ERIS
The door closed behind me with a soft, final sound, and for the first time in what felt like days, I was alone.
Truly alone.
No servants hovering at the edges of my vision, no guards trailing at respectful distances, no eyes watching my every movement to dissect and discuss later. Just me and the silence and the cold, beautiful room that was apparently mine for however long this arrangement lasted.
I stood there for a moment, back against the carved door, and let myself simply breathe.
The chamber was... unexpected.
I had braced myself for ostentation, for the kind of overwhelming display of wealth and power that palaces typically inflicted upon visiting dignitaries. Gold everywhere, probably. Excessive drapery. Furniture so ornate it became uncomfortable. The usual performance of status that had nothing to do with actual comfort and everything to do with reminding guests exactly where they stood in the hierarchy.
This was nothing like that.
