The Kastorian soldier led Nathan through the castle's elegant corridors with visible nervousness, clearly uncomfortable escorting someone whose reputation alone made seasoned warriors pale. He walked slightly too quickly, stole glances over his shoulder too frequently, and visibly exhaled with relief when he finally pushed open the door to the designated guest chambers and bowed Nathan inside.
A place within the royal castle's inner quarters was genuinely a considerable privilege—even high-ranking nobles and visiting dignitaries were typically housed in the outer wings. But Nathan was hardly an ordinary guest, and Kaguya had been quietly emphatic in her instructions to the castle staff about the quality of his accommodations.
