The News Reaches the Capital
Crimsonvale Manor
Within the grand crimson-stoned walls of Crimsonvale Manor, Lady Seraphina's steward, Dorian Kael, read the letter with a furrowed brow. A man in his early forties, Dorian was the embodiment of loyalty and tact. His sharp green eyes skimmed the words, and his silver-streaked hair seemed to shimmer in the morning light. He'd served the Crimsonvale family for over two decades and had witnessed the rise of Seraphina as the feared Crimson Wraith.
"A child?" Dorian muttered, reading the missive once more. His heart was as disciplined as his demeanor, but even he felt an odd twinge of curiosity at the news.
He glanced at Ilyra Vesryn, the Crimsonvale house's Chief Archivist. A quiet woman with a knack for unearthing hidden truths, Ilyra's demeanor was one of measured calm. Her dark hair framed her pale face, and her golden spectacles gleamed as she leaned over the letter.
"A child surviving alone in that region?" she said, her voice tinged with incredulity. "And reported by Lady Seraphina herself?"
"It seems Lady Seraphina's time at the Sovereign's Repose has been… unexpected," Dorian replied, rolling the parchment. "We must prepare for her return. This news will undoubtedly ripple through the council."
Avernal Fortress
On the other side of the capital, within the icy halls of Avernal Fortress, Lord Caelum's closest advisor, Magnus Raithe, stared at the missive with his usual grim expression. Magnus was a towering figure, his salt-and-pepper beard as imposing as his deep-set eyes. A veteran of countless campaigns, Magnus was a man of few words, but his loyalty to Caelum was absolute.
Standing beside him was Eryndis Vale, a spymaster who operated in the shadows. Her black hair was cut short, and her piercing blue eyes missed nothing. She studied the parchment with a calculating gaze.
"Lord Caelum rarely sends reports so directly," Magnus said, his gravelly voice carrying weight. "This must be significant."
Eryndis smirked faintly. "An orphanage and a child, you say? And one that caught the Devil of the North's attention? This bears looking into. I'll have my contacts scour the area for any clues."
Magnus nodded. "Make it swift. If the Crimsonvale house is involved, we'll need every advantage."
The Royal Court
Meanwhile, the council chambers of the royal court were already abuzz with the news. The Sovereign's High Chancellor, Reginald Varnes, tapped his cane against the marble floor as he addressed the gathered nobles. An elderly man with an aura of authority, Reginald's silver robe denoted his rank as the empire's chief mediator.
"Both lords have reported the discovery of an abandoned orphanage near the edge of the kingdom," he announced, his voice firm. "This raises questions that require swift answers. How did a child survive there? And why now, of all times, has this come to light?"
"It's a potential scandal," interjected Lady Isolde Therwyn, a sharp-tongued member of the council with political ambitions. "If either house is using this for leverage, it could destabilize the tenuous balance between them."
"Or," countered Lord Gerard Solane, a younger member of the council with a more diplomatic bent, "this could be a genuine mystery requiring our investigation. The edge of the kingdom is rarely patrolled. Who knows what secrets it holds?"
Reginald's cane struck the floor again. "Enough speculation. I'll assemble a team to investigate the matter further. We cannot afford to let this spiral into chaos."
The stage was set. As whispers of the orphanage spread through the capital, the gears of intrigue began to turn. The lords' discovery, once confined to the remote edges of the empire, now had the attention of every major player in the kingdom. And somewhere, far from the bustling capital, a silver-haired child remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around her.