[Lavinia's POV — Black Wall Fortress—One Week Later]
A week had passed since we tore the Black Wall from Meren's hands.
Seven days of hammering, sweeping, tending, and rebuilding—until the fortress finally felt more Elorian than enemy. A week, and not a single Meren soldier dared approach.
Their silence was the loudest message of all.
General Arwin placed a stack of parchments on my desk. "Your Highness, relief supplies have arrived from the Imperial Palace and from the Eastern Region Duke—Duke Halveth."
I nodded. "Good. Distribute them exactly as planned."
"Yes, Your Highness. Half for the army, half for the villagers."
"Perfect."
Osric stepped forward, his posture straight but his tone unusually heavy. "There is… something else we must address, Your Highness."
I looked up. "What is it?"
"The villagers," he said. "During inspections, we found them sick and injured. Severely."
My brows knitted. "Sick?"
