Damien was momentarily stunned into silence. Not long ago, he had boasted about being unfazed by beauty, claiming he'd seen it all. Yet, at this moment, the allure radiating from Niomi struck him like a tidal wave—charming, intoxicating, and nearly impossible to resist.
His heartbeat surged, quick and heavy, as if dragged back to the impulsive days of youth. But then he inhaled deeply. Slowly, rhythm returned to his chest. He shut those emotions down.
A leader had to master many things—power, speech, strategy. But above all, he had to command his own emotions.
With a soft smile, Damien spoke, his voice tinged with warmth and curiosity.
"How was your training session, Niomi?"
He truly wanted to know. After all, Niomi wasn't just any noble's daughter. She was a natural awakener—a rare one at that—and her potential was nothing short of astonishing.
