Mithril City, the Crownguard family estate.
At the gate.
"What exquisite stonework!"
"This is the complete opposite of my family's gate!"
Standing before the snow-white stone arch of the Crownguard estate, Duke carefully ran his hand over the fine carvings.
The entrance to Blue Rose Manor was nothing more than a big iron gate with a sign hanging on it, two extremes compared to this archway.
He couldn't help but sigh. The nobility of Demacia truly know how to enjoy themselves.
Piltover and Demacia stood on opposite ends of the spectrum: one embraced ultimate simplicity, the other ultimate luxury.
The stone used to carve this arch could only be found in Demacia. Transporting it elsewhere required not only immense manpower and resources, but also meticulous care in preservation.
Because while the stone was as fine as snow, it was also terribly fragile.
Only master stonemasons could shape it.
But once finished, it could endure the harshest winds and weather without crumbling.
The tree-lined avenue stretched straight ahead from the arch, dappled sunlight scattered across the road through swaying leaves.
As a carriage halted at the gate, Duke and Lux stood waiting for the Crownguards' reception party.
They could have entered directly, but the gate guards insisted Duke wait for the family head to personally greet him, saying it was specially arranged.
"Brother Duke, my father's here!"
Lux whispered a reminder. Duke followed her gaze and saw her father, Pieter Crownguard, approaching with his butler, smiling warmly in a dignified suit.
"The Crownguard family welcomes you!"
"You're too kind, Uncle Pieter!"
Duke exchanged pleasantries as they walked together past the stone arch into a long, pristine avenue. The paved white stone gleamed so bright it reflected like a mirror.
Demacians, for reasons unknown, had an obsession with the color white. Whether in Mithril City or the capital High Silvermere, everything was overwhelmingly white.
Lux, clutching her book, obediently followed behind. The three passed through the avenue, circled a garden, and entered the grand front hall of the estate.
They ascended the red-carpeted staircase to the reception room on the second floor.
"Duke, it's so wonderful to see you again!"
Lady Augsa, Lux's mother, rose from her seat with a warm smile. She took Duke by the arm and led him to sit.
"Last time in Flesbyro, the circumstances were too chaotic. I couldn't host you properly, and for that I'm truly sorry!"
"But now that you've come to the Crownguard estate, we shall treat you as you deserve!"
"You honor me, Lady Augsa."
At that moment, Pieter's gaze fell on Lux, and Augsa added with a smile: "Tell me, how has Lux behaved on this journey?"
"Lux is a genius," Duke said without hesitation.
He glanced toward the balcony, where sunlight and breeze streamed into the reception room through the open doors.
"Then that means…?"
Augsa's eyes lit up. She looked at her husband, who gave a subtle nod.
"In that case, I must prepare invitations and a disciple's ceremony gift!"
"Actually, that won't be, "
"We'll have to invite the whole city! I need to start drafting the guest list!" Augsa cut him off enthusiastically. Pieter offered Duke an apologetic smile.
"Augsa has been fixated on this for days. She keeps saying that if Lux succeeds, we must host a grand apprentice ceremony."
"In Piltover, we don't really go in for such things," Duke replied with a wry smile.
"Ah, but you're in Demacia now," Augsa said, taking Duke's hand like a kindly elder giving earnest advice. "Here, one must follow Demacian custom!"
"Did you bring a formal suit?"
"Oh, silly me! I'll have one prepared at once!"
"Cough, cough… I brought my own," Duke interjected quickly, thinking of how Demacian formalwear was even more restrictive and elaborate than Piltover's. "My family back home has strict standards, so… yes, I have one."
"Perfect!"
As the conversation carried on, Duke produced a sleek tablet communicator.
"This is a gift I made myself. It's a pair, and each can link to the other through unique keys, allowing contact across any distance."
"If you insist on holding the apprentice ceremony, I'll prepare a surprise for the occasion."
If it was to be done, it might as well be spectacular.
"That's wonderful! And how do we use this?" Augsa turned the tablet over curiously.
