51. The Duchess and Her Entourage

Chapter 51: The Duchess and Her Entourage

The moment Lord Lucian left the room, the weight of everything I'd been through finally settled on my shoulders like a lead blanket. Ruko and I stood there in silence for a few moments, the crackling fire in the hearth the only sound breaking the stillness. My muscles ached, exhaustion creeping in—not just from the fights, but from the sheer weight of what I had uncovered.

Ruko exhaled through his nose. "We should get cleaned up. The Duchess expects us to be presentable."

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Of course she does. Because nothing says 'welcome back from hell' like a formal debrief with nobility."

Ruko's ears twitched in amusement, but he said nothing.

We were led to a set of rooms where servants had already prepared warm basins of water and fresh clothing. The attire was simple but well-made, a far cry from the tattered rags I'd been wearing. I scrubbed myself clean as quickly as possible, eager to get the meeting over with. Ruko, on the other hand, took his time, meticulously grooming his fur.

By the time we finished, the sun was dipping below the horizon. Lord Lucian met us at the entrance of the grand hall, his sharp gaze sweeping over us with a hint of approval before he gestured for us to follow.

"The Duchess is waiting. Be mindful of your words. She values honesty, everything needs to be shared."

I raised an eyebrow. That last part wasn't a suggestion—it was a warning.

The hall was as grand as I expected, its towering stone columns lined with intricate carvings of old battles. Massive chandeliers bathed the room in a warm golden glow, but none of it compared to the woman who stood at its center.

Duchess Helena.

She was tall and regal, her sharp blue eyes cutting through the distance like a blade. Golden curls framed her face, pinned back with jeweled hairpieces that sparkled in the candlelight. She wore a deep crimson gown that shimmered with every movement. Her presence alone commanded the room, a quiet authority woven into every step she took.

Standing beside her was Captain Alaric, a mountain of a man with a presence just as imposing. His armor, well-worn yet pristine, bore the insignia of the city guard. The sheer weight of his gaze made it clear—this was not someone to cross lightly.

To her other side stood Freya Mikaelson, now clad in the uniform of the Duchess's guard. She had regained her focus, her sharp eyes flicking between me and Ruko, assessing.

We bowed—well, Ruko did a proper one. Mine was more of a nod. I wasn't one for formalities, and something told me the Duchess wouldn't care.

"Kaizen." The Duchess's voice was smooth, yet firm. "I see you've returned in one piece."

There was no hesitation in her tone, no doubt that she had expected me to. She had sent me on this mission.

I met her gaze, my posture straightening instinctively. "I have, Your Grace."

"Captain Alaric spoke highly of you," she continued. "And I trust his judgment. Tell me—was your mission successful?"

I nodded, but my tone was cautious. "It was… eventful."

"Eventful?" Captain Alaric's deep voice rumbled. "Elaborate."

I took a slow breath. No room for embellishments—just the truth, or at least the parts they needed to hear.

"We were ambushed before reaching the ruins," I began. "Mana-mutated wolves. A pack. Stronger than expected."

The Duchess exchanged glances with Alaric and Lucian. "Go on."

I continued, recounting how I had to fight the wolves off to protect Neralia and her twin brother, Lashley. How, once inside the ruins, Neralia and I had been separated from Lashley.

"We went deeper inside and found the Philosopher's Stone," I said carefully. "But the ruins were not unguarded."

"Gargoyles?" Alaric asked.

"And a dragon."

Freya stiffened at that, her fingers twitching slightly against the hilt of her sword.

"A dragon," the Duchess echoed. "And yet you survived."

"We fought our way through," I confirmed. "Barely."

The Duchess studied me for a long moment before gesturing for me to continue.

"When we finally escaped," I went on, "we found Lashley waiting outside. Or rather… he was thrown to us."

That got their attention.

"By whom?" Alaric asked, though something told me he already knew the answer.

"A man named Menato."

