I immediately retreated into my private room without a single word for Gioffre as he escorted me along the dim corridor. The quiet of the passage, heavy with unspoken questions, allowed me only the murmured echo of my heartbeat as I closed the door behind me.
Inside, I sought solace in ritual. I stepped into the warm embrace of a steam-filled bath, letting the subtle fragrance of lavender and chamomile wash away the day's tensions.
Once cleansed, I changed into soft, familiar garments that quietly spoke of comfort and secrecy. Settling into the worn chair by my study table, I carefully placed my notebook before me as thoughts of Samael churned in my mind. He was no ordinary figure—he was an Emperor in his own right, not only ruling his realm but embodying the power and peril of an enemy Empire.
