Loyalty in Dilemma

The morning sunlight spilled into Kael's study, illuminating the stacks of reports, maps, and missives that cluttered the desk.

Kael stood near the window, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed out over his barony.

The air was crisp and cool, a sharp contrast to the turmoil brewing just beyond his borders.

His mind was focused, calculating the next steps in a game that had shifted in his favor.

The knock at the door was light but deliberate.

Kael didn't need to turn to know who it was. "Come in," he said, his voice steady.

Lenora stepped into the room, her posture poised but her expression uncertain.

The events of the previous night became between them like an unspoken secret, a bond that had shifted the balance of power in ways neither of them fully understood.

She wore a simple dress, her hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders, but there was a determination in her eyes that hadn't been there before.