Morning light poured through the manor windows as I took my seat at the dining table. Martha arrived with her usual precision, setting down a tray of warm bread, butter, eggs, and a bowl of fruit stew.
"Eat well, my lord," she said, smiling faintly.
I tore a piece of bread, dipping it in the stew. "You've outdone yourself again, Martha."
"Just doing my duty," she replied, bowing slightly.
Halfway through the meal, Natalia passed through the hall. She didn't say anything—just shot me a pouting look before heading toward the courtyard. I froze with my spoon midair.
"…What was that for?" I muttered.
Martha chuckled softly. "Seems someone's upset with you."
"Upset? I didn't even do anything," I protested.
"Exactly," Martha said, smiling knowingly.
I sighed. Guess I'll have to fix that later.
After breakfast, I met Oswin outside the manor. He held a stack of ledgers under one arm, while Zevra stood beside him—eyes darting anywhere but at me.
"Good morning," I greeted.
Oswin nodded. "Morning, my lord. The daily reports are ready."
Zevra mumbled something that sounded like a greeting but kept her gaze low.
"What's wrong with her?" I asked quietly.
Oswin coughed. "Probably... something personal."
"Right. Let's move on then."
We went through the reports—grain stock, construction updates, and the new well's progress. Afterward, I walked with them to check on the smaller projects: the wells, hen pens, and workers cleaning the inner streets. The sound of brooms scraping against stone echoed around us.
I stopped in the middle of the street and raised my voice. "Hear me, everyone! Look around—the streets are clean, the stink is gone!"
The workers froze mid-sweep, and a few townsfolk peered from their doors.
"These men and women will keep the streets clean," I continued, "but that doesn't mean the rest of you can just sit back. Cleanliness is everyone's duty."
A few murmurs rippled through the crowd. Someone whispered, "Now he's making us sweep too?"
I ignored it and spoke louder. "We're building new toilets and garbage bins soon. When they're ready, no one—and I mean no one—is to throw waste or filth in the streets. Anyone caught doing so will pay a fine."
That got them whispering louder. One man muttered, "He's asking for coins just for peeing wrong."
Another added, "What fine? We've lived like this for years!"
I crossed my arms. "And because of that, half the children fall sick every season. This filth breeds disease. You want your families to live longer? Then stop treating the streets like a dump."
The murmurs faded. A few heads lowered.
"Good," I said firmly. "Orshek won't grow through walls or wealth—it'll grow through discipline. Let's start by keeping our home clean."
Oswin gave a small nod. Zevra finally looked up, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Maybe, just maybe, they were starting to understand.
After finishing my talk with the townsfolk, we moved toward the kiln construction site. The sound of hammering and shoveling filled the air. Men worked shirtless under the sun, while women carried clay and stacked half-dried bricks in neat rows.
The entire area buzzed with energy. I noticed Dareth's stone pillars—thick, sturdy columns of enchanted rock—holding up several unfinished walls. Nearby, Natalia's wooden vines crept over the framework, weaving themselves into domes and arches, their roots binding mud and clay to reinforce the structure.
"With this much magic support," I murmured, "the project will be done sooner than expected."
I turned to Zevra. "How's everything going here?"
She straightened her back, wiping sweat from her brow. "All perfect, my lord. But we'll need more tiles soon. I already asked Arion to help dry the bricks faster using her fire magic, but…" She glanced around at the workers. "…we're short on labour. We can't pull men from the other projects."
I nodded thoughtfully. "I see."
I gestured to Oswin. "Walk with me for a moment."
We moved aside, away from the noise.
"Oswin," I said in a low tone, "spread a rumor about bandits near the outskirts."
He blinked. "Bandits?"
"Yes. Nothing serious—just a rumor. Enough to make the miners nervous."
Oswin frowned but nodded slowly. "It will be done. Many miners come to town lately—bartering iron, tools, and other materials for food."
"Exactly," I said. "Tell them you've heard of bandit movements near their villages. Once they get cautious, offer them a deal—join us, work for safety and food."
Oswin's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Clever. That'll get us the workers we need."
"Good. The new month will start soon," I said, glancing toward the sky. "We'll need every hand we can get."
As we walked back, I asked, "How's meat production going?"
"Normal," Oswin replied. "Hunters still trade their game for coins, food grains, and supplies. The system's holding steady."
"Good," I said, nodding. "That way, the farmers won't protest—hunters depend on meat, and meat can buy them more grains to eat. Balance keeps peace."
Oswin smiled faintly. "You always think two steps ahead, my lord."
"Not ahead," I said quietly, watching the workers and magic shimmer in the air, "just trying to make sure no one starves while the city grows."
The treasury was quiet when I entered. Shelves held small treasures brought from the capital—coins, trinkets, and a few pieces of gold jewelry. Among them, a simple gold hairpin caught my eye. It wasn't much in the capital, where gold and silver were everywhere, but here in Orshek, it could mean something.
At dinner, I noticed Natalia again. She sat across the table, arms folded, cheeks slightly puffed, avoiding my gaze. Every time I looked her way, she turned away, lips pressed together in that familiar pout.
After dinner, when the manor had quieted and shadows stretched across the corridors, I saw her walking toward her room. I stepped softly behind her and touched her shoulder. She jumped.
"Relax, it's just me," I whispered.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" she hissed, spinning around.
"I'm not sneaking," I said, smiling. "I just… wanted to see you."
Her green eyes narrowed. "See me? At this hour?"
"Yes," I replied, taking her hand. "Come with me."
She hesitated but let me lead her up the stairs to the roof terrace. The moon hung high above, silvering the rooftops below. The cool night wind brushed past us.
"Why are we up here?" she asked softly, wrapping her arms around herself.
I reached into my pocket and held out the hairpin. "It's not much," I said, "but it's yours. Back in the capital, gold was everywhere, worthless. Here, it has meaning… because it's for you."
Natalia's expression softened as I placed it in her hair. "You didn't have to," she murmured.
"I wanted to," I said. "It's not about the value. It's about what it represents. Will you… stay by my side, no matter how long it takes to make this world safe for us?"
Her lips curved into a small, teasing smile. "I suppose I can tolerate your foolishness a little longer," she said, bumping her shoulder gently against mine. "But only because you care enough to be stubborn."
I laughed quietly, taking her hand in mine. "Then it's settled. When the world is safe… I'll marry you."
She rested her head lightly on my shoulder. "You'd better keep your promise," she said softly. "I'll be waiting."
The moon hung bright above us, the night calm, and for the first time in days, the weight of the world felt lighter.