Duke Dawncrest stood tall and unmoving, his presence suffocating the entire hall. His expression was twisted with fury.
"You useless son!" the Duke roared, his voice reverberating through the chamber. "You dare bring shame to my name by being beaten and humiliated by some nobody peasant?"
William's jaw trembled as blood seeped between his teeth. He could taste iron.
"Have I taught you nothing?" the Duke continued, taking a step forward. Each footstep echoed heavily.
William gritted his teeth—not in defiance, but to suppress it. He knew better than to let anger show on his face. With his father's strength, that slap could have crushed his skull if he had wished it.
This had been mercy.
Or perhaps restraint.
Either way, William could not afford to provoke him further.
"I—I'm sorry, Father," William said quickly, forcing himself to kneel despite the dizziness in his head. "He was supposed to have died."
The Duke's eyes narrowed.
