Klaus studied Nicholas for another moment, then stepped back with a slight gesture toward the tower entrance.
"Care for some tea?"
The guards at the Eastern Tower's gate snapped to attention as Klaus approached. Their movements carried the sharp precision of soldiers who had heard enough stories to take their duties seriously. The massive iron-reinforced doors swung open without need for explanation or credential checking.
Klaus led Nicholas through corridors that reflected his family's taste for understated elegance—polished stone floors covered with rich carpets, walls lined with portraits of Lionhart ancestors, windows that offered glimpses of carefully maintained gardens. The Eastern Tower served as both residence and fortress, beauty balanced with defensive necessity.
