The first thing Sebastian noticed was the silence. Not the tense silence that came before gunfire. Not the dreadful silence that followed explosions.
Just... Silence. Warm. Peaceful.
The kind that belonged to an ordinary home.
For several long moments, he remained exactly where he was, staring at the ceiling above the master bedroom.
Golden sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting soft patterns across the room.
Somewhere outside, birds sang.
Another sound drifted through the open window. Laughter. Children.
The estate workers' children were already playing in the gardens. Sebastian smiled.
It was almost eight o'clock. His eyes widened. Eight.
He hadn't slept past six in nearly a year.
There had always been an emergency.
A report.A briefing.
A crisis demanding his attention before sunrise.
Today...
there was nothing. He let out a quiet laugh.
"I actually overslept."
