Echoes of a Coming Storm

Chapter 291 - Echoes of a Coming Storm

Nathan Evenhart:

I was in a carriage.

To my surprise, as soon as I arrived at the castle, I found everyone already preparing for an event that was set to take place that evening—a private dinner in the city, exclusive to a select few nobles of the duchy. My aunt had taken advantage of the presence of the two marquesses in town to arrange a meeting. They had been expressing their desire to spend more time with us for some time now.

"Why do I have to wear these clothes?" I asked, feeling uncomfortable as I adjusted myself in my seat.

"Because you are no longer an anonymous noble. Now, you are one of the faces of this duchy," my aunt replied.

I lowered my gaze to what I was wearing and let out a sigh. I wasn't fond of it.

"I still think this is unnecessary…" I muttered, examining the outfit. The ensemble was far too formal for my taste—a dark blue overcoat with burgundy trim and gold details. On top of that, I had to wear white gloves, and at my belt, I carried a short silver sword. At least it didn't get in the way when I sat down.

Both Chloe and I were required to wear this sword. Even in her long dress, she had to discreetly fasten the blade to her belt. It was the Ducal Sword, a political symbol I was expected to display in public. According to the nobility's customs, carrying a silver sword at one's waist represented the "blade of justice." The more valuable the metal of the hilt, the higher the noble's status. Mine was made of gold, signifying my place among the upper nobility.

"I think you look very handsome," my mother commented.

"I agree," Chloe and Kinue said in unison.

"You two look beautiful as well," I complimented.

Outside, the city's streets were bustling with activity. Many citizens watched our procession with curiosity. Riding alongside our carriage, mounted soldiers formed a protective barrier, ensuring our security. We were at the center of the group, surrounded by numerous other carriages.

We approached our mansion in the city. Unlike our residence in Apsalon, this one was enormous—probably ten times larger. The reason was obvious: this was the Evenhart mansion in Evenhart City. It had to be the most luxurious and imposing of them all.

The carriage came to a stop. The clanking of armor filled the air as soldiers dismounted from their carriages. The Ducal Entourage consisted of at least fifteen carriages, carrying soldiers, officials, and castle staff—including chefs, maids, specialized guards, and mages.

I sighed internally.

Wherever I went, this entire structure would follow.

It was ironic. If an enemy powerful enough to attack a duke's entourage truly appeared… in the end, I would be the one protecting everyone.

As I stepped out of the carriage, I was greeted by the sight of the awaiting staff—soldiers, butlers, attendants, and, further back, impeccably lined-up maids. Among them was even an employee whose sole duty was to hold an umbrella over me in case of sun or rain.

"Lady Margaery," a knight greeted, approaching and bowing to my aunt before turning to us.

"Lord Nathan and Lady Chloe," he said with a respectful nod.

"The duchess's entourage has arrived," one of the soldiers announced loudly.

We began walking. Our posture had to be flawless—a subtle, never exaggerated smile and our heads always held high. It was meant to reflect the noble ideal that upper nobility never bowed their heads to anyone beneath them.

Now I understand why so many people love living in Apsalon… There, you can just be a regular noble since political ranks don't matter in that city.

We headed toward the mansion.

"Hugo and Martha are probably already welcoming our guests," Bonnie said as she approached.

She was wearing her knight's armor and stood at the entrance, keeping watch over the area. She and a group had arrived earlier to ensure everything was ready for the reception of the entourage and the guests.

***

The guests were the two marquesses and their families. Below my lineage, they were the most important nobles of the duchy. If I had to summarize the essence of each family, I would say that the Evenharts were farmers, accustomed to living alongside nature, as well as being the duchy's primary military force. The Ursfelds were hunters, responsible for maintaining the balance of the magical beast population and other creatures within the forbidden forests. The Elmareths were fishermen, overseeing our rivers and coastline, hunting the marine creatures that occasionally emerged from the cursed sea.

These three families were the guardians of the duchy and its traditions.

"Well, the latecomers have finally arrived!" A playful voice rang out as we entered the hall.

Marquess Eldric Ursfeld welcomed us with a grin, his laughter echoing through the luxurious room where he had been conversing with Hugo.

"Marquess Eldric," my aunt greeted, taking the lead.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Marquess Eldric? That sounds like foolishness... just call me Eldric. You know how to provoke me," he responded with a chuckle. "I'm a hunter; I hate this city nonsense."

I stepped forward to greet him, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me into a tight hug.

"Hey…" I tried to protest.

"Hahaha! You're as skinny as your father was. A real man needs to have a big beer belly! Northern women love it!" he said, patting his own stomach with pride.

