"Hm… this should be interesting," Lady Faelan said quietly as she read through the message in her hands.
She sat in her office, alone and unhurried, the silence around her broken only by the faint rustle of parchment.
The room itself was wide and orderly, designed more for calm authority than luxury. Two sofa chairs sat in the middle of the room, facing each other with a low table placed neatly between them.
The table was empty, as if waiting for a discussion that had not yet begun.
At the far edge of the room stood her desk. It was broad and solid, covered with neatly stacked paperwork that showed no sign of disorder. Every scroll and document had its place.
Behind the desk was a wide window that allowed natural light to pour into the room. The curtains were drawn just enough to soften the sunlight, casting a gentle glow across the floor and furniture.
Beside the paperwork rested a tea tray. Steam curled lazily upward from the cup, carrying a mild, calming scent.
The tea had grown slightly cold, forgotten as Lady Faelan focused on the message before her.
The doors to the office opened.
Lady Faelan lifted her gaze.
Auri Avernus stepped inside.
She stood immediately, smoothing her dress as she turned to face him.
There was mild surprise in her eyes, though she hid it well.
"Husband?" she said. "It's rare seeing you here."
"Yes," Auri answered simply. His voice was steady, as it always was.
He walked further into the room, his presence filling the space without effort. He stopped near the center, his posture straight and composed.
"The knights of Avernus and I will be departing back to the borderlines in two days," Auri said.
Lady Faelan listened without interrupting.
"I will once again have to trust you with the house duties," he continued, then added with faint amusement, "my darling wife."
She sighed softly and waved a hand.
"Enough with the flattering," she said. Then she stepped forward and held out the scroll. "Here."
Auri took the parchment and began reading. His eyes moved slowly over the flowing brown script, absorbing every word.
"The Arcanis wish to form a marriage match," he said aloud. "They want their daughter married to one of my children."
Lady Faelan nodded. "Yes. And they will be arriving here in two days."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Thalia is a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy of House Arcanis. She is only thirteen, yet she is already a three-star mage."
Auri's expression remained unreadable as he listened.
"Vin and Vex would be a perfect match," Lady Faelan said, her tone confident.
"What about the youngest?" Auri interrupted.
Lady Faelan stopped moving. She turned to look at him, her expression thoughtful.
"The youngest?" she repeated.
She hesitated, then replied, "I have thought about that. The youngest has only just returned. Although he is talented, I am not sure House Arcanis would accept."
Auri folded the scroll and handed it back to her.
"I'll leave the final decision to you," he said.
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the office.
Lady Faelan watched the door close behind him. Slowly, she returned to her chair and sat down, resting her back against it. Her fingers tapped lightly against the armrest as her thoughts drifted.
"The youngest, huh…" she murmured.
It had been a few days since Jude returned to the estate.
The days passed quietly, but the calm did not sit well with him. His body felt stiff, as though it had grown used to constant movement. Training, battle, pressure—he missed all of it.
"I need to stretch out a bit," Jude said.
"I'll be waiting here," Abaddon replied, already lying comfortably on the couch in the room. His tone was relaxed, as though nothing in the world concerned him.
Brenna glanced at Jude. "I'll stay here and attend to Master Abaddon."
"Okay," Jude said.
He changed into a black sleeveless outfit, simple and light, meant for movement rather than appearance. Once dressed, he stepped out of the room.
The halls of the estate were quiet. His footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor as he walked forward. The air felt cool and familiar.
After only a few steps, he noticed someone ahead.
The Head Guardian.
"Young Master," the man said, bowing his head slightly. "Where are you headed?"
"To the training hall," Jude replied.
"Allow me to accompany you," the Head Guardian said.
Jude gave a small nod. "Sure. Why not."
He walked past the guardian, who followed closely behind him.
Two knights stood guard before the doors to the training hall. As Jude and the Head Guardian approached, the knights straightened at once. Without delay, the large doors were pushed open.
The sound echoed through the corridor.
Jude stepped inside.
The training hall was wide and open, the space filled with the scent of polished wood and faint sweat. Sunlight streamed in through high windows, illuminating the floor and casting long shadows.
At the center of the hall, Vin and Vex were sparring.
Their wooden swords clashed repeatedly, sharp sounds filling the hall. Vin moved carefully, focusing on defense, while Vex attacked aggressively, pressing forward with strength and speed.
Sweat glistened on their faces. Their expressions were serious, focused entirely on each other.
Jude stopped near the entrance and watched.
The Head Guardian stood behind him, arms folded, observing quietly.
Vin blocked a heavy strike and stepped back. Vex followed instantly, swinging again, forcing Vin further away. Their movements showed long familiarity—brothers who had trained together countless times.