The knock at the door, soft yet deliberate, announced the arrival of Kael's next move in this night of chaos.
Kael's boots echoed down the corridor as he approached the King and the council in the grand hall. The murmurs from nobles had not died down entirely; whispers of the dead man's presence and Kael's involvement floated through the air like dark petals.
"Lord Blackthorn," the King greeted, his tone a mixture of concern and command, "this incident cannot go unresolved. We need to decide what shall happen this night. How do you intend to proceed?"
Kael's expression was unreadable, but his eyes carried a simmering steel. "Your Majesty," he said smoothly, "no one here has been hurt tonight. The dead man… he was not invited to the ball. His death, while unfortunate, occurred outside the boundaries of our gathering and among those not under our protection."
