The drive back to the mansion was too peaceful.
The afternoon breeze rustled gently through the trees lining the driveway, making shadows dance on the white gravel. The sky was clear, a deep blue, almost offensively serene.
Elizabeth walked beside Damon with her usual impeccable posture, her dark dress billowing elegantly with each step. He, on the other hand, was still absorbing the invisible weight of his new title, the echo of the name "Count" occasionally repeating itself in his mind as something that hadn't yet found its definitive place.
That's when the world tore apart.
The explosion wasn't just a sound.
It was a physical impact.
The air violently compressed before expanding into a shockwave that swept across the terrain like a wild animal. A colossal roar reverberated through the trees, sending birds taking flight in panic and leaves tearing from the branches.
The earth trembled beneath their feet.
A column of black smoke rose above the treetops.
