Chương 137: Book 3 Chapter 15 - A Rising Star

Charles steepled his hands on the desk in front of him and sighed.

"I received a report a couple of months ago about a tier 4 in my duchy dying in a public duel. Tier 4s are a valuable resource in the duchy, and by extension, the kingdom, even those that aren't always… how shall I say it? Mmm, even those that aren't always flying straight, so to speak. He glanced at his wife.

"We are quite a bit older than we might appear at first glance, but still young in the ways that matter. Barring any unforeseen accidents, and until we find a suitable replacement, we will lead this duchy as well as we can, likely for the next few centuries. As such, we are always looking to the future.

"With all of that in mind, you can imagine that we keep a close eye on anything of note that happens within the duchy, and a tier 4 being killed in a public duel certainly qualifies. We also like to keep an eye on any up-and-coming houses, nobles, or merchant families that might make a splash in the next decade or two." He paused, but it didn't feel like he was really looking for a response, so Kiara simply nodded. He took a deep breath, picking up the report that Esmerelda had handed him before leaving.

"It says here that you're responsible for not one, but two tier 4 deaths in the past couple of months, is that correct?" Kiara grimaced, but nodded.

"My house is, that is true. Personally, I was only involved in one of those deaths, though. A man named Ugor attacked our estate in Portish while I was in Easton. He killed one of our servants, and attacked both Zoey and Dustin. Zoey defended them from the attack, and Ugor died in the fight." Charles raised an eyebrow in surprise, then mumbled, almost to himself.

"Mmm, she did feel quite strong." More loudly, he asked, "And what of Kane Vondeer?" Kiara wasn't sure what to say. She had challenged the actively ruling noble of Easton to a duel. The baron himself. Would the duke take offense at that? She decided that the truth was her ally. She took a deep breath.

"Kane was hired… well, the Silver Serpent Clan was hired, by the baron of Easton, James Norshod, to stir up trouble in the city. He harassed the noble houses, and pitted them against each other by assigning blame for his actions to the other houses. The entire city ended up in turmoil, people were dying daily." Charles's face was darkening by the minute as she talked.

"This went on for months. Near the end of things, we gathered our employees into our estate for safety reasons, so they wouldn't be at risk out in the city. That included me going to speak to the head of one of the three factions warring in the city, Lord Goren, which the baron interpreted as unlawful entry into Lord Goren's property. I was arrested, and given a life sentence in prison unless I challenged the baron to a duel."

"Huh?" Victoria cut in.

"You lost me somewhere in there." Kiara shrugged.

"If it sounds like nonsense, that's because it was total chaos in the city. The baron was the one behind it all, or rather Kane was, but on the baron's behalf. The baron had a pre-existing grudge against me that he wanted settled. He used these events as a way to push me into challenging him to a public duel, where Kane was assigned as his stand-in." Charles rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Okay wait, hold on, back up. Let's start with the personal history. What did Baron Norshod have against you?"

"Remember what I said earlier about Ava's family being forced into indentured servitude?" The duke and duchess both nodded.

"Well, the ruling lord over their small village was the one that perpetrated that act. I felt bad for the way the servants at his estate were being treated, and I got involved. One of the times I was there, he openly threatened violence against the servants for having told me the truth about what was going on there, and I defended them." Dustin jumped in.

"She offered to purchase all of the servants, and when he saw the money she had brought along, he attacked her. She killed him in self defense and in defense of the servants." Charles rubbed his temples, trying to warp his head around it all.

"How does this involve Baron Norshod?"

"The ruling lord in that village, Lord Grivalt, was Baron Norshod's second cousin, I believe," Kiara replied.

"I see."

"A city tribunal was held," Dustin continued.

"Shian was acquitted of all charges, largely due to the backing of the other noble houses in the city. The baron wasn't happy with the outcome, and the Silver Serpent Clan was contracted shortly afterward."

"Despicable," Victoria said, almost hissing. Charles thought for a moment.

"So Kane was meant to stand in during the duel to punish House Yountal, I take it?" Kiara nodded.

"It would seem that way."

"And you fought him yourself?" Charles asked with a raised eyebrow. Kiara nodded again.

"That bracelet is quite unique," Victoria interjected suddenly, pointing to the bracelet Victor had gifted to her. She had been staring at it off and on the entire time. Kiara smiled, looking at it.

"It is, indeed. A gift from a good friend." Stolen novel; please report. Victoria's eyes narrowed.

"A gift? From a friend?" The smile slipped from Kiara's face, but she nodded.

"Might I see it?" Victoria asked.

"I promised him I wouldn't remove it during this trip," Kiara said apologetically, "but you may inspect it if you'd like." Victoria looked away, clearly disturbed by that answer. Charles glanced at her, then back at Kiara.

"I believe what Victoria might be getting at, under the surface here, is that House Yountal snuck up on us. Like I mentioned, we like to keep abreast of the big things happening in the duchy, and the first we hear about House Yountal, two tier 4s have disappeared from the duchy." He glanced back at Esmerelda's report.

"If this report is to be believed, you were also attacked by a tier 5 on the way here a few days ago?" Kiara nodded.

"And you dealt with that yourself as well?" Charles asked with a curious stare. Kiara nodded again.

"I did, but that guy's fine. I didn't kill him or anything." Charles scratched his head, glancing at Victoria again.

"I see," he said after a moment.

