The first time I met the Duke was also the first time I met Liyana.
Knowing who he was and his role in the grand narrative of this world, I had always expected him to possess an aura that was heavenly, a cut above the rest.
That's why I was greatly surprised by how normal and gentle he was when we first met.
Yes, a single glance was all you needed to tell that the man was strong.
Even as a child, I wasn't blind to that fact. He was the only human in the room who felt out of place, like he existed on a higher plane of existence.
Yet at the same time, he was the most human.
He was kind. He was gentle. He was reliable. He was the perfect father and person you could have inside and outside.
"Please, sit down," the Duke repeated, gesturing to an opulent chair in the center of the room.
I nodded and took my seat, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on me.
