Chapter 421 - CH 421 — The First Vote

Morning light entered the Elder Council Hall through towering stained-glass windows whose jeweled colors spilled across the ancient marble floor like fragments of forgotten legends, painting crimson, sapphire, and gold beneath the boots of warriors, council members, and honored guests who had gathered long before the official proceedings began, while an uneasy hush lingered over every conversation because no one present could dismiss the unsettling awareness that Regina stood upon the edge of a decision capable of reshaping generations of carefully guarded tradition. Alessandro entered without escort, declining every ceremonial privilege attached to his office, and the quiet confidence reflected in his measured stride stirred unexpected discomfort among several Elders who had privately expected exhaustion or resentment to leave visible marks upon his composure after the previous night's relentless debate.