Karson looked at the closed door for a long moment, his face calm enough that no one would have guessed what he was thinking.
Beside him, Valen stood with one shoulder against the wall, looking perfectly relaxed. Karson, however, was already taking note of every little thing about him.
Valen was Philia's personal attendant, assigned to him shortly after Philia first set foot in the palace. He was an academy top graduate, sharp, exceptionally skilled with a blade, and possessing an enviable record. By all official standards, he was just a dedicated attendant doing his job with remarkable discipline, and over the time, he and Philia had naturally grown close.
Karson had always respected his competence. Yet beneath that easygoing, capable exterior, there was something about Valen that had never quite sat right with him. He was too vigilant, too observant, and far too protective for an ordinary royal attendant.
