Kaito's Office — Midnight, Two Weeks with the Observers
The candle had burned down to half when Kaito finally set down his quill.
His hand trembled from exhaustion.
On the desk: twenty documents reviewed. Fifteen letters drafted. Three strategic reports completed.
And still ten more waited for attention.
The constant presence of the observers had tripled his workload.
Every decision now required proper documentation. Every military order needed justification. Every public expense demanded transparency that wasn't necessary before.
Kristina especially—she reviewed everything with a magnifying glass, searching for any irregularity she could report to the Council.
And Avernor hadn't ceased pressure. More "bandits" attacking borders. More propaganda being distributed among other kingdoms. More political maneuvers that Lilith had to counter.
All of it falling on Kaito's shoulders.
He looked at the hourglass on his desk.
Two in the morning.
He had been awake for nineteen hours.
