Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 166: Madness and Weakness

Valeria stood before a heavy oak door, her breath measured but her heart pounding beneath her composed exterior. Before her, blocking her path, stood Keval—her younger brother. His short red hair, the same fiery hue as hers, gleamed in the torchlight, though his expression was far from welcoming.

Keval had never been one for royal grandeur, preferring the quieter life of a nobleman in seclusion over the intricacies of court politics. But now, as the Regent of the Emperor, he was forced into a position of power by his father's ordder. His face, usually relaxed, was drawn in irritation as he stared at Valeria, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Sister," he said, his tone clipped, "what is this about?"

Valeria's eyes blazed with determination. "I'm here to see my son," 

Keval sighed heavily, clearly exasperated by the situation. He glanced at the guards who stood nearby, their eyes flickering between the siblings in uneasy silence.

"You've been told, Valeria. The emperor is inside with his tutors," he said, his voice tight with annoyance. "He's in the middle of his studies. Interrupting him now would do no good. Not to him, and not to you."

Valeria's jaw clenched, the tension in her posture unmistakable. "I am his mother," she hissed, stepping closer to her brother.