As El-Kharis made his way down the dimly lit corridor to his quarters, he barely noticed the flickering torches casting elongated shadows along the walls. His mind was preoccupied, calculating every move he'd need to make in the days ahead. But before he could slip into his quarters, a voice sliced through the silence behind him.
"Hold there."
El-Kharis stilled, recognizing the authoritative tone. It was Vincent, the Crown Prince, his gaze as sharp as a blade and fixed on El-Kharis with an unsettling intensity. El-Kharis turned slowly, allowing his face to settle into a calm, unreadable expression.
"I didn't get your name," Vincent said, his voice smooth but tinged with suspicion.
Without missing a beat, El-Kharis answered, "Leoras."
