Edward sat alone in the Marquis office, the room still smelling faintly of fresh wood and stone dust. The rebuilding had been efficient, as the desk before him was wide and plain, carved from dark oak, covered in scrolls, ledgers, and sealed reports stacked with careful order. Sunlight filtered in through tall windows, casting long shadows across the floor. Outside, he could hear distant drills from the training yard, steady and rhythmic, a sound that reminded him that stability was being forged piece by piece.
He was reviewing a supply ledger when there was a knock at the door. It was firm but not hesitant, the knock of someone who knew they belonged there.
"Enter," Edward said without looking up.
