The sun was already high when Axelius finally dragged himself out of bed, yawning loudly as he stumbled down the hallway, still feeling sore from the whole adventure underground. The night before, he had come back with Seraphina, completely knocked out.
He didn't even remember reaching his room. Apparently, he had fallen asleep so deeply on the way back that he hadn't heard a single thing, not even when they passed the gate or when someone changed his clothes. He only woke up because his butler Elias knocked on his door over and over, saying the duke wanted to see him now.
So here he was, in the duke's office, arms crossed in front of him as he listened to the duke's angry voice echoing through the large, quiet room. The duke sat behind his large desk, frowning and looking as serious as ever. Axelius knew he was in trouble the moment he saw that look.
