Inside was the private chamber of the brothel's most famous courtesan, the one only high-ranking figures could reserve. The room was spacious and elegant, scented with incense, candlelight reflecting softly off silk drapes and polished wood.
The man exhaled slowly as the door closed behind him, his expression finally loosening. In this place, away from the eyes of the city, he allowed himself a rare moment of indulgence, completely unaware that somewhere in the shadows, he had already become someone else's target.
---
Aiden sat alone by the window of a small restaurant across the street from Moonveil Pavilion. The place was nothing special, wooden tables worn smooth by years of use, the smell of fried meat and cheap wine lingering in the air, but it gave him a clear view of the brothel's front entrance.
He ate slowly, chewing with care, his eyes drifting now and then toward the lantern-lit building outside.
