Sylvie

[There has been… an incident in the throne hall.]

My fingers tightened.

An incident?

A thousand possibilities ran through my mind, each one more unsettling than the last.

I had just spent hours discussing the future of the world, the power shifts that would define the new era, and now my own grandson was at the center of something urgent?

Before I could think of it any further, the Sunfire Emperor's voice pulled me back.

"Venus, what say you?"

I exhaled slowly, schooling my expression. "This discussion is over for now."

"But—"

I stood, my presence alone silencing the chamber. "We will reconvene later. I have more pressing matters to attend to."

Without another word, I ended the conference and turned on my heel, striding towards the throne hall.

For the first time in years, something weird twisted in my stomach.