Lucian stood in front of the tall window, the moonlight spilling across his back and outlining the sharp edges of his form. Outside, the manor grounds were silent, no guards patrolling, no wind, not even the usual rustle of night air. Just stillness.
"My lord," Sebastian began cautiously, breaking the quiet. "It's confirmed. The one who sent the rogue was your father. Lord Lysander and his men had no part in the incident."
Lucian didn't turn. His reflection in the glass was faint, his eyes shadowed, unreadable. The only movement came from his hand, resting loosely at his side until a thin layer of frost spread beneath his fingertips across the marble floor.
Sebastian continued, his tone steady. "The incident at the garden, however… it's still unverified. The mana traces disappeared faster than we could record them."
Lucian exhaled slowly, the faint mist of his breath fogging the glass before fading. "Of course," he murmured. "He wouldn't leave proof."
