Alpha Rolan’s POV

The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall windows of my study, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. Pandora sat across from me, animatedly discussing her latest passion project.

A new dress she had her eye on and an outreach initiative for the lower towns. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I could see the excitement dancing in her eyes.

Despite her vibrant energy, my mind was elsewhere. I found myself nodding absently, my thoughts tangled in a web of responsibilities and decisions that had been consuming me for weeks.

I tried to focus on Pandora’s words, but the stress of the ongoing political negotiations and...