Outside the meeting room, Ardent Pitt stood with his arms crossed, leaning casually against the wall as if waiting for a prey to spring into action.
The moment Julius emerged with Maverick, Ardent' sharp eyes took in the scene.
It was clear as day—Julius was attempting to escape his duties once again, using Maverick as an excuse. Ardent sighed, already predicting the Prince's excuse.
"Where are you going, Your Highness?" Ardent asked, his tone carrying a hint of exasperation. "You know you still have work to do, don't you?"
Julius, clearly panicking upon seeing Ardent, instinctively slipped behind Maverick, using him as a shield. "Maverick wants me to help with some work," Julius quickly said, his voice a little too eager.
Ardent raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Oh, really?" he said, glancing at Maverick. "And what kind of work requires the Prince's help?"