In the opulent halls of the Winter Palace, the seat of power for the Ruthenian Empire, tension hung heavy in the air. Tsar Ivan Alexandrovich paced back and forth in his private study, the soft click of his polished boots the only sound in the otherwise silent room. The Tsar's patience was wearing thin, and every minute that passed without an update only deepened the furrow in his brow.
A knock echoed through the room, breaking the tense silence. "Enter," Ivan commanded sharply, not bothering to slow his pacing.
The doors swung open, revealing Mikhailov.
"Mikhailov, you have news?" Ivan demanded, his voice a razor's edge. The Tsar had been waiting for the outcome of the latest engagement with the Valorians, and the delay in receiving any word had already put him on edge.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Mikhailov replied, bowing his head before stepping forward. "A report from Admiral Volkov's fleet has just arrived via coded transmission."
