Chapter 79

• Ian’s POV
• The weight of the realm settled over me the moment I crossed its threshold, the air heavy with the scent of ancient stone and the faint, lingering traces of magic. This place was a constant reminder of who I was and what I had to uphold. The title of King wasn’t something I wore lightly, and every time I returned, it was like donning a mantle that grew heavier with each passimg day.
• Today, though, the weight was almost unbearable. The council had been relentless in their demands, and I knew what awaited me in the chamber—more of the same questions, the same insistence, the same push for something I refused to give them.