Christopher found himself backing away from the door as every single person exited the rooms in a steady stream. Monarchs and their servants alike flooded the hallway. His back hit the opposite wall. He tried to hide his displeasure and unease at being around so many people, especially people he did not know. Living with his unpredictable father all those years had taught him that people were dangerous. Knowing their habits, their strengths and weaknesses, and more was necessary to assess their threat level to him and keep it as low as possible. These people were rulers, used to controlling the lives of everyone around them, and caring little what happened to the small cogs. Not that he was a cog. Not in his soul. Not in his heart. He would become a machine unto himself. But not yet. He still had so much to prove.

He tried not to feel the burst of relief that erupted in his chest when he caught sight of Serxio making his way through the crowd towards him. It was almost a dance as the foppish young lord squeezed between monarchs, sidled around a lord, and broke apart two servants.