Eric and others rode ahead after Drac separated from them. The panel was mildly amused by the sudden appearance of the Earl’s children, it almost reminded the married men of their own offsprings.

Eric on the other hand was hoping that Drac would finally start opening up, at least with the poking and prodding of Leonard and Nicolas. Eric even hoped that his friend would finally learn that loyalty couldn’t be the only thing in his life, he should also experience the other joys; fall in love, laugh freely, make mistakes and enjoy the life.

They rode up the outskirts until they reached what resembled the town square. The people gathered around instantly watching the entourage.

A man who appeared in his early sixties approached Thaddeus ad the entourage dismounted their horses.

Thaddeus gestured towards Eric, "People of Hillford, bow your heads before the Royal Highness, First Prince Eric."

The people quickly bowed their heads and Eric patted Thaddeus’s shoulder before stepping ahead.

"Please lift your heads," he said and the people looked at him, straightening up.

"Ah, it’s an honor for our little town that His Royal Highness himself has graced us," the elderly man spoke.

Thaddeus gestured to him and looked at Eric, "This is Frank Rovers."

Eric nodded in acknowledgement before he glanced around, the town seemed rather excited to have him but some of them were giving odd looks to Thaddeus.

None of them were saying anything to him but, it was obvious that something was unspoken here.

Eric stepped forward as the crowd settled, his expression warm but observant.

"It’s good to finally see Hillford," he said. "I’ve heard it’s a hardworking town."

Frank Rovers smiled quickly.

"We do what we can with what we have, Your Highness."

Thaddeus inclined his head. "Hillford has always been diligent."

"Always," Frank echoed, then added mildly, "though diligence alone doesn’t make crops grow."

There it was- light, almost harmless.

Eric noticed how Thaddeus’s fingers tightened briefly around his reins before relaxing again.

"I was told water has been scarce this year," Eric said, his tone casual. "Even with the Casmere flowing through the region."

A murmur rippled through the townsfolk.

Frank sighed, shaking his head.

"Ah, the river. She’s grown temperamental with age, hasn’t she?"

"She hasn’t reached Lowmere properly in months our fields are barren," Thaddeus said, evenly.

Frank gave a small, apologetic smile.

"Yes, we heard. Tragic. But you must understand, Hillford sits closer to the source. We can’t simply... refuse water when it reaches us first."

"No one is asking you to refuse," Thaddeus replied. "Only to share."

A pause.

Frank glanced at the gathered people before looking back at Eric.

"Of course, Your Highness. Sharing is a noble sentiment."

The word noble landed heavier than it should have.

One of the men behind Frank chuckled softly.

"Lowmere always did rely on noble sentiments."

Thaddeus’s jaw tightened.

Eric tilted his head, still smiling.

"Relying on fairness doesn’t strike me as a weakness." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Frank raised his hands placatingly.

"No offense meant. Only that, when water is scarce, each town must prioritize its own."

"And when one town prioritizes too much," Eric said gently, "another begins to starve."

The square fell quiet.

Frank’s smile thinned, but he bowed his head.

"Which is why we are grateful you’ve come, Your Highness. To see things for yourself."

Thaddeus looked at Eric then, something close to concern flickering across his face.

"We would be happy to guide you," Frank continued smoothly. "Show you the river. Our fields. Everything is... as it should be."

Eric nodded.

"I would appreciate that."

As they turned toward the path leading deeper into Hillford, Eric tilted his head slightly.

"What’s wrong, Your Highness?" One of the civilian panel member Ford asked.

Eric glanced at him and then shook his head with a smile as he walked behind the townspeople.

Frank and the others showed him the river which seemed only a little bit better than the Lowmere and their fields were considerably in a better shape. The people were quite cooperative but Eric felt through their silent gestures that somehow something was wrong. The earlier conversation had gave him a hint but as he spent the rest of afternoon around the Hillford people, it was starkly obvious that the people of Hillford were hostile towards Early Castermere.

They were cordial and subservient towards him but the smiles that were casted at the Earl were fake.

Eric couldn’t ask right away as he first wanted to first figure out what exactly is going on and what’s the cause. The river problem was a big one and probably, he wondered this was also an issue that he needed to solve while he was here.

Eric returned to the Castermere mansion as dusk settled over the estate. The corridors were quieter now, the earlier bustle of servants fading into the soft rhythm of evening. Once inside his room, he washed the dust from his hands and face, letting the cool water clear his head along with the lingering thoughts from Hillford.

When he stepped out of the bathing chamber, towel in hand, he found Drac standing near the window, his posture straight, hands folded behind his back.

