Following the sound of laughter, Ren stopped in front of the general's audience room. It was rare for anyone to visit the general here. In all his time at the mansion, Ren had counted no more than two people crossing that threshold—always for matters urgent enough to drag the general away from his endless duties.
The door stood ajar, a narrow slice of space as if inviting him to look inside. The warm murmur of voices spilled through the gap, edged with amusement, so different from the silence that usually haunted these halls.
Ren shifted his weight, fingers curling against his side. He should turn away. It wasn't his business.
He did. His heel scraped softly against the polished floor as he turned, ready to vanish back into the quiet.
