The throne hall was filled with a heavy silence as each council member took their seat, waiting for the emperor's arrival.
Izan sat right to his father's throne, his face set in a mask of calm authority, though a flicker of sorrow shadowed his gaze. His father had aged visibly since the arrest of the Empress and Prince Lucian. The betrayal of a son and a wife he once cherished had left deep lines of grief etched into his father's face, making him appear as though he bore the weight of the empire's sorrows on his shoulders.
Lord Leo, sat uncomfortably near the center of the room. He was sweating, visibly anxious, shrinking into himself, as if trying to escape notice. His hand trembled as he adjusted his robes, eyes flicking toward the crown prince, his heart pounding with the fear of being implicated.
