An Overdue Reward

I made my way through the estate's corridors toward the grand reception hall, my mind racing through possible reasons for Alastor's sudden visit. While the King of the Northern Continent dropping by unannounced was unusual, it wasn't entirely unprecedented. Alastor had always been more of a mentor and father figure to me than just Rachel's father, especially after everything we'd been through together.

Still, the request for an "immediate audience" suggested this wasn't just a social call.

When I entered the hall, I found Alastor standing near the massive windows overlooking the estate grounds, his hands clasped behind his back. Even in casual moments like this, he carried himself with the natural authority of someone born to rule. His silver hair caught the afternoon light, and when he turned at my approach, those familiar deep blue eyes—so like Rachel's yet somehow more weathered by years of kingship—lit up with genuine pleasure.