A Chamber of Silence
Nova's duchy marble halls went on forever, sleekly polished to a mirror finish, reflecting the light of chandeliers suspended at regular intervals from the vaulted ceiling. Gold-gilded carvings marched along walls, following ornate patterns of flowers and ancient crests. Every flash of light skittered over the sleekly polished tiles, causing the floor to almost ripple under their feet.
But what hit Leon the hardest wasn't the magnificence—it was the quiet.
No footsteps ringing out before him. No guards stationed at the corners. Not even a single maid hurrying across in a flurry. The only sounds were his boots and Nova's, clicking softly in tandem as they proceeded side by side.
Leon's golden eyes swept the vacant hallway, his forehead furrowing. Since he walked into this mansion, not a single person had happened upon him, even accidentally. For such a large duchy, it was unnatural—nearly staged.
