Charles POV

“A king without an empire still has one weapon which is fear.”

The rain fell in sheets against the tall glass windows of the estate, drumming a rhythm that almost drowned the silence of defeat. Almost.

I stood at the edge of the marble balcony, staring out into the storm like it might wash away everything that had gone wrong.

The woods stretched endlessly, dark and wet, and the faint hum of generators echoed from below. My new stronghold is temporary, yes, but still ...