「Ten years later.」

The early winter sun streamed through the high windows of Monte Castle, bathing the reception hall in a pale golden glow.

Old Allen sat in a wheelchair, a thick woolen blanket covering him. His hands, dotted with age spots, trembled slightly on the blanket.

In an era where the average lifespan was short, living to eighty was truly a miracle. Even the church Priest said it was a special gift from the God of Truth.

When Murphy entered the reception hall with Aurora on his arm, the people present instinctively moved to bow.

Murphy raised a hand to stop them. "Today is Old Allen’s birthday. There’s no need for such formalities."

The past ten years seemed to have left no trace on either of them.

Aurora still looked to be twenty-three or twenty-four. Her skin was as smooth as freshly fallen snow, and her golden hair shimmered like honey in the sunlight.

In this era, common women her age were already etched with the wrinkles of a hard life, yet she remained bright and youthful. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Murphy, too, looked the same as he had back then, though his brow now held the gravitas of a Governor.

"Old Allen."

Aurora called softly, stepping forward to take the old man’s trembling hands in hers.

Old Allen’s cloudy eyes struggled to focus, his lips quivering. "My lady... Lord Governor... My poor, ill-fated children... If only they could have lived to see this day..."

Little Tom hurried forward to support his grandfather’s shoulders.

The man, now in his forties, already had a full head of gray hair, his face deeply etched with the marks of time.

His father had died in a hunting accident twenty years ago, and his sister had passed away in childbirth fifteen years prior.

"Grandpa, today is a happy day," Little Tom soothed in a low voice, tinged with the characteristic rasp of a middle-aged man.

Jack stood to the side, leaning on a cane, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly combed.

To live to sixty-five was a miracle that would have been unimaginable in the past.

He remarked to Horn, who was beside him, "I remember when the Governor first took office and raised taxes. We all thought we were headed back to the hard times. Who would have thought..."

Horn rubbed his tired, old eyes. The face of the rural notary, a man in his forties, was already weathered by the elements.

He muttered, "Who would have thought new technologies would appear one after another? New spinning machines, improved farm tools, and all those novelties brought by the merchants from the South."

Gazing at the Governor and his wife’s seemingly ageless faces, he added in a low voice, "My youngest daughter is only twenty-five, but she looks older than my lady. It must be the grace of the God of Truth."

Murphy walked over to Old Allen and leaned down, looking into his cloudy eyes. "An eightieth birthday. This is a blessing from the God of Truth upon the Monte Territory, and proof of our land’s growing prosperity."

Aurora took an exquisite wooden box from a Maid and gently opened it in front of Old Allen.

Inside was a silver Protective Talisman, engraved with the mountain and river crest of the Duval Clan.

"Old Allen, may this Protective Talisman watch over your health and well-being." Aurora’s voice was still as clear and pleasant as a young girl’s.

Old Allen accepted the talisman with trembling hands, tears welling up in his cloudy eyes.

He looked at Aurora’s eternally youthful face, and for a moment, it was as if he had returned to the wedding ten years ago.

Aurora had looked just like this back then. Now, ten years had passed, yet time had not left a single mark on her face.

Watching this, Little Tom couldn’t help but think of his late father and sister.

’If they had lived to see this day,’ he thought, ’perhaps they could have enjoyed a life like this, too.’

When Murphy first took office ten years ago and raised taxes, the common folk thought they were returning to the hard times before Lord Sylvan.

But who could have predicted that the Governor would then promote various new technologies that doubled grain yields? New textile machines made cloth cheaper, and it was even sold outside the territory.

Although taxes were higher, thanks to the Northern Trade Route and the more prosperous business brought by technological innovation, the people’s lives were actually more affluent than in Sylvan’s era.

Not to mention, the Governor’s strength as a Great Knight and the support of the former Thirteenth Princess, now Duke Temeris, ensured the territory remained stable.

The thought made Little Tom’s eyes sting, and he quickly wiped them with the back of his rough hand.

