As the advisors and military leaders began to file out of the room, I remained standing at the head of the table, deep in thought. The road ahead was uncertain, and the threat of betrayal loomed over us like a dark cloud as I stood there, lost in thought, Rodrick remained by my side, his presence a quiet but steady reassurance. The room was emptying now, the advisors and military leaders making their way out to carry out the tasks we had discussed. But the weight of what we had uncovered lingered, pressing down on me like a heavy shroud.
I walked over to the large window overlooking the courtyard, the distant mountains visible on the horizon, their peaks dusted with snow. The sky was a fading blue, the sun setting in the west, casting long shadows across the landscape. It was a serene view, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing beneath the surface of the kingdom.