"Right…" I muttered, unsure of how to react, especially as I felt Chloe, Kinue, and Cylla's eyes on me.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Eldric," Chloe said, greeting him naturally.

He then turned his attention to Kinue.

"Lady Kinue, it's an honor to see you again. You know, you'd be a huge success in my region. I bet you'd win every hunting competition and be incredibly useful on night missions in the forests, thanks to your demi-human abilities."

"I… I suppose so…" she responded, slightly shy.

A little behind him stood his wife, Hannah, and his son, Ralph. I had seen him a few times at noble events, though, being older than me, he had spent most of his time at the academy while I attended these gatherings. That meant we rarely had the opportunity to cross paths.

"It's an honor to be in your presence once again," Ralph greeted politely. He wore armor, making it clear that he was already well integrated into military life.

"My boy graduated from the academy two years ago and now serves in the duchy's army," Eldric said with a hearty laugh. "I'm leaving all the dirty work to him."

Approaching us, a slender man dressed in a perfectly tailored suit stepped forward—it was Marquess Caelan. Beside him stood his daughter, Emma, who had studied alongside Ralph and also wore military armor.

"Lord Nathan, Lady Chloe," Caelan greeted with a slight bow, his daughter following suit. "It's a pleasure to see you both again."

"Enough with this noble etiquette nonsense! Let's drink!" Eldric interrupted, grabbing Caelan's arm and dragging him away.

I turned to Chloe.

"These are the two we'll have to deal with in the future?"

She laughed.

"At least they seem lively."

***

"The dinner took place in a more private and modest room, far from the luxury of grand receptions. It was both a meal and a meeting, so we were alone—no guards, no servants. Around the table, my family gathered with the marquesses and their families. My mother was feeding Cylla, who sat beside her.

Political matters were usually discussed after dinner, but since we would be departing by ship for the Capital shortly, we took this time to catch up on certain topics.

The discussion revolved around the newly formed fourth kingdom and the changes it might bring to the continent. The smaller kingdoms that made it up had existed before, but their potential entry into the alliance shifted the commercial balance. Until now, trade and agreements had always prioritized the Three Kingdoms. With a fourth player at the table, the impact on the markets could be either positive or negative, which was why the process was still under evaluation.

There were trade laws and exchange restrictions between the kingdoms to maintain equilibrium. The elves, for example, had a natural advantage in agriculture due to the high number of plant-element users. Without these restrictions, they would monopolize the sector across the Three Kingdoms. Commerce between nations operated under strict rules precisely to prevent such economic disparities.

"Hey, Margaery," Eldric interrupted, leaning back in his chair with a mug of beer in hand. "I don't know what kind of magic you pulled on those damn Wolves, but you should've called me. Do you know how many years I've wanted to beat the shit out of that bastard? A lot. Especially after the war."

"Believe me, that situation was something I never want to repeat," my aunt replied, her voice calm as ever. "I tried for years to coexist peacefully. I only acted then because the circumstances demanded it. And I didn't want to involve anyone else… it was personal."

While Eldric spoke openly, gesturing animatedly, Marquess Caelan remained the opposite—reserved and discreet. He ate with subtle, elegant movements, unlike Eldric, who had no hesitation in grabbing a piece of chicken with his bare hands.

"But why leave Frederic Wolves alive?" Caelan asked without looking up. "You could have ended this story once and for all. After all, they tried to usurp the duchy in the past. You could have had him executed in the worst way possible."

"The blade of justice only falls upon those who have committed injustices," my aunt replied calmly. "Besides, the boy is now just a baron, a vassal of our family. I find it unlikely, but if he ever tries anything… the gallows await him."

Eldric raised his large mug and took a long drink, nodding in agreement.

"Have you heard anything new from the border, aside from the usual?" he asked, setting his drink back down.

My aunt pondered for a moment before answering.

"Our men have only reported that the presence of the Inquisitors has been unusually constant. They're practically living in the fortresses, staying far longer than they normally would."

"I've been hearing some stories," Caelan added, interlocking his fingers over the table. "Strange stories coming from the fortifications near the sea."

"What kind of stories?" my cousin asked, intrigued.

Caelan fell silent for a moment, as if searching for the right words.

"I don't even know how to explain it… but it seems that some soldiers have started having nightmares."

"In that cold and unpredictable place, forced to live either trapped within walls or in constant tension… that's normal," my aunt commented.

He shook his head.

"It's not that. The nightmares they're having… they're all the same."

My aunt frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Some men wake up in the middle of the night, disturbed, and they all report dreaming of the same thing."

"Of what?" I asked.

Caelan took a deep breath before answering.

"A shadowed man. In the dream, he just stands there, watching. He holds a hammer in one hand and, in every nightmare, he always says the same thing: 'I am coming.'"