Dimitri's voice rang out from within, smooth and commanding. Without hesitation, Sorayah pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside.
The Beta Lord sat upon an ornate throne-like chair, his posture regal yet utterly indifferent as he flipped through a stack of documents. The dim candlelight flickered over the sharp planes of his face, casting eerie shadows across the room.
"Grind me some ink," he ordered, not sparing her a glance.
Sorayah immediately moved closer, lowering herself to her knees beside him. Her fingers worked swiftly, grinding the ink with practiced precision, though her heart hammered in her chest.
A heavy silence lingered between them until Dimitri spoke again.
"Do you know the punishment for lateness on your first day?"
His voice was deceptively casual, yet the underlying threat was unmistakable.
