The guard sagged to the floor, his knees buckling as he struggled to regain his balance.
He swallowed deep gulps of air, trying to steady himself after the earlier shock.
With his head bowed in both fear and respect, he managed to speak, his voice wavering: "The Duke has requested to see you… Lord Gon."
"Okay, I'll be there soon," Gon said, his voice calm but firm.
Without another word, he turned away, dismissing the guard as if the conversation had already ended in his mind.
The guard hesitated for a fraction of a second before scrambling to his feet, nearly tripping in his haste.
His heart still pounded from the encounter, but he dared not linger.
With a hurried bow, he spun on his heel and rushed out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.
The reason why Gon had acted that way was simple.
For too long, he had been disrespected in subtle ways by the staff of the castle.
It was never outright defiance,no one dared to challenge him directly.
