"You are asking about the southern kingdom, aren't you… the one that was devastated during the Great Campaign. Kingdom Valthor."
Julian's eyes widened. At last he had found a lead.
Excitement surged within him—but before he could utter a single word, her hand moved swiftly, covering his mouth with surprising firmness.
"Do not speak," she hissed, her eyes wide with unmistakable fear. "I cannot talk about that here."
She kept her hand in place for several tense seconds, her entire body rigid as she listened intently for any sound beyond the door. Only after confirming that the corridor remained silent did she slowly withdraw her hand... though she did not move far. She remained close, far closer than before, her face only inches from his.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
The air between them grew thick, charged with the dangerous intimacy that only shared secrets could create within the confines of a closed room.
