A Private Audience

Kaelia

I froze in my tracks, my heart pounding in my chest. I had assumed Rhydian hadn't noticed my presence, but his voice shattered that illusion. Slowly, I turned around, my eyes meeting his intense gaze.

Rhydian's expression was stern, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. My mind raced, desperately searching for something to say, a plausible reason for my presence in his office. I