"Well, a word of caution, young Lady Yountal. Waves of this size are easily spotted from a distance." She quirked an eyebrow at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Take care in how quickly you expand and grow your empire. Large moves invite heavy retaliation. There are other entities out there, powerful ones, who will be watching you now, eager to strike a killing blow at your house if the opportunity presents itself." The duke's warning seemed entirely genuine, offered out of concern, rather than malice or ill-intent. Kiara's estimation of both him and the duchess were quite high so far. She glanced at Dustin.

"Dustin has already warned me about growing the house too fast. He's doing a great job of maintaining that balance." Dustin blushed slightly. She could tell he was quite pleased with the compliment and recognition. Charles nodded.

"Very good."

"As far as Baron Norshod goes," he continued with a sigh, "I don't agree with his actions or conduct, but I will admit to being hesitant to get involved. There are twenty five counties in my duchy, did you know that?" Kiara shook her head. He continued, "Twenty five counties, and hundreds of baronies. Thousands of lesser lords such as this Lord Grivalt that you mentioned. If I micro-managed each one, I would be too busy to see to more important matters. We are busy enough as it is.

I will write a missive to Count Dremond in Portish, expressing my concerns, but ultimately he will be responsible for how that matter is handled, not me."

"We understand, your lordship," Dustin said with a polite nod. Kiara shot Dustin a look of gratitude. She likely would have said the wrong thing there.

"We truly appreciate you making the trip up here," Charles added.

"We see a rising star in our duchy, and we wanted to make your acquaintance. I'll admit to being quite pleased by our interaction, it isn't often we meet a young house growing so rapidly with such… competent leadership.

"I know the journey is long, so I almost hesitate to extend this offer, but in six months' time, we will be hosting our annual three-day ball here in Lakeshire, and I'd like to invite you to attend. Rest assured that your invitation is meant only as just that: an invitation. If you don't wish to attend, that is perfectly fine, but know that you both are invited, along with Zoey, if she'd like to come.

"We invite all of the counts, barons, and powerful merchant families in the duchy each year, and many try to make it out. It would be a wonderful opportunity to make many positive connections outside your own county, and possibly even within it." Kiara glanced at Dustin, whose eyes were positively sparkling at the idea. She could tell that he wanted to attend. She could think of a really easy way to make the trip.

* Victoria tracked the departing figures with her domain sense long after they'd left Charles's office.

"Well?" Charles asked from her side, waiting for her opinion. Charles was a powerful mage in his own right, but his talents honestly lay elsewhere. He was an incredible administrator, and a logistical genius. His ability to run the duchy, the mundane parts of it anyway, were unmatched, in her opinion. In matters of magic though, she was the expert, and he trusted her opinion above all. He was waiting to hear her thoughts on the group they'd just met. And what were her thoughts? She still wasn't sure.

She'd shown the group an immersive illusion. She'd amplified the effect using her domain magic, allowing the moisture in the air to solidify into real snowflakes, even as her ice-aspected mana landed on their visitors. Once the illusion ended, and her mana dissipated, that real snow stuck around, a neat trick she'd learned some years back. She always enjoyed seeing peoples' reactions to the surprising and unconventional result. The youngest, Ava, had been a delight to watch.

She was at that young, energetic age, where life was full of wonder and surprise. Victoria had thoroughly enjoyed giving her a glimpse of what might be possible, given a few decades of really hard work – assuming Ava had the innate talent to progress to the upper echelons of magic. Some instinct deep within Victoria felt that she did. Ava had experienced Victoria's immersive domain magic raw, without any mana shields or other magical protection.

She'd been enthralled, even reaching up to touch the falling snowflakes at one point, with a spark of wonder in her eyes. The other two young ones, Zoey and Dustin, had been quickly shielded from the cold and the snow by Zoey's mana shield, but they'd both been suitably impressed. After the illusion ended, once Zoey's mana shield had been released, the real snow that had accumulated on the thin shield had of course fallen down onto their shoulders and into their hair. Their surprise had been apparent.

Shian Yountal though… Victoria wasn't sure what to make of her. She looked young, as young as Zoey and Dustin, but that couldn't be right. Victoria's ice-aspected mana had simply… disappeared when it reached her. Even the mana particles that landed on her clothing simply vanished. It smelled of domain magic, and domain magic meant Shian wasn't as young as she appeared. That would also explain the relative ease with which she'd "handled" the tier 5 that accosted them on the way to Lakeshire.

And yet, Victoria hadn't sensed a single iota of magic being used by the woman, domain magic or otherwise. Frustratingly, that bracelet had prevented her from sensing the woman's true level. That had been the point though, hadn't it? Someone had given it to her, knowing who she would be meeting with in Lakeshire. She locked eyes with her husband and shook her head slowly in response to his question.

"I'm not entirely sure what I just saw." His eyebrows rose at the admission.

"Oh?" She nodded.

"Portish is a long way from here, but I suspect this isn't the last we'll see of House Yountal. I think we should keep a loose eye on the house for now. I'll put out some feelers." He nodded knowingly, but left it at that. He wouldn't pry into what she meant by "feelers". He knew she had contacts in the underworld, but he let her manage that side of the duchy, just like she let him manage the in-the-light side of the duchy.

They both did what they were good at, what they enjoyed, and trusted the other to manage the pieces under their purview. It was a wonderful partnership.