"Fuck."
The word slipped from Lucien's cracked lips before he could stop it, but neither soldier flinched. Instead, their eyes dimmed, as if the same grim thought had crossed their minds.
If they spoke without any proof their heads wouldnt be attached to them.
Lucien stared at them—these two half-starved boys who still stood up to salute him despite their condition. And detail only the newly recruited soldiers and a handful of veterans left behind—that made something twist in his gut.
Lucien stared at them two half-starved boys, barely a year older than him, yet they looked like children. Despite their condition, they still stood up to salute him. That alone stirred something in his gut.
Only newly recruited soldiers and a handful of veterans had been left behind. Why?
Was it the scent of danger or something far more sinister?
It didn't make sense. That sly baron—his father—had taken House Sallor's soldiers and left behind the loyal veterans of House Argrave.
He clenched his jaw. As he couldn't drive away the feelings why would baroness act like this not giving foods to him and soldiers. Is she didn't like his father using her soldiers for something dangerous or she create a twisted plan and outsmart his father and slowly assassinate him with her troops?
Three days ago… his father left.Three days ago… not only his, but the loyal soldiers' food had stopped.Three days ago… his father acted unusually, taking even the butler of the house.
Someone had definitely made a move. Maybe a baronial enemy of House Argrave who looted all the food or destroyed it, or maybe a newly oasis appeared causing territorial dispute.
"Return to your posts," Lucien said, his voice steadier than he felt. "Act as usual. I'll handle this."
Seeing his confidence, the soldiers immediately found hope.They had indeed just been waiting to deliver this news to the young master, as commanded by their leader but thankfully, the lord had figured it out himself.
"My lord, if there's anything you need, or anywhere you need to go, we and all the veteran soldiers are ready to move with you."
Hearing their offer, Lucien's eyes twitched slightly. If he could see scheming in broad daylight, couldn't his father is also little suspicious about it too? And what if these soldiers harboured ill intention? After all, they were newly added recruits. But if the veterans were with them...
Lucien calm his mind and chose to trust his wit and his gut.
"I'll let you know," he said at last. "But be prepared. Before sunset."
"Yes, Young Lord!" they replied in unison, saluting with clenched fists to their chests.
As they straightened up, Lucien turned away, eyes drifting back to the towering shadow of Harranhus, the ancient fortress that once stood as a proud symbol of House Argrave. Now it felt more like a cage made of granite and silence.
He had told them to be prepared, but those words were nothing more than a power play—a test. If the threat truly lurked within these walls, within someone of the household, and if these soldiers were especially a bait meant for him—then this command might provoke a reaction. He just needed to wait for the fish to chew the hook.
And if the soldiers had any agenda beyond loyalty, then his own death might come faster than he could prepare for.
A dry chuckle escaped his cracked lips.
"Oh Goddess... Is it because I couldn't even clear my nuts that I'm being punished with such stupidity? Now I'm tangled in a nest of thorned mind games." He exhaled sharply, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Whether I live or die now depends on how well I play this damn game."
"For properly work of my brain i definately needed water to calm down." Lucien thought as he walked toward the castle, his thought are starting to blur as strength is basically depleting the more he walk. "--- Right about water he schrewdly looked at the system mission."
"I have an idea about that, gross but perfect plan."
Lucien thought while muttered "What did i thought of you system but you turned out to be my only loyal friend in this damn castle."
Inside the keep, he slowly walked toward the second floor. The contrast of his presence hit him hard—these maids acted like he didn't even exist. They didn't consider him the heir of the castle at all.
With a deep sigh, he walked toward the room.
Servants bustled about, especially in the solar—the Baron's chamber. Watching their movements, he noticed something unsettling. Some moved with the stillness of ghosts, others passed by in hurried silence.
Most of them had come from the crumbling remains of House Sally's castle. It was said they once lived in such poor conditions that thieves frequently broke in to loot. After the marriage, the baroness and her servants immediately moved out, abandoning the old castle to rot in silence. Interestingly, their former town wasn't even located beside the castle—it lay a little further, near the outskirts of Argrave's territory.
House Sally still controlled several oases and a small number of soldiers, along with a single knight. But that force was far from enough to maintain such a large territory especially when it came to guarding the oases from illegal adventurers or defending them against enemies looking to destroy or seize them for profit.
Such people, suddenly gaining access to a wealthy and well-structured domain like Argrave, were bound to carry questionable intentions. Greed had a way of swallowing reason whole, and in the presence of such prosperity, it could easily drive even the most rational into silent betrayal.
Servants bustled around, specially in the solar, the room of Baron. Looking at the constant movement of servent, some with stealthiness like ghost some hurriedly passing the room, he finally understood the play at work.
Lady Mayra, the Baroness. His stepmother.
Lucien paused. A thousand thoughts stormed through his mind. Rage. Suspicion and Hatred.
Why? Was she planning to take over the barony? Had she allied with House Orain? His lips curled into a bitter smile. "whats's your plan… baroness" he whispered.
But Lucien wouldn't confront her yet. Not until he had solid proof and an loyal army. Not until he could strike.
Soon, Lady Mayra. Very soon.
Baroness previous house, House Sally's most of the soldiers are with the Baron but there are still much more soldiers within the castle loyal to baroness.
Baroness Mayra's reach ran deeper than he'd imagined. Even now, as he stepped into the dim corridor outside the solar, he could almost hear her whispering orders into loyal ears.
"....and look a eyes for the boy now... remember if you saw him going outside the fortress..."
"Boy is she talking about me?" Lucien mumble but he stealthy hear and keep count and eyes on the corridors maids who are often came out of the Solar.
One could ask how he kept an eye on them, since his room was beside the solar, a little way down the same floor. Beside his room was a window looking out over the castle's exterior, revealing broken remnants of the ancient fortress. According to what Lucien had heard from his grandfather. who sadly died when Lucien was only five—this part of the fortress had been built with old magic thousands of years ago.
The room's position on the side of the solar let him see each maiden as they passed.
Like a tiger stalking prey, he waited—hoping to spot at least one maid who he could extract information from.
As he watched the maidens in front of the door for several minutes, one suddenly caught his eye. Wasn't she the one Lucien father had been fond of before marrying the baroness?