A few minutes after the earlier, rather unexpected turn of events, the Duke's private study now felt just as quiet as it usually did. The room he'd left behind for so long, rarely occupied since he'd decided not to stay at the mansion for extended periods, remained utterly unchanged from how he last remembered it.
Removing the coat he'd been wearing and draping it over his forearm, Theron walked over and hung the coat on the standing hanger at the side of the room. Continuing on, he made his way to his desk and dropped himself into the chair behind it.
Letting out a deep breath, he rested his hands on the desk and pressed his fingers heavily against his temples. The people in this mansion probably assumed he'd just returned from the expedition to the mountain region in the empire's western territory. Theron had indeed been there — but a few days ago, he'd gone to meet Reynald Florance to hand over the research findings on summoning magic to the young Duke.