Murphy surveyed the reception hall, his gaze slowly sweeping over every elderly person present.

Besides Old Allen and Jack, there were several other elders past their sixties.

The Old Blacksmith, Benjamin; the former shepherd, Old Matt; and the master weaver, Granny Aila.

’These are all commoner representatives I specially invited,’ he mused. ’This birthday banquet, in the end, is nothing more than a carefully orchestrated political show to display the prosperity of the territory under my rule.’

’To demonstrate the current strength of the Monte Territory.’

Finally, his gaze came to rest on the eighty-year-old Allen.

A flicker of indiscernible emotion passed through Murphy’s eyes.

’I never expected it. The Grooms who raised horses with me back in the day, those I was close to like Bart and Hank, are all long dead.’

’Hank was about the same age as Old Allen, and Bart was even a few years younger.’

’And yet Old Allen, the man I once used to fake my own death, has somehow lived to this day.’

Old Allen seemed to sense the Governor’s gaze and shakily raised his head.

"May the God of Truth bless the Monte Territory." Murphy raised his glass, his voice echoing through the reception hall.

The elderly guests all raised their glasses, their faces beaming with flattered smiles.

...

On a spring morning, a thin mist swirled like fine gauze around the castle’s spires.

Murphy sat alone on a bluestone bench on a high terrace, a cluster of black flames dancing in his palm.

Hovering in his palm was a crystalline silicon wafer, upon which the flames were etching microscopic patterns.

His gaze occasionally swept over the courtyard below, watching twelve-year-old Kaiden frolicking with a few noble girls among the newly blossomed Snowball Flowers.

The boy had inherited his father’s black hair, which gleamed like black jade in the morning light.

The girls’ clear laughter drifted up on the wind. Kaiden was carefully tucking a freshly opened Snowball Flower into the hair of one of the brown-haired girls.

Murphy shook his head slightly, and the flame in his palm flickered in response.

Just then, familiar footsteps approached from behind, carrying the fresh scent of Snowball Flowers.

"Studying these strange crystals again, my love?" Aurora’s soft voice sounded.

She was dressed in a pale green spring gown today, her golden hair simply tied up. She looked just like the young bride from ten years ago.

Murphy didn’t turn around. The flame in his palm gradually died down, revealing the silicon wafer, now covered in intricate patterns.

"The boy has certainly learned a few tricks for charming girls," he said lightly, tucking the finished piece into his robes.

Aurora came to his side, her gaze also falling upon Kaiden in the courtyard.

"Time passes so quickly. In the blink of an eye, Kaiden is already twelve," she said gently. "It’s time we considered arranging a marriage for him."

Murphy finally turned his head. His face was still young in the morning light, but his eyes held a hint of weariness. "He’s still too young."

"But among nobles, it’s perfectly normal to be betrothed at twelve," Aurora said, gently placing a hand on his arm. "I remember I was named the official heir of the Duval Clan when I was twelve, as well."

In the courtyard, Kaiden was showing the girls the new Swordsmanship moves he had learned. The spring sunlight outlined his youthful figure, making him seem especially tall and slender.

A brown-haired girl watched with particular focus, her eyes shining with admiration.

"You see," Aurora said with a smile, "Count Laura’s daughter seems quite taken with Kaiden. Their family’s influence in the South is not to be underestimated."

Of course, Melfield today was not the Sylvan of the past.

Everyone knew of the Monte Territory’s wealth and power. The true Lord, Richard, was also a Great Knight, his status and authority second only to a Duke.

Even though Kaiden was only the Governor’s son, Count Laura was willing to betroth his daughter to him. After all, Melfield was a Great Knight, making it a marriage between social equals.

Not to mention, Murphy also held the title of Count.

Besides, any discerning eye in noble circles could see that Kaiden’s black hair, identical to his, and his official recognition as a son...

...all indicated that Miss Aurora’s lover from all those years ago was Murphy himself.

