"Stand down."
At once, the guards obeyed. Weapons lowered. Swords slid back into their sheaths. Lances were grounded. The formation loosened, though no one truly relaxed. Every eye remained fixed on Duke.
This had never been about stopping him.
It had been about reminding him that the palace still stood on its own authority.
Orrin knew it.
They all did.
'SSS-Rank...' he thought grimly. 'Just like before. Why do I still stand no chance, even after all these years… even after my strength has grown so much?'
His gaze flicked to the young man beside Duke.
The aura rolling off him was different, sharper, quieter, but no less dangerous. It made Orrin's instincts scream, his muscles tightening despite himself.
He forced his breathing to steady and straightened, schooling his expression into something resembling composure.
"I will have a place prepared for you," he said carefully. "While I inform Her Majesty of your presence."
