Count Kaiser Donvark

"You took your time," Duke Aldous remarked as he watched his daughter hurriedly approach the coach.

It was a polished mahogany carriage adorned with pure gold designs at the edges and the crest of the Veldon house—a dragon's head with an open maw in the middle of two crossed swords.

A group of Knights flanked the coach on horses, she supposed they were their escorts.

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, Father," Adelia apologized, "I… ran into a servant on the way…"

The Duke smiled in understanding. "Why wouldn't you? When you're in such a hurry?"

Behind her, Adelia heard a light giggle from Lyra, but she chose to ignore it.

"I'm here now and ready," she assured him. "We can get going."

The Duke nodded and gestured to the carriage. A moment later, he furrowed his brows. "Have you seen your mother?"

"...Yes," Adelia replied, her lips slightly pursed.

With a curt nod and without further comment, Duke Aldous extended his hand for her to take and helped her into the carriage.

Before Adelia could fully enter, she caught the eyes of one of the guards on horseback and smiled.

He was none other than Baron Edward Calive, second in command of her father's Knights, he was accompanied by four other Knights who were joining them on their trip to Lavim.

The Baron returned her smile with a curt nod and a subtle one of his own.

Adelia guessed that her father intended to take the bare minimum of escorts, else it would look like they were going to arrest the old Count rather than visit him.

The Duke entered a moment after her and the carriage set off. Her attention remained fixed on the window until Veldon castle was completely out of sight.

"Have you received any invitation from the palace lately, Delia?" the Duke inquired after a while, pulling Adelia's attention from the window.

"Ah, ye… yes, I have." she stammered, realizing she had forgotten to tell him.

The Duke sighed, very aware of her hesitance. "I heard from Saya earlier today that you said you did not wish to go."

Adelia flinched lightly and turned away uncomfortably. "It… it was just a joke, Father. I didn't really mean it."

"A joke in poor taste, Delia," he chided gently. "You know you cannot simply refuse a direct invitation from a member of the imperial family…"

Adelia clenched her dress nervously. "I know." Then she turned back to him expectantly, "Did you receive an invite too?"

The Duke nodded. "Yes, I did, but it wasn't yesterday… it came last week."

"What?!" Adelia nearly shot up from her seat, but quickly composed herself. "How come? I thought they only started handing out invites yesterday?"

"Apparently not," the Duke replied. "Prince Raegan must have requested to send you one personally and thus it came a little later."

Adelia bit her lip. "I… I see."

The Duke observed her closely. "Is something the matter?"

She shook her head gently. "It's nothing."

"You don't look too happy," he pointed out. "I suppose that was how you looked when you received the Prince's message?"

Adelia swallowed, her father had always been very perceptive. "It's not that," she explained, "Raegan's invitation just took me by surprise a little."

Her Father tilted his head to the side inquisitively. "Why?"

Adelia fought the urge to scream; why on earth was he being so insistent?!

She took a deep breath and stared straight at him. "You know as well as I do that the imperial family does not favor Raegan, Father," She explained. "I was surprised at the fact that they were willing to hold a banquet for him, that's all."

She was confident enough that there was a hidden agenda beneath the celebration but she would rather not say it.

Aldous simply smiled. "I understand…" he stated. Still, he sensed there was more to it but decided not to press further.

An hour later, they arrived in Lavim through the main path, thanks to Duke Aldous' commitment to maintaining good roads for the people of the Duchy.

The city was bustling with traders and merchants, both foreign and local, and Adelia couldn't help but give a small smile at the sight of commoners haggling prices in the market stalls.

Upon reaching the old Count's estate, they alighted from the carriage and were ushered by the steward into a decorated drawing room in the Count's manor.

The room was an elegant space. Lavishly adorned with fine tapestries, ornate wooden furniture, and intricate carvings. Plush rugs covered the floor and high quality blinds blanketed the windows.

It was lovely.

But of course it was. It was meant to showcase the Count's wealth to all his guests, after all.

Adelia and her father were both offered seats that they gladly took. Moments later, the imposing doors to the drawing room swung open, and in walked a man who appeared to be in his late thirties; closer to her Father's age.

His ash blonde hair was neatly combed back, and his piercing, ice blue eyes held a touch of distress, with dark circles settled under them.

Adelia could feel her father furrow his brows slightly at his appearance.

The old Count's eldest son and heir, Kelvin Donvark. She had never met the man before, but the Duke already told her enough about him that she could tell at a glance.

Before Adelia and her father could stand up to address him, Kelvin respectfully bowed.

"Greetings, Your Grace," Kelvin voiced admirably. "And to you, Lady Adelia, it is an honor to meet you both."

Adelia, feeling a sense of formality, curtsied before her father could react. "Hello, Lord Kelvin," she greeted politely. "It is indeed our pleasure to be here."

The Duke gave a curt, respectful nod in acknowledgment.

Kelvin forced a smile. "Indeed, it is," he responded. "It has been a while since I have seen the Duke, but I know him well enough by now." He faced her. "However, you, Lady Adelia, remain somewhat of an enigma to me."

Adelia felt a twinge of weariness at his earlier expression but maintained her composure, returning his gesture.

"Of course I am, as we have never met," she replied. "But the first step to getting to know me is thinking of me as the Duke's most precious daughter… and his right hand."

The young man chuckled lightly. "Of course, of course, Lady Adelia," he agreed. "And I suppose I would get to know you better if you would be so kind as to tell me what has brought you to our abode?"

Aldous interrupted, his countenance quickly changing to one of remorse. "It has come to my knowledge that the Count has fallen ill," he said. "We have come to pay him our respects."

Kelvin's eyes widened in surprise, and from his expression, Adelia could tell that he hadn't been expecting them.

'It is not so unusual for a Duke to visit his Vassal,' she thought. 'So why does he look like that?'

She couldn't help but wonder if something else was bothering him

Kelvin's lips formed a sad smile. "I see…" he faltered. "My Father has indeed been ill for a while, although it is a result of his age, it won't change the fact that we will miss him dearly."

"...Will?" Adelia voiced in a daze. She sensed her Father tense by her side.

Surely, this wasn't going where she was dreading it to go, was it?

The young man's eyes lowered. "It is truly an honor to have you here, your Grace, truly," he repeated, his voice slightly shaky. "I am extremely grateful that someone of your status has come down to see his Vassal, when he is merely a Count."

Kelvin took a deep breath and looked up at them with moistened eyes, causing Adelia to hold her breath in dreaded anticipation of his news.

"My Father… my Father has left us."