Theo stepped out of the carriage, the humid Southern air pressing down on him as he looked around the vast palace grounds. The Southern Empire was starkly different from the North in almost every way: warmer, brighter, and filled with a lushness that bordered on surreal. But Theo was too preoccupied with his thoughts to take in the scenery. After all, he'd been summoned here not merely for a political mission but to play a pivotal role as an advisor to Emperor Kairos, a task he wasn't particularly thrilled about. However, loyalty to his brother ran deep, and he knew better than to question Axel's strategic mind, even if it sometimes veered toward reckless.
Theo strode into the palace, a frown furrowing his brow. Upon finding Axel, he didn't waste any time with pleasantries. "So, this whole plan," Theo began, fixing his brother with a sharp look. "If Lila hadn't agreed to any of this, what exactly was your backup? Did you even have one?"
