MasukThe door to Yoren’s room opened quietly. Gwyneth paused at the threshold for a moment, not stepping inside right away.
The air inside felt different; no longer was it filled with the scent of medicine and the chill of the night, but it was now warm, calm and alive. The large curtains by the window were open. Morning sunlight poured in, spilling across the floor and walls as if sweeping away the remnants of the previous night's darkness.
Yoren stood near the large window. H
Fabrizio didn’t move immediately after Yoren and Ruth left the corridor. He stood still for a few seconds to make sure their footsteps had truly faded, before finally turning around and heading towards Yoren’s office.Fabrizio’s steps were calm and measured, as usual. However, his mind was never truly still.Fabrizio opened the office door. He stepped inside and closed it quietly behind him.The room still felt warm; the memory of Yoren’s presence had not completely faded. The desk was covered in unsorted files, some of which were still open and displayed notes and unfinished signatures.Fabrizio carefully placed Yoren’s briefcase on the desk, then tidied it slightly. His movements were efficient and made little to no sound.He didn’t leave immediately afterwards. Instead, he took his phone out of his inner jacket pocket and called Garrison.Once the call was answered, Fabrizio didn’t waste time. “What are the results of your investigation?”There was a brief pause before Garrison rep
Yoren clearly remembered what Louise had said that morning. He was not allowed to push himself.The message was simple and delivered in Louise’s usual calm tone. Yet, for some reason, it had been echoing in his mind ever since he had sat down at his desk. He did not ignore it. He was not one to take warnings lightly, especially from someone like Louise.Unfortunately, the situation he faced gave Yoren little choice. His desk was covered in files, some open and others neatly stacked and waiting their turn. The screen displayed a packed schedule for the coming weeks: meetings, appointments, document reviews and important agendas that could not be postponed.Two days of absence had created a small gap that had quickly turned into a pile. Everything had to be completed immediately before it grew even more.Yoren shifted one file, opened it and read through it quickly. His eyes moved efficiently from one line to the next. He picked up a pen, signed the document, and closed it again.Next,
Morning arrived slowly at the Palace. The winter sunlight filtered hesitantly through the thick curtains, casting a pale, warmless glow across the floor. Even though the fireplace had been lit since dawn, the air inside the room still felt cold.Yoren stood in front of the mirror. He was already dressed in a neat white shirt, the top button still undone. His hair was slightly damp, suggesting that he had just showered. The running water earlier seemed to have washed away some of the lingering fatigue, though not all of it.Yoren’s gaze was fixed on his own reflection. He stood still for a few seconds, as if confirming his condition that morning.He looked as usual: calm and composed, showing nothing out of the ordinary. Yet only he knew that his body had not fully returned to normal. He could still feel a faint, but real, lingering heaviness.A soft knock sounded at the door, breaking Yoren’s train of thought. Without shifting his gaze, he said, “Come in.”The door opened and Louise e
Garrison repeated that single word. His voice was flat, but it was enough to draw everyone's attention towards him. “A job?”The middle-aged woman looked slightly startled. She turned towards Garrison and gave a small nod, as if she had only just realised the importance of what she had said. “Yes, he's just got a job.”Garrison stepped closer. He wasn’t in a hurry, but he didn't hesitate either. The distance between them gradually closed, prompting the woman to straighten up unconsciously. He asked, “When was the last time you saw him?”The woman took a small breath, appearing to think. “Monday,” she replied. “In the afternoon.”Garrison asked again. “What time?”“Around one or two,” she replied uncertainly. “I don’t remember exactly, but it was still light. The sun was still high.”Garrison nodded once. “What was he doing at the time?”“He had just come out of the house,” the woman answered more quickly and confidently. “Like he was about to go somewhere.”Garrison needed to confirm
By the time the last car left the yard of the Ravenor family home, night had fully fallen. The fading sound of its engine marked the end of the long tension that had just unfolded—and the beginning of something new for some.Under Garrison’s command, the Investigation Division wasted no time. They did not stop to rest, but moved straight to headquarters without pause or thought of delaying until morning. Everyone understood the same thing: the longer they left the trail, the harder it would be to track.The data centre at the guard headquarters was never truly quiet, but that night it felt more alive than usual. Rows of screens glowed, casting a cold light that contrasted sharply with the tense atmosphere in the room. Several team members were already in position, waiting for further instructions.Garrison entered with quick strides, followed by two of his subordinates. “We start now,” he ordered without preamble.One of the analysts turned. “Your orders, Commander?”“Expand the searc
The Ravenor household did not immediately return to normal after Yoren, Fabrizio and the entire investigation team left. Instead, the silence that remained felt far more oppressive than before; it was as if the walls still held the echoes of footsteps and the cold stares of the guards, along with an aura of oppression that had yet to fully dissipate.Isabella stood in the living room where she had last seen Yoren. Her hands were still trembling slightly. She wasn’t aware when her breathing had become irregular. Her chest rose and fell faster than usual, as if her body had just experienced something too overwhelming to comprehend.Heston dropped onto the sofa roughly. He felt drained, though not physically. Something inside him had been completely depleted—perhaps the composure or courage he had believed he still possessed.Daisy stood not far away, hugging herself. Her shopping bags were scattered on the floor near the door. The expensive bags and branded boxes looked starkly out of p
A thin mist still lingered along the Velmora border when the steady, orderly and disciplined sound of the guards’ footsteps echoed repeatedly. Magical torches, placed at measured intervals, cast a yellowish glow over the damp ground and leaves, which had not yet dried fully from the night-t
The living room of Sabrina’s apartment felt warm that afternoon, even though it had just rained outside. A standing lamp glowed with a yellowish light while the television played an entertainment show that they were not paying much attention to. On the floor, right in front of the sofa, the
The Ledger never looked suspicious—that was its advantage. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary bar: a fairly well-established, middle-class entertainment venue with a dark façade, dim lighting, a tarnished signboard with gold letters, and thick glass doors that were always n
The car door closed softly yet firmly. A palace guard bowed respectfully before stepping back.Paige sat perfectly upright in the back seat. Her back was straight and her chin was slightly lifted—the posture of someone unaccustomed to defeat.As soon as the door shut, the driv







