The summons bell continued to echo through the palace long after its sound faded from the water. Every vibration traveled through my bones like a warning I could not escape.
The High Council summoned,even without explanation, I understood what that meant.This was no longer curiosity,It was judgment.
Azarus did not immediately move. His gaze remained fixed on me, as though measuring something unseen. For a brief moment, the Emperor looked less like a ruler preparing for council and more like a man calculating how to shield someone standing at the center of a storm.
"You will stand beside me," he said finally.
The certainty in his voice startled me. "Is that wise?"
"No," he replied calmly. "But it is necessary."
He turned toward the corridor, signaling for the guards to prepare. Warriors assembled instantly, their formation tighter than usual.I noticed how their positioning subtly changed,half facing outward toward potential threats, half angled toward me.
