Sylvian returned to the estate in the evening with the frustration of not able to meet Iliana. He looked down at the carefully wrapped box in his hands, the token Eilika had prepared for him to deliver to her.
As he stepped into the main hall of the estate, the heavy silence of his thoughts was broken by the sound of Roman running around the room. Nearby, Eilika and Damian sat together, deeply engrossed in quiet conversation over their evening tea.
Before Sylvian could utter a word of greeting, the heavy front doors burst open and a guard came sprinting inside, breathless.
"Your Grace, a messenger from Prince August has just arrived from the palace," the guard announced, his voice tight with urgency.
The room fell instantly still. Every eye turned toward the guard, including Roman's, who skidded to a sudden halt.
Damian and Eilika abandoned their tea cups, rising to their feet in unison, while Sylvian turned sharply toward the entrance.
