Before Lucian could finish, the grand doors of the hall burst open with a loud creak. Both Amael and Lucian turned their heads sharply toward the entrance, their senses heightened.
Two figures sprinted into the hall, their voices ringing out in unison. "Father!"
Lucian's expression shifted instantly, his golden eyes widening in surprise—an expression Amael found oddly human, as if Lucian had completely forgotten about the pair.
The two figures—a boy and a girl, both with jet-black hair and eyes that shimmered with the same golden hue as Lucian's—were around Amael's age, no older than eleven. They charged toward Lucian with the reckless enthusiasm only children could muster.
The boy sprinted effortlessly, his strides steady and swift, but the girl… well, her journey was less graceful. As she sidestepped to avoid the carpet's edge, her foot caught slightly, and she stumbled, landing hard on her knees.