The afternoon sun slanted into the main hall of Monte Castle, casting a warm glow upon the dark oak floor.

The scent of pine from the newly lit fireplace filled the air, mingling with the faint fragrance of Snowball Flowers drifting in from the window.

Murphy and Aurora stood side by side at the head of the main hall, with their attendants standing solemnly behind them.

Kaiden stood slightly to the side and behind his mother, striving to maintain a dignified posture appropriate for his age, yet his eyes betrayed the unique curiosity of a young boy.

Annie Peric stood on Aurora’s other side. She had chosen a more formal, dark red dress for the occasion. Her hands were clasped in front of her, her fingertips unconsciously tightening.

The sound of hooves and carriage wheels grew closer, finally halting in the castle’s forecourt.

A moment later, an attendant pushed open the hall doors, and a figure entered, silhouetted against the light.

The man was in his forties. He was not tall, even somewhat slight of build, yet he carried himself with the steadiness of a mountain crag.

He wore a dark brown huntsman’s outfit in the style of the Eastern Territory, covered by a suit of worn but well-maintained leather armor. The sword at his waist rested in a simple, unadorned scabbard.

He had the Peric Clan’s signature red hair, and his skin was tanned to a bronze hue from years spent outdoors. His calm, gray-blue eyes swept across the room’s occupants, finally settling on Murphy.

"Good day, Governor of Melfield, Madam." He placed his right hand over his chest in a standard noble’s greeting. "I am Harold Peric. I come at the behest of my elder brother. I thank you and your wife for your generous hospitality, and I thank you all for your care of Annie."

His gaze then shifted to Annie, and he gave a nearly imperceptible nod. The tension in Annie’s shoulders seemed to ease slightly.

"Well met, Sir Harold. You have come a long way," Murphy said with a slight nod, his voice steady. "This is my wife, Aurora, and beside her is my son, Kaiden."

Aurora smiled and gave a small nod, her expression warm and graceful. "Welcome, Sir Harold. Annie has been a clever and delightful guest during her time at Monte Castle. We have all grown very fond of her."

Kaiden bowed as well, his movements still a bit unpracticed.

After the brief pleasantries and introductions, Aurora turned to Kaiden and Annie and said gently, "Kaiden, why don’t you take Annie for a stroll in the garden? Some of the anemones should be in bloom. You can let Sir Harold and your father speak in private."

"Yes, Mother," Kaiden replied, then looked to Annie.

Annie glanced toward her uncle. Only after Sir Harold gave a subtle nod did she curtsy to Murphy and Aurora, taking her leave and departing the main hall with Kaiden.

An attendant brought a chair for Sir Harold and served him hot tea.

Murphy and Aurora also took their seats.

A brief silence fell over the hall, broken only by the crackle of burning wood in the fireplace.

Sir Harold did not rush to drink his tea. He sat ramrod straight, his hands on his knees, and met Murphy’s gaze with his gray-blue eyes. He got right to the point. "Lord Governor, my elder brother sent me, first and foremost, to formally explain and apologize for my clan’s recent increase in its iron ingot order. The increased purchase is real, and the need is urgent, but this is by no means an attempt to cause you difficulty or to test the limits of Monte Territory’s production capacity."

He paused, his tone frank. "There are two reasons. First, while the Eastern Territory has discovered many new ore veins in recent years, we are having to mine deeper. The surrounding rock strata are becoming harder, which has led to a sharp increase in wear on our mining and crushing machinery. The high-quality iron ingots from Monte Territory—especially the special steel used to forge heavy drill bits and hammer tips—are far more durable than anything our own workshops can produce. They can significantly increase our mining efficiency and lower long-term costs." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Second," he paused again, a solemn glint in his gray-blue eyes, "I presume Your Lordship has heard of the outrageous claims made by that Marquis of Castile at Taymer Palace. The Iron Ridge Mountain Range is vast, and certain sections do indeed border Castile. Although the specific location of this so-called Plane Waymark remains unknown, the moment such rumors begin to fly, the border becomes unsettled, and the mountain tribes may seize the opportunity to stir up trouble. Blackstone Fortress and the line of garrison fortresses need to stockpile more high-quality military materiel, just in case. Procuring semi-finished goods from a reliable nearby partner is the most prudent choice."

Murphy listened quietly, his expression noncommittal. "A reasonable explanation, Sir Harold. To strengthen one’s armaments and cautiously respond to potential border risks is the duty of a Lord."

His tone shifted slightly, level but carrying an intangible pressure. "However, I have also heard certain rumors of late... that the Peric Clan and the Tower of Secret Silver have not been entirely without contact. Do you have anything to say on the matter, Sir Harold?"

The muscles in Sir Harold’s face seemed to tense for a moment, but he did not avert his gaze. Instead, he let out a sigh tinged with resignation and a hint of dissatisfaction.

"So the rumors have reached this far." He shook his head. "Lord Governor, you must understand, my clan’s relationship with the Royal Family... has never been what one might call close. It is true that the Eastern Territory produces iron, but our lands are mountainous and treacherous, making it difficult to support our population. Smelting and transporting iron requires both labor and clear passage. The Royal Capital demands its iron but is unwilling to facilitate matters by building roads or reducing taxes, yet they are never soft when it comes to taking their cut. Generations of our clan leaders have had friction with the Royal Capital over this. That is a fact, and it is no secret."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone growing more earnest. "It is precisely because of our poor relations with the Royal Family that my clan must act with extreme caution, especially when it comes to sensitive matters like ’Heresy’ and ’Wizards.’ It is true, the Tower of Secret Silver has sent people to contact my father, and on more than one occasion. They proposed a partnership, promised great benefits, and even hinted they could help our clan gain more leverage in its political struggles with the Royal Family."

A sharp glint flashed in Sir Harold’s gray-blue eyes. "But my father refused every time. The Peric Clan has held its ground in the Eastern Territory for centuries, relying on the swords in our hands and the support of the people we govern, not by colluding with those secretive, duplicitous Wizards."