Chapter 191: Trouble perceived

The grand hall of the Royal Palace buzzed with a nervous energy that prickled at Lucian's skin even before he stepped through the heavy oak doors. The air thrummed with hushed whispers and the clinking of goblets, an orchestra of sound that only amplified the tension hanging thick in the air. Inside, the scene resembled a gathering storm. Lords and Knights, adorned in their finest regalia, filled the vast hall. Some stood in tense clusters, their expressions grim, while others sat at long tables, their faces obscured by plumes of pipe smoke and the shadows cast by flickering torches. Lucian, his boots echoing on the polished stone floor, felt a surge of unease. He scanned the room, searching for a familiar face – Gareth's booming laugh, Edwin's stoic demeanor, even Olivia's sharp wit would have been a welcome comfort in this sea of unfamiliar faces. Suddenly, a voice boomed from the raised dais at the far end of the hall. Lucian instinctively turned towards the source,his eyes widen