Deep within the Severian Empire, Magnus Maximus, the Grand Duke of the Severian Empire, slowly ate his meal. He was a handsome man with a sharp jaw, muscular body and deep black eyes and hair. By his side, his son and daughter ate. It was obvious to anyone who looked at the family that they took after their father, both having the same black eyes and hair.
Despite it being a meal between a father and his children, the room was eerily quiet, only the occasional touching of cutlery making a sound. The room was dark, with only the bare minimum lighting they would need. It lacked any decoration, and the meal seemed cold.
"Your Grace." The door to the dining hall opened, and a young butler respectfully bowed towards Magnus. "You have got a letter. It's a seal I do not recognise."
