Demetrius was silent for a few minutes. His eyes were still on me, but they were no longer weighing something; it was more as if he had reached a decision. He placed the cup he was holding on the table, then turned his head slightly.
"Follow me, Leonardo."
His tone was not a command, but a measured invitation. I quietly walked behind him. The stone paths of the garden were still damp in the morning cold; our steps occasionally left a crunching sound. We passed through the palace and arrived at a tall arched door. A few men stood beyond the door, dressed in simple but high-quality fabrics in shades of grey. They bowed slightly as we entered.
Demetrius's voice echoed: "The Council Chamber."
The room was smaller than I had anticipated. Three people were seated around a large table: one, an elderly man with the look of an accountant; another, a clerk struggling with thick files; and a third, a young advisor whispering quietly. All of them rose when the duke entered.
