The night air over the brothel carried a faint sweetness of perfume and smoke, masking the tension festering inside its walls. Laughter and chatter echoed faintly from the lower floors where courtesans entertained guests, but in Rin's private room, silence reigned.
He had returned from the dungeon exhausted, the weight of Evan's gaze and the stench of Julian's corrupted aura still clinging to him. The moment his head touched the pillow, he slipped into a deep sleep.
When he finally stirred, dusk had melted fully into night. The lantern by his bedside flickered low, casting his pale skin in a soft golden glow. He stretched lazily, crimson eyes half-lidded, before sitting upright.
"I had no idea I slept this much," he groaned in frustration.
Lirien entered without knocking, her expression sharp as ever. She had been waiting for Rin to wake up and finally, he was up. She almost cracked her neck when she heard he had gone to the palace again. He left without telling her anything.
