"Soren?" Ethea called out worriedly.
Soren caught himself immediately. He forced the tension out of his shoulders, letting his expression smooth back into its usual calm baseline before turning to her with a reassuring nod. "I'll see who it is."
He walked over to the door and pulled it open, bracing himself for the presence on the other side. Standing in the corridor was a man whose elegant posture matched the sharp intensity of his gaze.
"Good morning, Sir," Soren greeted him smoothly, his tone perfectly polite yet cautious as he stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. "Come in."
"Sorry for the intrusion," Darius said with a pleasant smile as he crossed the threshold. His eyes immediately bypassed Soren, sweeping across the room before locking directly onto Ethea. "Oh, dear, you're finally awake!"
"..."
