Valtieri Domain – Count Edgar's Study
The fire in the hearth crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the stacks of parchment cluttering Count Edgar Valtieri's desk. The aging nobleman rubbed his temples, the weight of recent events pressing heavily upon him.
A firm knock echoed through the chamber.
"Enter," Edgar commanded, his voice rough with fatigue.
The door swung open, revealing Oswald, his loyal steward. The elderly man's face was grave, his usual composed demeanor frayed at the edges.
"My lord," Oswald said, bowing slightly. "Scouts have returned with urgent news. The king has begun rallying his forces. He prepares to march on Bryndis."
Edgar's quill snapped between his fingers.
A long silence stretched between them before Edgar exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. His mind drifted back to that fateful day in the capital—when he and Kael had stood before the king, warning him of the rifts.
'If only I had prepared Kael better.'
