Elias sat on the small, modest chair in his room, head tilted back and eyes closed, as he tried to steady his breathing.
The chamberlain's accusations earlier in the day had been nothing short of exhausting. It had taken every ounce of patience and self-restraint to endure the verbal assault without snapping.
Now, with the quiet of his chamber surrounding him, he allowed himself a moment to gather his thoughts.
The quiet, however, did not last long. A sharp knock at the door jolted him upright. Elias frowned, his nerves still frayed. Before he could answer, a servant entered, bowing respectfully as they presented a sealed letter.
"This is from His Majesty, the Emperor," the servant said, leaving no room for interpretation.