King Reagan's council chamber was steeped in tension, the air heavy with a sense of dread. Zephyros' most trusted advisors, generals, and nobles had gathered in an emergency session to discuss the disappearance of Prince Eirik, the consort to Kaelix. The king's brow furrowed as he took his seat at the head of the grand table, his fingers tracing the creases in the armrest as he watched the room fill with concerned faces.
The council members exchanged uneasy glances, each one acutely aware of the implications of Eirik's kidnapping. The union between Zephyros and Valeidio had been a fragile bridge toward peace, and now that bridge threatened to crumble beneath them. The room buzzed with whispered conversations until King Reagan raised a hand to silence the gathering.
