The inner council room had no pillars, no incense, and no audience. It wasn't meant to impress. Only to hold the weight of decisions that changed empires.
Zhu Mingyu stood by the window, watching as the wind dragged streaks of frost across the stone courtyard outside. The sky had already faded to slate… a testament to winter creeping earlier with each passing day. Somewhere in the rear courtyard, she was still walking. Still alone.
He should be the one beside her right now, but he took some comfort in the fact that Yaozu was there beside her…
That the assassin would protect her just as much as he would.
Behind him, the doors closed with a low thud.
Deming entered first, his boots nearly silent on the old wooden floor. He didn't speak, didn't ask for pleasantries. He simply nodded at Mingyu once and moved to the round table at the center of the room.
