The dining hall of the Arakami estate felt unusually expansive that morning, with the high vaulted ceilings casting elongated shadows across the polished marble floor.
The table remained unchanged, a long, polished stretch of dark wood reflecting the soft glow of the early sun, surrounded by a set of ten elegantly carved chairs with intricate patterns. A single shaft of slanted morning light sliced diagonally across the floor, highlighting specks of dust in the air.
Yet, one seat was conspicuously empty, its absence punctuating the quiet that hung heavily in the room, Silence pressing more forcefully than any spoken word. Akane caught the faintest hint of Leo's gaze drifting toward that vacant spot.
"He left before sunrise," she said, reaching for the bread without looking up. She tore off a piece with more force than necessary. "Private carriage to the Gate Hub. Didn't tell anyone. His rooms were empty when Yuki went to check."
