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
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