The gentle hum of the communication rune faded, leaving Empress Seren Samael in the fragrant silence of her solarium. The warmth she had projected for her daughter slowly receded from her face, replaced by a cool, steely resolve. She loved her husband, the formidable Solomon, with a depth that had weathered decades of his fiery ambition. But she was not merely his consort; she was the Empress, a power in her own right, and the heart of their family. His heavy-handed decree towards their daughter could not stand unchallenged.
She found him not in the war room, but on a sprawling balcony that overlooked the imperial capital, his massive frame silhouetted against the setting sun. The Hellfire Spear was propped nearby, a silent, brooding presence.
"Solomon," she said, her voice calm but devoid of its usual melodic warmth.
He turned, his burning orange eyes narrowing slightly, sensing the shift in her. "Seren. You've spoken with Elreth."
