The King did not calm down even after the silence settled. The anger remained in him, simmering beneath the surface as a heavier thought began to take its place.
This was not a minor failure or a contained incident. This was the first time something of this scale had happened within his kingdom, and the weight of it pressed hard against his thoughts.
No one outside this chamber knew. And that, at the very least, was one thing still under his control.
With the reach of his authority and the strength of his forces, he could contain the information. The Arcane Authority would ensure silence. The guards would suppress rumors before they spread. The people would remain unaware.
But that control felt fragile.
The King sighed, but the breath did nothing to ease the tension that tightened across his frame.
His hand remained clenched against the armrest, the veins along his forearm slightly raised.
