation, and Theo had no wish to build walls between them at a time like this.
"I inquired about Richard," Robin said after a short silence, his voice heavy, his gaze distant. "They told me his whereabouts are unknown. Is that true?"
