The news alert on Cole Palmer's phone was a digital grenade that had just detonated in the middle of Leon's already chaotic life.
Cristian Chivu, his coach, his mentor, the man who had threatened to rearrange his anatomy via a "training ground accident," might be leaving for Real Madrid.
"Well," Palmer said, a slow, impressed grin spreading across his face as he took a calm sip of water.
"That's one way to avoid a difficult conversation about you taking his daughter to another country. Your coach might be moving to another country first."
Leon just stared at the phone, his brain a frantic, fizzing mess of static.
He didn't know whether to feel relieved, horrified, or just deeply, deeply confused.
The kingdom he was being asked to guard was potentially about to lose its king.
