Alaric sat alone in the chair across from Queen Vesperine.
The side door had closed behind Caleb moments ago.
Time felt slippery in this room, measured only by the steady scratch of quills against parchment as two officials recorded every word.
The Queen studied him in silence. Her green eyes moved across his face slowly, deliberately, like she was reading text written in his expression that only she could see.
She let the silence stretch. A tactic, probably. See if he'd break it first, start talking to fill the uncomfortable space.
But Alaric waited.
Then, finally, she spoke.
"Alaric Glimor." His name came out slowly, "Newly adopted heir of House Glimor. You appeared six months ago with not much prior record."
She paused, letting that hang in the air.
"Convenient timing, wouldn't you say? Appearing just months before a major attack on the capital."
