[Haldor's POV — Lavinia's Office Chamber—Continuation]
The door to the office closed softly behind Osric and me.
Too softly.
This room never needed loud sounds. Its walls already carried authority.
Her highness, Lavinia, stands behind her desk, fingers resting lightly on a parchment filled with names. She did not look up immediately. She never did when she was thinking.
Grand Duke Osric stood beside me, posture straight, but his jaw tight.
"Take a seat; I have been waiting for you," she said.
We nodded and took a seat in infornt of her as she looked at the parchment.
"The auction house," Lavinia finally said without lifting her eyes, "is the heart of noble corruption; this is what I have found this early in the morning with the help of Papa. But...it's not yet confirmed yet."
Grand Duke Osric exhaled slowly. "That's where we should begin."
She looked up then. Crimson eyes sharp, unreadable.
"Explain," she said.
