"There are Six Empires… My Lord." Starla bowed her head, her voice carrying a quiet reverence as she spoke before Aether, who sat stiffly on the bed with a confused expression tugging at his face.
His fingers curled slightly against the sheets, betraying the unease that stirred beneath his composed facade.
Nyx and Nightfire stood close beside him.
After revealing the truth about the sixth empire to Aether, Nyx had brought Starla forward to explain the situation in detail.
"I… I don't get it. What do you mean by six Empires? Haven't there only been five since ancient times?" Aether's frown deepened.
Starla frowned back, her eyes narrowing with something between sorrow and expectation. "I thought… You at least remembered it, My Lord?" Her tone wavered slightly, not accusing but wounded, as though she had clung to hope he would recall.
Aether blinked.
What was she talking about…?
Then the lie he had once told her clawed at his thoughts.
