As soon as Fray and Irno Dalma entered the grand hall, a wave of attention swept over them like a tide breaking on the shore. Laughter, congratulations, and smiles followed their every step. People from every corner of the room began to gather, surrounding them with cheerful greetings and warm words. But for Fray, it was suffocating.
The smiles were masks—forced, calculated. And while others might have basked in such attention, Fray's face remained unreadable. His gaze scanned the crowd without focus, ignoring most of the chatter. He nodded politely but offered no warmth. Only a few individuals managed to pierce his wall of indifference.
One of them was Richard James, the Lord of Amber City and Islan's father. The man stood out in the crowd—tall, broad-shouldered, with long dark hair and a thick black beard. His approach lacked the oily grace of the others; there was something genuine in his stride, something real in his smile.