This also explained why the Great Knight had married a lady from the dispossessed Duval Clan. It all made perfect sense.

It wasn’t just about so-called ’consolidating his rule over the territory.’

"A political marriage?"

"It is a noble’s duty, my love." Aurora’s voice was soft yet firm. "Securing a betrothal early will benefit the territory’s development. Besides, don’t you see how much Kaiden seems to like the girl?"

Murphy gazed at the two children chatting happily in the courtyard and fell silent for a moment. "Then let’s go ask him what he thinks."

...

Kaiden was playing with Alina and several other young noblewomen under a gazebo in the garden.

Golden sunlight filtered through the wisteria vines twined around the gazebo’s columns, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone floor.

The boy weaved nimbly among the girls, his black hair fluttering gently in the spring breeze.

"It’s your turn to chase us, Kaiden!" a red-haired girl shouted with a laugh, lifting her skirt to hide behind a flower bush.

Alina stood in the center of the gazebo, a gentle smile on her lips.

She noticed that Kaiden always seemed to be protecting her during the game, intentionally or not. His thoughtfulness reminded her of her father’s instructions. ’Remember,’ he had said, ’Lord Melfield is not only a Count personally ennobled by Duke Temeris, but also a true Great Knight. Even without a hereditary fief, that strength alone is enough to command respect. And as the Governor of the Monte Territory, he controls the Northern Trade Route and spearheads the development of new technologies. You could say he is the very symbol of this new land of wealth.’

Just then, the sound of soft footsteps came from outside the gazebo.

Kaiden was the first to spot his parents. He immediately stopped chasing and broke into a delighted smile. "Father! Mother!"

The girls all stopped their game and curtsied gracefully.

Alina dipped into a slight curtsy with the others, her sharp eyes noticing the love for Kaiden in the Governor and his wife’s eyes.

"Good day, Lord Governor, my lady," the girls greeted in unison, their voices like Silver Bells in the spring breeze.

Aurora watched her son warmly. "It looks like you’re having fun."

Kaiden hurried over to his parents, his forehead beaded with sweat. "We’re playing ’Shadow Chase.’ Alina just taught us."

Murphy’s gaze swept across the gazebo, pausing briefly on Alina.

The brown-haired girl immediately stepped forward and curtsied again. "It’s a popular game among the nobles of the South, Lord Governor."

"It seems you know a lot about the customs of the South," Aurora said with a smile. "Would you care to join us for lunch tomorrow? I would love to hear more about your experiences there."

Alina curtsied gracefully. "It would be my honor, my lady."

She noticed the look of anticipation in Kaiden’s eyes and thought to herself, ’This invitation might be the very opportunity Father was hoping for.’

"Can Sofia, Lina, and Annie come too?" Kaiden suddenly asked, pointing to the three girls standing in the corner of the gazebo, gesturing specifically to the red-haired girl, Annie. "They were having a lot of fun, too."

Sofia, a lively girl with curly golden hair, widened her eyes at his words.

Lina, who had long, dark brown hair, shyly lowered her head.

But Annie, the redhead, boldly met the Governor and his wife’s gaze, her eyes shining with hope.

Although Alina maintained a proper smile, the flicker of disappointment in her eyes did not escape Murphy’s notice.

Seeing this, Murphy suddenly let out a hearty laugh, which sounded particularly abrupt in the spring garden.

Aurora was taken aback for a moment, then she feigned a scolding tone. "What are you laughing at?"

Murphy stifled his laughter and shook his head slightly. "Nothing."

But his eyes still held a playful look as they shifted between Kaiden and the girls.

Kaiden blinked in confusion, not understanding his parents’ reaction.

Sofia tilted her head curiously, a faint blush appeared on Lina’s cheeks, and Annie boldly returned a smile. Only Alina maintained her elegant posture, though her fingertips were unconsciously twisting the fabric of her skirt.

WHOOSH!

A spring breeze swept through the gazebo, rustling the wisteria vines and Snowball Flower bushes, scattering fine petals through the air.