The ballroom had fallen silent now. The echoes of music and laughter, like the flickers of candlelight on golden walls, slowly faded into memory. Servants moved quietly, clearing the remnants of a grand evening, while nobles began to retire to their quarters or lingered in hushed conversations across velvet-draped lounges. Outside the towering windows of the Imperial Palace, the night sky stretched endlessly—blanketed in stars, silent and cold.
Luca walked alone through the wide, dimly lit corridor. The muffled echo of his boots bounced off the marble walls, only deepening the silence that followed him.
His eyes narrowed slightly, his brows furrowed.
What does the Empress want with me...?
He sighed.
Why did she call me to meet her… alone… after all that?
A faint, uncertain laugh escaped his lips, but it didn't carry far.
There's no point overthinking it. Just get it over with.
