Nicolas jolted heavily in his chair, his initial relief completely gone as his gaze fixed on Azel, wide-eyed. He was well aware that the Archduke wasn't merely asking; he already had the information, and Nicolas would be damned if he were to say the wrong thing.
"You... heard?" Nicolas repeated, his fist visibly clenching on his desk. "What you claim to have 'heard' isn't common knowledge, your Grace, it is a sensitive matter. I doubt you could have gathered this from the general populace."
"No, certainly not," Azel countered. "But I can assure you that I did indeed hear it. After all, it was none other than my aide here who informed me."
As if on cue, Fabian gave a slight, graceful bow from his position.
Nicolas's jaw tightened. The Archduke had most definitely done his research, enough of it. He knew where this conversation was headed, and he hated it.
Any mention of that accursed place was a potential death sentence.
