Aiden sat in the waiting hall, his fingers gripping the edge of the wooden bench. His leg bounced restlessly, his nerves threatening to choke him.

  This was it. His one real chance.

  The noble house was rger than anything he had ever seen—high ceilings, marble floors, and an overwhelming aura of authority. He swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath. But no matter how much he tried, his heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

  What if they rejected him? What if they saw him as nothing but a waste of time?

  Before he could spiral any further, the rge oak doors creaked open. A guard gestured at him.

  “Come in.”

  Aiden stood up too fast. His foot caught on the edge of the rug, and he nearly tripped forward. He managed to steady himself, cheeks burning, and quickly walked inside, pretending nothing had happened.

  The room was dimly lit, with torches along the walls casting flickering shadows. At the center sat an imposing man—Lord Aldric, the head of the noble house. He had an air of quiet authority, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto Aiden. Along the walls stood several individuals radiating power. Their presence alone made the air feel heavier.

  Aiden hesitated before sitting down on the chair pced in front of the lord’s desk. He gnced around—and froze when he saw a familiar figure standing among the others.

  Leon.

  Aiden’s eyes widened slightly. He hadn’t expected to see him here. Why was he standing with the higher-ranked members? Before he could think too much, Lord Aldric’s voice cut through the silence.

  “What?”

  Aiden straightened up. “S-Sorry, nothing.”

  The lord didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t push further. Instead, he picked up a stack of papers and flipped through them.

  Aiden felt his stomach tighten. He already knew what was on those pages.

  Nothing.