Julian let out a small breath, a soft smile touching his lips as he gazed at the stars.
His scholarly mind was already drifting back to the cold, white beauty of the North. He wondered if they could finally return home now with no more drama.
He didn't want grand titles or the suffocating worship of the church. He just wanted to go back to being Lucius's tutor—perhaps even opening a small academy to teach the other children of the Viremount territory.
He loved to teach; there was no doubt about that. It was the one baseline passion that belonged entirely to Kim Jowoon, the scholar.
His thoughts naturally drifted further across the border, wondering about the imperial palace. Cassian and Liora, he thought gently, hoping the Emperor's children were safe and hadn't fallen into deep depression in the grief of their mothers passing and their fathers nonchalance.
Then, he paused. A faint, amused scoff bubbled in his throat as he wondered, What is the Emperor even doing right now?
