Spring Manor.
The light of the late afternoon pierced through the windows of the meeting room, staining the environment with golden and orange tones. But the beauty of the scene was a cruel contrast to what was happening inside.
Reven sat at the head of the black marble table, staring at the letter with a mourning expression. A heavy silence hovered in the room. Slowly, anger began to burn in his eyes, like embers about to burst into flames. Before him, his butler was sweating profusely, eyes fixed on the floor.
"Is this true...?" His voice was low, drawn out, almost disbelieving. He slowly lifted his gaze, locking eyes with the butler who trembled under his tight collar.
"Yes, master. The confirmation arrived this morning, stamped with the official court seal. The votes were recorded"
The silence that followed was deafening. Reven closed his eyes briefly, trying to contain the rage pulsing like a drumbeat in his skull.
"How much did we spend... in total?"
The butler hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Seven thousand gold coins, sir... We secured seven votes in our favor. Three were naturally against us" he added, as if that might soften the humiliation.
The silence that followed was unbearable. Reven leaned back slowly, letting the letter fall onto the table. Seven thousand gold coins. That was the equivalent of ten years' worth of taxes from three fiefdoms. Enough money to hire two full mercenary armies or build a fortress in the Gray Mountains.
"And how much... did the Udraks spend?"
The question came out like a whisper, but there was a sharp tension behind it.
The butler cleared his throat, wringing his hands.
"Seven copper coins, sir"
Reven frowned, as if he hadn't heard correctly.
"Repeat that"
"Seven copper coins" He swallowed hard. "I think... I think they're mocking us"
DONG!
Then, like lightning, Reven's fist slammed down onto the table with tremendous force. A thunderous crack echoed through the room, followed by a jagged split running across the wooden surface like a storm across a cloudy sky.
"They... didn't... lift... a finger!" he growled, teeth clenched. "And yet... they made me look like a fool in front of the entire aristocracy!"
The butler instinctively took a step back, his face pale.
"So… should I request a refund…?" the butler whispered nervously. He knew the question was dangerous, but the amount was too large to ignore.
"A refund for gifts?!" Reven shot up from his seat, eyes wide with fury. "Do you want me to knock on seven noble doors and say, 'Sorry, I lost—can I have my bribes back?' His voice rose into a roar. "Do you think that wouldn't make us look even more pathetic?!"
The butler shrank back, silent. He knew there was no right answer at this moment.
Reven turned his back, eyes fixed on the cold fireplace. He ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts.
"They knew they would lose" he said, more to himself than anyone else. "They never expected to win this trial. All they wanted… was time"
He slowly turned around, facing the butler again.
"Four months. That's what they bought. And do you know what's worse?" His eyes burned with rage and frustration. "They made me pay for it"
Silence.
"Will we be paying for it too, sir?" the butler asked, barely audible.
"No" Reven said firmly. "They will pay. But not with coins"
He walked over to the wall where a map of Valemar hung. His finger landed on the region of Full Moon City—the home of the Udrak House.
"Contact the Black Emblem" he said in a low but firm voice, like someone already seeing blood before the blade had fallen. "Tell them that this time… I don't want discretion. I want the next attack to send a message. Clear"
"Yes, master" the butler replied, rigid as a statue, already preparing to carry out the order.
"And start mobilizing. Bring the banners. The men. The dogs" His eyes never left the map. "We'll make the Udrak House bleed… until they wish they'd never laughed at me"
He turned once more, gazing at the letter on the table as if it had spat a curse at him.
"Rillen… you think you can provoke me and walk away unscathed?" he murmured. "Fine. Let's see how long your bones can bear the weight of your own history"
—•—
The small, isolated farm south of New Moon City appeared on the horizon like a forgotten fragment of the past—dark and silent beneath the veil of dusk. It was a place that seemed frozen in time, yet strangely alive just because she was back.
As soon as we stopped and I led the horse to the stable, I heard Evelyn's voice—more cheerful than it had been in weeks.
"I'll get things ready!" she said, jumping off the horse with her cane, moving with the lightness of someone who had finally found something lost.
"I can help" I offered, already knowing what the response would be.
"No!" she shot back with a spark in her eyes. "I want to do it! I'll prepare some good food and take care of the house. You're the boy, so go hunt something"
I smiled, half-teasing.
"I didn't know you had a housewife fetish. I'll keep that in mind from now on"
She shot me a sideways glance, filled with irony, her lips curling into a mocking smile.
"Just for you. I don't care about that"
I stood there for a while, just watching. The way she moved across the old planks of the porch, the way she opened the windows to let the evening air in—it was strange, but here, she looked more alive than anywhere else. Perhaps home gives back parts of ourselves we thought we'd lost forever.
Her smile at that moment was one of the rare ones—not forced, genuine—the kind of smile you keep in your memory forever.
I tried to insist on helping her, as I always did, but was shooed away just as firmly as before. She was stubborn. But there was a different energy in her now. As if that house, covered in dust and memories, had somehow revitalized her.
I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the property, exploring the area calmly. I didn't go far. It was as if part of me wanted to stay close, just to make sure that moment wouldn't vanish.
When night fell, the scent of warm food spread through the rooms. She had prepared everything by herself—and yet, she seemed stronger than ever. After dinner, we retired. She nestled close to me, breathing slowly, as if she had finally found some peace.
At that moment, I wondered how much longer I would have the chance to see her like this—calm. Alive.
And I decided I would do whatever it took to extend that feeling—even if it meant defying everything I knew.