Busted

Hades

After a long day buried in royal duties, I finally stepped into my study, the door shutting behind me with a heavy thud that echoed in the silence. The dim light of the desk lamp cast a warm glow over the piles of paperwork still awaiting my attention. Trade agreements, defense proposals, diplomatic correspondences—all meticulously stacked but untouched. They demanded my focus, my decisions, my signature. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, my mind wasn't on the intricate web of politics or the kingdom's affairs.

It was on her. Ellen.

I dropped into my chair with a weary sigh, leaning back as my eyes wandered to the stack of letters marked urgent and the thick financial reports I had barely skimmed this morning. Normally, I'd have been consumed by the intricacies of balancing the kingdom's budget or negotiating trade routes. But today, even the most pressing matters couldn't hold my attention.