Duke nodded toward Lux, who stepped up. "Mother, let me show you."
"All right then, what do I do first?"
"First, you need to, "
As mother and daughter began chatting, Duke drew Pieter aside toward the balcony. Producing a cigar case, he offered one. Pieter accepted without hesitation.
Both men lit up, smoke curling skyward. Pieter exhaled with practiced ease, clearly an old hand.
"Uncle Pieter, on my way into the city I heard rumors of recent murders in Mithril City?"
"Ah, don't remind me. Those killings are driving me to despair. They've caused uproar in the city, and though our guards investigate tirelessly, progress is minimal."
His brows furrowed deeply.
Duke seized the moment. "I may have a lead."
"You know something?"
Pieter gave him a sharp look. Duke only shrugged, flicking ash from his cigar.
"I heard the victims were disemboweled, yet their faces bore blissful smiles?"
"Exactly. Disturbing and unnatural. Many suspect a black mage. The city is gripped by fear. My sister even dispatched a squad of mage-hunters."
"Mage-hunters, huh…"
Duke recalled his first encounter in Demacia with those very zealots, and how their faulty map had nearly gotten him killed.
Demacians and their paranoia… It's just mages, for heaven's sake. Must they always react like mice spotting a cat?
"I don't think this is the work of black mages," Duke said gravely.
Pieter's brows knit tighter. "You suspect demons?"
"Otherwise, how could the victims' faces freeze in ecstasy, even as their bodies were torn apart?"
Duke stroked his chin. To inflict such torment yet leave a rapturous smile, there was only one culprit he could think of.
The Widow.
From her backstory, she could very well be lurking within Demacia's borders.
"If it truly is a demon, I'll need to hire demon-hunters," Pieter said grimly.
"Indeed."
Before Duke could add more, a servant entered the reception hall and bowed. "My lord Pieter, there is a matter requiring your presence."
Pieter nodded solemnly, then smiled at Duke. "Duke, you must be weary from travel. Would you like to rest?"
"That sounds good. I'd also like to contact some associates."
"I'll have someone take you."
After Pieter left, the butler escorted Duke to a guest room. Lux, meanwhile, remained with her mother, discussing the communicator's features.
Once in the guest room, Duke stepped onto the balcony and dialed Camille's number on the tablet.
The screen lit up. Camille's face appeared, one brow arched. "Well, this is a surprise. Your first call to me since you entered Demacia."
"I've made an unexpected gain. I thought we should talk."
"How coincidental. I also have something to tell you."
"Who first?" Duke asked, raising a brow.
"You."
"I've established ties with both the Buvel and Crownguard families. The Crownguards even asked me to take their second daughter as my apprentice. I agreed."
"That's excellent. With those families on our side, breaking into the Demacian market will be far easier."
Camille's eyes flickered in surprise. She hadn't expected Duke to progress so quickly.
"The Buvels control trade, the Crownguards are among the top noble houses. With their support, the rest will be smooth."
"In that case, the Grand Tournament hardly matters anymore," she mused.
"No, I'll still compete, though my approach will change," Duke said with a mysterious smile. "The Grand Tournament draws contenders from across the kingdom. It's a perfect stage to open the market completely."
"If that's your plan, then follow through. I won't oppose it," Camille replied coolly, as always.
"Also, the Crownguards want a grand apprentice ceremony. I'd like you to send Dakor."
"That can be arranged. Have Tahm pick her up when the time comes."
"Good." Duke leaned against the balcony rail, lighting another cigar. "By the way, what was it you wanted to tell me?"
Camille's lips curved into a sly smile. "Sarah is pregnant."
Duke froze. The cigar fell from his mouth, burning a hole in his clothes, but he didn't even flinch.
When he finally opened his mouth, the smoke choked him into a fit of coughing. "Cough, cough… Sorry, what did you just say?"
"I said, your Sarah is pregnant."
"Congratulations, Duke." Camille's smirk deepened. "You now have your first child. And I…"
"…have my first grandchild."
End of chapter....
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