Leon studied the Emperor for a moment, the weight in Alexander's tone too deliberate to ignore. "Is there any issue?" he asked calmly, his gaze steady.
Alexander let out a long exhale, his eyes shifting from Leon to Commander Markus and Lieutenant Lancelot. He seemed to be weighing something in his mind before finally speaking.
"Your presence," the Emperor said, his voice measured but firm, "is vital for the Racial Council that is about to be held."
The room fell into a silence so deep it felt unnatural. Even the faint ticking of the wall clock seemed to stop. Commander Markus and Lancelot both froze where they stood, their expressions tight. They understood what those words meant and they understood the weight of what the Emperor had just said.
Rachel, Adrian, and Leon, however, only looked mildly puzzled.
Leon tilted his head slightly, while Adrian's brows knitted together. Rachel glanced at the two officers, noticing the stunned expressions on their faces, but said nothing.
