The fireplace in the Rian estate crackled softly as Hale strolled in with his usual unhurried gait, his sharp black boots clicking against the polished floor. A faint smirk played on his lips as if he'd just stepped into a tavern instead of the office of one of the Empire's most feared men.
"Well, well," Hale drawled, his tone laced with amusement. "You look almost disappointed to see me, Duke Aithur. Didn't you miss my charming face?"
Aithur didn't look up immediately, flipping another page. "If you're referring to the face that's always in the middle of royal problems, then no. I'm doing perfectly fine without it."
Hale chuckled and moved closer, his dark eyes glinting mischievously. "You wound me, Duke. And here I thought we shared something akin to friendship."
"I don't make friends with the King's shadows," Aithur said coolly. "You people vanish the moment the light changes."
