The sun had already dipped below the horizon, leaving only the faintest hues of orange streaking across the sky. I sat back in the tall-backed chair, feeling the tension slowly ease from my muscles. It had been a long day—meetings, discussions, negotiations, and, of course, the ever-present weight of governance hanging over me like a cloak I couldn't take off.
But at least things were finally settling down. Seraphina's father, Duke Raelis, had made his official clarification, putting to rest any remaining rumors about his supposed treason. It wasn't easy convincing the council and the nobles that sparing Raelis wasn't a sign of weakness. It was, in fact, a calculated move to maintain the stability of the Dukedom and the surrounding territories. The common folk were already praising me as a merciful king, but they didn't realize it was more about strategy than kindness.
