Lucian leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. His golden eyes found Ereskia's.
"It's your father," he said quietly. "We finally have some information."
The words seemed to stop time.
Ereskia's breath caught in her throat. For a heartbeat, she just stood there, frozen, and then the emotion hit all at once, like a dam bursting.
She moved forward suddenly, planting both hands on the desk hard enough to rattle the stack of papers.
"What do you mean?" she demanded, voice sharp. "What did you find? Tell me! Now!"
"Ereskia!" Larpard was already moving. He stepped in quickly and grabbed her arms, pulling her gently back. "Calm down. Please."
His voice stayed steady, but his eyes… they told another story. He looked shaken, like something long buried had just clawed its way to the surface.
