Crowne walked through the garden as it grew darker. The night wind brushed against his face, carrying the faint scent of flowers. At the end of the stone path, a sixteen-year-old youth waited for him. His brown hair was messy, his servant clothes simple, and his eyes filled with worry.
"Young Master Crowne…" the voice came out carefully, afraid someone might hear. "I've been looking for you since earlier. Are you alright?"
Crowne turned his head. "Ronan…" he murmured. "So, you were still waiting for me, huh?"
Ronan nodded quickly, then glanced at the wound on Crowne's temple. "They treated you like that again, didn't they?" His teeth clenched tightly, barely holding back his anger. "If you allow me, I'd take revenge on them right now."
Crowne gave a faint smile. "That won't be necessary. Just follow me," he said.
Ronan lowered his head, still unwilling. He had been Crowne's personal servant since childhood—the only one who never abandoned him and always tried to defend him, even though he had been beaten up several times as well. When everyone else mocked the 'first son without an element and without magic talent,' only Ronan remained by his side.
Crowne stopped for a moment, then turned his gaze toward the Valden family's manor. From afar, the glow of the feast still shone brightly. Laughter and music could still be faintly heard. Crowne smiled slightly—a sly smile. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, solidifying his resolve.
After glancing at the main building of the Valden family, Crowne's eyes shifted. He looked at another large building on the side—the Valden family's food storage warehouse.
Crowne let out a small sigh. "Did you bring what I asked for?"
"Yes, Young Master." Ronan pulled out a fire-starting tool that Crowne had crafted over the past few days. He handed it to Crowne. "But… what is this for?" he asked.
Crowne only smiled. "Then come with me."
Crowne walked ahead, and Ronan followed closely behind. The two of them moved calmly. Crowne deliberately took a detour to avoid attracting the attention of the guards. He knew every nook and cranny of the Valden estate.
He even knew exactly when the guards shifted from one side to another. He had memorized all their patrol patterns. For him, sneaking through was easy. Soon, they reached the warehouse, where two guards stood before the large oak doors.
Crowne stepped forward first, his face calm and smiling. "Father asked me to fetch an old wine cask from the warehouse. It's for the feast."
The guards exchanged glances. One of them cleared his throat. "But, Young Master Crowne, usually other servants handle the supplies. Not—"
Ronan quickly cut him off with a sharp voice. "Do you dare doubt the orders of Duke Valden?! He is the head of the Valden family. Do you still wish to argue?!"
Both guards froze, cold sweat dripping down their temples. They hesitated, but Ronan's words struck fear into them. They looked at each other in confusion. After a few seconds, they finally nodded.
They opened the warehouse door, allowing the two to enter.
"You will wait here," Crowne ordered.
The guards nodded, following his request. By the rules, no one was allowed inside the food storage without guard supervision. But Crowne's earlier words had clouded their judgment with fear.
Crowne and Ronan entered, the door closing behind them. Inside, the air was stifling, thick with the scent of wheat mixed with dried meat and wood. Tall shelves were stacked with sacks, crates, and large barrels.
Ronan lit a small lantern that was available there. "Young Master, are we really going to take the wine?" he whispered.
Crowne walked slowly, his fingers brushing against the sacks of wheat on the shelves. "No. We are going to leave behind a great gift for this family. Something they will never forget."
Ronan looked confused at first, but then he remembered the fire starter he had handed over. He swallowed hard. He understood what his master meant. "You… you plan to burn this place down?"
Crowne gave a faint nod without the slightest hesitation. "But not too big. Let the flames consume it slowly from the inside. By the time they notice, it will already be too late."
Ronan immediately moved, taking the fire starter back out. He grabbed a piece of oily cloth and a bundle of dry straw he found inside. He tied them into small bundles—not just one, but several. Then he placed those bundles near a larger pile of hay.
"Not directly on the most flammable spot," Crowne reminded him. He rearranged one of the straw bundles closer to the pile of dried meat. "The fire will crawl slowly toward the hay. That way, when it finally ignites, the Valden family will receive their grandest gift. I've prepared this for a long time. They deserve the best version of it."
He started from the meat section at the back, where it wouldn't be seen by the guards if they happened to peek inside. Even so, Crowne already had a plan to prevent the guards from entering.
They worked carefully. Crowne lit a small flame, placed it near the bundle of straw, then covered it slightly with a damp cloth. The flame crept beneath the moist fabric. He didn't cover it completely, of course—the fire needed oxygen to stay alive.
Ronan stood beside him, his face slightly pale. "Is this really okay?"
He was nervous. If they were caught, the punishment would be death—especially for him. Burning the food storage was a grave crime, one with the harshest sentence. But Crowne looked completely confident.
Once the fire burned steadily, Crowne rose to his feet. He walked toward the stack of old wine casks. He and Ronan each dragged one toward the door.
Then they knocked, and the door was opened.
"Could you take these to the feast?" Crowne asked.
"Of course."
They stepped out, and the warehouse door was shut again. Just before it closed completely, Crowne glanced inside. A sly smile appeared on his face. He carried one cask of fermented wine, and Ronan did the same.
Meanwhile, one guard carried two casks at once. They quickly left the area, rushing, as the feast was about to reach its main event.
"Why are you—"
Before he could finish his words, suddenly a blade pierced through his body from behind. The guard was stunned. As he tried to retreat and ready his stance, Ronan swiftly drew his sword and slashed across the guard's neck.
"Let's go! The fire will devour everything within minutes," Crowne said.
Without hesitation, he dashed forward. Ronan followed close behind. Crowne laughed loudly, a crazed satisfaction on his face.
Ronan couldn't help but feel unsettled.
"Is this… really alright, Young Master?"
"Relax. I've prepared everything perfectly," Crowne answered, glancing back.
At that moment, Ronan caught sight of the wicked smile on his master's face. The Crowne who had always been quiet and kind now looked like a terrifying stranger.
"Is this truly… Young Master Crowne?"