Chapter 116Xavier's POV
I moved quickly through the corridors, my boots thudding against polished marble, my heart pounding in my chest. By the time I burst into the royal office, everyone was already seated, all the elders, the captains, and the strategists. all of them waiting.
And Ivan, of course, standing at the head of the long oak table like he'd been born to command.
His eyes snapped to me the moment I stepped in. Cold and sharp.
"You're late," he said flatly.
I bowed slightly. "My apologies, my lord. I was ensuring patrol updates were relayed before I came."
Ivan's lip curled. "Excuses." His voice rang across the chamber, loud enough to rattle the walls. "You are incompetent, Xavier. If you cannot keep to time, how can you keep lives away from danger? You are a shame to the uniform."
Murmurs rippled around the table. My hands clenched at my sides, but I forced my jaw still. "Don't react. Don't give him reason to suspect".
