We finally arrived at the castle.
The very air around the entrance felt heavier and tighter than usual. It was as though suspicion itself lingered in the wind.
Rows of armored royal knights stood more alert than ever, their eyes sharp, their hands close to their weapons. The silence was tense, as if everyone had agreed not to breathe too loudly.
It was obvious why.
The recent attack on the Holy City had rattled the entire kingdom, and the castle, as the heart of its power, had responded with unwavering paranoia. The guards were no longer just ceremonial. They were ready for war.
But I didn't falter.
My footsteps echoed against the polished stone floor as I kept walking with my heels clicking against each step.
I didn't even glance at the knights as they studied me and the man who walked at my side.
That man... was Christopher Faust.
Not Leon.
At least, not the Leon everyone knew.
But deep down, they were one and the same.
Just cloaked in a new shell.
