The air in the room shifted abruptly as the door swung open, and in walked Lord Thorn, the imposing War Minister, alongside Commander Kovacs. Both men came to an immediate halt upon seeing Kaian and Chiva locked in an intimate embrace. Kaian still held her close, his forehead resting gently against hers, and her hands lingered lightly against his chest.
For a moment, silence reigned. Chiva’s cheeks flared red as she quickly stepped back, her composure struggling to reassert itself. Kaian, on the other hand, merely turned his head, his expression unreadable, though the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed his irritation at the interruption.
Lord Thorn raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback but far too seasoned to show outright surprise. After the briefest of pauses, he inclin