"I apologize for not returning sooner," Drac said, bowing his head slightly.

Eric waved it off with a smile. "It’s fine. You had your hands full."

He set the towel down on the table and reached for a fresh shirt. As he pulled it over his head, he noticed Drac move quietly behind him. The towel was lifted, folded once, and placed neatly into the laundry basket as if it were second nature.

"Drac," Eric said, adjusting the collar.

Drac hummed in response.

"Have you ever been to Oasis," Eric continued, "or other towns with Master?"

"Yes."

"Even places with... problems?" Eric asked, choosing his words carefully. "Conflicts between people. Nothing outright violent, but tense."

"Yes."

Eric paused, then asked, "Where?"

"Mordino."

Eric froze for half a heartbeat, then sighed. "Right. I forgot." He shook his head lightly.

"That doesn’t count. That place was... something else." He tugged at his sleeve.

"This is smaller and doesn’t include tyranny."

Drac’s gaze lowered, and for the first time since returning, his tone shifted. "I have something to report."

Eric turned fully toward him. "Go on."

"Today-"

A knock interrupted them.

Both looked toward the door as a maid stepped inside, bowing respectfully. "Your Highness, Mr Rayburn. My Lord requests your presence for dinner."

Eric nodded. "We’ll be there."

Once she left, Eric glanced at Drac again. "Let’s talk later. Training ground. An hour after dinner."

Drac inclined his head. "Understood."

They left the room together.

The dining table was laid with simple fare—warm bread, a hearty stew, roasted vegetables, and a small dish of preserved fruit. Nothing extravagant. Nothing excessive.

Chelsea noticed Eric’s brief glance over the spread and immediately spoke, her smile apologetic.

"We apologize, Your Highness. We couldn’t provide a better meal."

Eric smiled, "Please don’t apologise, My Lady. I’m more than happy to eat what you usually eat."

Chelsea paused. Thaddeus glanced at her, a flicker of relief passing between them before both relaxed slightly.

Across the table, however, the twins sat unusually quiet, shoulders slumped, poking at their food without enthusiasm. Even Lysanne, seated beside them, seemed subdued, her posture composed, but her attention fixed more on her brothers than on the meal.

Eric noticed it.

"Young Masters," he called making the twins to look at him.

"Are you two all right now?"

"Yes,"

Eric’s eyebrows twitched, the response was pretty dull.

"Is something wrong?" Eric asked.

Lysanne glanced at her brothers before she smiled answering for them, "It’s because they can’t have dessert, Your Highness."

Eric blinked surprised but then recalled as how the Eldarf kids also used to get gloomy when Kent used to forbid snacks and sweets as punishment.

"Is that so? Well, that’s sad." Eric said.

Drac, on the other hand, noticed as Lysanne made a gesture to her brothers.

After dinner, the two young men were in the training ground alone.

"Hand to hand or swords?" Eric asked as he folded the sleeves of his shirt up his elbows.

Drac picked out a spear and then a sword, he tossed the sword to Eric who grabbed it deftly.

"This is rare, you miss Eldarf too?" Eric asked while Drac got into the stance.

"Yes,"

Eric got into stance too and after a split moment, their weapons clashed.

"So, what is it that you wanted to report about?" Eric asked as he swung his arm aiming for Drac’s side but Drac blocked it with his spear.

Drac started explaining everything that happened during his and the twins’ return to Castermere mansion and also his own suspicion that there was probably tension between Lowmere and Hillford.

"I was thinking of that too." Eric said, "the way the people talked seemed cordial but I could sense the hostility they had for the Earl."

The two sparred for quite some time before they say back for a brief break, Eric contemplated all the information he had gathered and one thing was obvious. There were problems between the two towns and the river was one of the issues.

Suddenly, Drac lifted his head and looked in the direction of the back gate of the mansion.

"What is it?" Eric asked.

"I think I heard a horse riding out." Drac said and Eric frowned.

"Who could it be? It’s so late at night." Eric wondered.

Drac was silent for a moment before he stood up, Eric was a little confused.

"Drac, what is it?"

Drac pursed his lips before he glanced at the guards who were hiding out sight and then at Eric and unexpected spark glowed in his eyes that made Eric frown and get to his feet.

"What’s wrong?"

Drac didn’t say anything for a moment, "Please return to your room, Your Highness."

Eric’s eyebrows jumped as he saw Drac heading in the direction of the back gate and he called out.

"Where are you going?"

"I’ll be back soon!" Drac responded and Eric watched curiously wondering what had suddenly made his dear friend get on edge.