Their reactions were subtle but telling.

Lord Lucian's fingers curled slightly. Captain Alaric's jaw tightened. Duchess Helena's eyes darkened just for a fraction of a second before returning to their usual composed state.

They knew him.

Kaizen had seen enough subtle power plays to recognize when people were withholding information. The way all three of them reacted—Freya included—confirmed it. Menato was no nameless figure to them.

"Menato." Duchess Helena spoke the name carefully, as if weighing it on her tongue. "Describe him."

I did.

When I finished, she was silent for a moment before motioning for me to continue.

"He was stronger than me," I admitted. "Much stronger. I barely survived."

That, at least, seemed to amuse Alaric. "Good to know you can recognize your limits."

I ignored the jab. "Neralia tried to fight him. She took the Life Revival Elixir in an attempt to defeat him, but the side effects overwhelmed her."

Lord Lucian inhaled sharply.

"After that… I blacked out. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the forest with Ruko tending to my wounds."

All eyes turned to Ruko, who stepped forward. "As the sun set, and the noise of battle had faded, I went to investigate," he explained. "I found all three of them unconscious at the ruins' entrance. Kaizen was in the worst condition."

Helena's gaze flickered back to me. "And the artifact?"

I reached into my spatial ring, retrieving the glowing stone in a swift, practiced motion, ensuring that Ruko didn't notice. I stepped forward and placed it carefully into her waiting hands.

A slow smile curved her lips as she examined it.

"Well done," she murmured.

There was something unreadable in her expression. Satisfaction, yes—but something deeper.

She turned to Captain Alaric. "Ensure this is safeguarded immediately."

He took the artifact, his grip firm but respectful.

"You've done well," she told me, her tone carrying the weight of her approval. "Your loyalty will not be forgotten."

I dipped my head slightly.

Freya took a step forward. "Shall I escort them to their quarters?"

The Duchess nodded.

As Freya led us away, I could feel the weight of their gazes lingering behind me.

Menato. The artifact. The ruins.

I had done my part.

But something told me that whatever the Duchess and her inner circle knew—whatever secrets they were keeping—this was far from over.

And I intended to find out why.

As we walked down the dimly lit corridor, the tension from the meeting began to ease. Ruko's ears twitched slightly, a sign that he was deep in thought. I glanced at him, noticing the way his fur bristled ever so slightly under the flickering torchlight.

"You're quiet," I remarked, breaking the silence. "Thinking about tomorrow?"

Ruko nodded, his golden eyes narrowing as he considered his response. "I'll be returning to the work in the morning. There's much to catch up on, and I'm sure my family will have questions about what happened."

I smirked, shoving my hands into my pockets. "Questions, huh? You mean they'll want to know how I survived a dragon and lived to tell the tale."

Ruko let out a low chuckle, his tail swishing lightly behind him. "Something like that. Though I doubt they'll believe half of it."

"Fair enough," I said with a shrug. "But listen, before all that, why don't we visit a pub? We could both use a drink after everything we've been through."

Ruko paused, his ears perking up in mild surprise. "The pub? I am not one to enjoy such things."

"I suppose," I admitted, "but today's been… different. And besides, it's not every day you survive a dragon and a run-in with someone like Menato. I think we've earned a night to blow off some steam."

Ruko considered this for a moment, his gaze softening. "You make a fair point. Very well, I'll join you. But don't expect me to stay late. I have duties to attend to the next day."

"Deal," I said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Just one drink. Maybe two. Enough to forget about wolves, gargoyles and dragons for a while."

Ruko's lips curled into a faint smile, a rare expression for him. "I'll hold you to that."

As we continued down the hall, the weight of the day seemed to lift just a little. The thought of a quiet evening at the pub, away from the politics and dangers of the Duchess's court, was a small comfort. But even as we joked, I couldn't shake the feeling that the shadows we'd encountered in the ruins—and the secrets they carried—weren't done with us yet.