After breakfast, the Lords departed for their respective residences, leaving the hall quiet once more. I, however, found my steps leading me toward Kai's room. He had looked tense all throughout the meal—his smiles were there, yes, but too polished… too forced.
I knocked twice before quietly pushing the door open.
Kai stood near his desk, carefully arranging books into his satchel. The soft rustling of pages was the only sound that filled the room.
"Master," he acknowledged, his voice gentle but distant.
I walked over, halting a step behind him.
"Are you still troubled by what I said at breakfast?" I asked.
He paused for a moment, fingers lingering on the spine of a book, then resumed his packing—though slower than before.
"I'm fine," he said, not meeting my eyes.
But he wasn't. I could tell. That air of calm around him was paper-thin, and the weight on his shoulders… too heavy for someone his age.
"You don't need to worry, Kai," I said, my voice calm.
