“Please accept my apologies for last night’s misunderstanding,” Diego continued, straightening. “As you can imagine, your arrival was… unexpected. In a place like Almira, one never can be too cautious.”
Heiko’s lips barely twitched in reaction. The years spent navigating vipers in the Royal Court had trained him well. He recognized the signs immediately—false humility, self-preservation masked as loyalty, and a smile hiding a blade. Diego was the kind of man who would bow to you while plotting your demise.
Opportunist. Coward. Dangerous in the shadows.
The kind that never fights you head-on… but waits for your back to turn.
Still, Heiko smiled thinly and gestured to a chair with measured grace.
“Good morning. I don’t believe we had the pleasure of a proper introduction last night.”
D
