Listern was halfway through his tea when the merchant finally found the courage to speak.
"Lord Merrick," Porter Bell said, leaning in slightly, "if it's truly as you say—if the Cayas hounds are gone—then I speak not only for myself, but for the Polley Guild: we're ready to serve Merrick House exclusively."
Listern nodded, unsurprised.
Bell had been looking for a noble family to latch onto for years. Now, given the chance to tie his wagon to the ancient—if diminished—Merrick legacy, he was all too eager.
The man had loosened up considerably after the trade pact was struck. And like all merchants who smelled protection, he talked.
Mostly harmless gossip—regional customs, traveling merchants, which routes had reopened.
But then, as if calculating the weight of the next sentence, Porter's tone dropped.
"There's been talk, my lord. About you and Lady Anna of House Anbert…"
Listern didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
Whether he spoke the truth or not, no one in the city would believe he had no interest in Anna. The duel with Quent was proof enough for most people.
"…Yes," Bell continued awkwardly, "and well… forgive me, my lord, I hesitate to bring this up, but—there is more."
Listern's gaze sharpened. He set the teacup down gently.
"Go on," he said. "If it concerns Anna… I want to hear it."
Porter shifted uneasily. "It's only rumor," he prefaced. "But… there have been whispers regarding the Lady Anna… and her painting instructor."
Listern's brow lifted. "Instructor?"
"A young man. Talented. Goes by the name Ruis. A commoner, though polite. He once had dealings with our guild—selling portraits and commissioned works."
Listern said nothing.
Porter went on, quickly, sensing no resistance.
"Some months ago, after painting Lady Anna's portrait for her father, she… sought him out again. Privately. On multiple occasions."
The silence in the room thickened.
But Listern didn't explode. He didn't even look surprised. He simply leaned forward, fingers steepled.
"You believe the Lady has feelings for this man?"
"I… yes. Or, well, had. It was common knowledge among my staff, even envied by some. Ruis was thought to be rising fast—rumors spread that the Anberts might take him in officially."
And then, Listern thought, the duel was announced.
"…When did this begin?" he asked.
"Over half a year ago. And yes, the painting master recently hired to teach Lady Anna—it's the same man."
Now it all connected.
Anker had mentioned Anna's new obsession with painting just weeks ago. How the Anbert house had brought in a skilled instructor for her "hobby."
That wasn't a hobby. That was a pretense.
And Ruis was never just a painter, Listern realized. He was a lover.
For a long moment, he didn't speak.
Across from him, Porter looked like a man who'd tossed a stone into deep water, unsure if it would hit bottom—or awaken something monstrous below.
But all Listern did was lean back.
"Thank you, Master Bell," he said quietly. "I'm grateful for your honesty. And the agreement between our houses stands. My steward will handle the details."
The merchant bowed—half-relieved, half-wary—and soon left the keep with the air of a man who'd escaped a trap.
The doors hadn't even closed behind him before Anker appeared beside Listern, face drawn.
"My lord… forgive the intrusion. But… I must ask." He hesitated, then continued. "This business with Cayas—was it truly cleared? Or… are we sending Polley to their deaths?"
Listern chuckled, softly.
"No. Cayas is ours. And Polley is under our protection now."
Anker blinked. He nodded, but the doubt lingered in his eyes.
Listern didn't blame him.
Let him think it was some secret champion. It's better they don't know it was me.
He stood and walked to the high window, arms crossed.
Anna.
Her smile during their last conversation. The way she'd avoided eye contact. The awkwardness in her voice.
He'd assumed it was because of the arranged match.
But no.
It was guilt.
And suddenly, something clicked.
She hadn't tried to stop the duel. Not because she didn't care. But because she needed time.
Time for what?
To run?
To disappear?
With him?
He spun around.
"Anker," he said sharply. "Send a runner. Quietly. I want information on this Ruis. Everything. Where he is now, where he's lived, who he's spoken to."
The old man bowed immediately.
"And once we confirm it's true," Listern added, "I want a message delivered—to Quent, at the Duke's estate."
Anker looked up, startled. "To Lord Quent?"
"Yes. If Anna's affections lie elsewhere, and she's concealed them… maybe Quent would prefer to cancel this duel altogether."
"My lord, do you really think he'd—"
"No," Listern said. "But it's a variable I can't ignore."
He watched as his butler hurried away.
Then he turned back to the window, eyes narrowed at the rising sun.
This wasn't just about a girl anymore. It never had been.
The duel had never been about Anna.
But now, he had the first piece of leverage in a game he hadn't even known he was playing.
And if the rumors were true, someone in House Anbert had been trying to manipulate two noble heirs into tearing each other apart—while a painter walked away with the prize.
Not today, Listern thought. Not ever.