Ace's POV
The moment my announcement left my lips, the lively breakfast chatter died as if someone had snuffed out a candle. The clatter of cutlery against ceramic plates ceased abruptly, leaving only the faint sizzle of bacon from the kitchen and the too-loud ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. I watched as Ovelia's fork froze halfway to her mouth, her fingers tightening around the handle until her knuckles stood out like white pebbles beneath her skin. The morning sunlight streaming through the windows now felt harsh, illuminating the way her shoulders curved inward like a flower wilting in sudden frost.
Philip was the first to break the silence. He cleared his throat before speaking, his voice carrying that practiced merchant's calm, but his fingers drummed an uneven staccato against the tabletop. "I'll be leaving the village today as well." The smile he offered was thin, not quite reaching his eyes. "King Alfred will need a full report."
