The king sucked his teeth, the sharp, irritated sound cutting through the air before he leaned forward, elbows resting on the arms of his throne.
His expression darkened, eyes flickering with frustration as he exhaled sharply.
"Oh, you should've seen it, Thane," he said, his voice edged with lingering disbelief and something dangerously close to resentment.
"He rolled in this morning, grand as ever, draped in that damn air of effortless authority, and the crowd…" He huffed, shaking his head.
"They practically fell at his feet. You'd think he was the sun itself, the way they basked in his presence. Laughing at his jokes, hanging onto his every word, falling over themselves just to be noticed by him."
He scoffed, more to himself than to Thane, his fingers tapping restlessly against the throne.
He shook his head slowly, his thick beard swaying with the motion, a deep furrow settling between his brows.
