The Duke sat at his desk, his gaze fixed on the papers before him, though his thoughts were far from the ink and parchment. Doctor Davis's message echoed relentlessly in his mind.
Erwin stood at the far end of the table, posture straight, hands folded behind his back. Kai, on the other hand, had claimed the couch like a throne, boots resting on the table, arms crossed, his expression openly bored. He had stopped caring about rules years ago, and he made no effort to hide it now. His sharp eyes flicked between Erwin and his father, reading their faces with unsettling precision.
"So," Kai drawled at last, breaking the silence, "is someone going to tell me what happened to the village, or should I just wait and dream about it?"
The sarcasm scraped against Caspian's nerves, but the Duke remained silent.
Kai clicked his tongue, irritation flashing across his face. He turned his head toward Erwin, who immediately shuffled through his notes, clearly relieved to speak.
"Near the Forest of Fesia," Erwin began, careful and precise, "an old man's body was discovered by a young boy. Doctor Davis was sent to perform a postmortem. However, when he arrived, the village was gone. No buildings, no people—nothing. In its place stands a forest. As though the village never existed at all."
Kai's mocking expression faded. He listened without interrupting, his fingers pausing mid-tap against his arm. His eyes narrowed slightly, calculating.
The Duke said nothing.
The silence stretched until a knock sounded at the door.
"Enter," Caspian ordered.
The Chief Knight stepped inside and bowed. He was broader than the Duke, his presence commanding in a different way—battle-hardened rather than noble. A thin scar cut through one eyebrow, and his brown hair, though tied neatly, could not hide his rugged good looks. He had earned his position not through birth, but blood and loyalty.
Caspian trusted him with his life.
"I assume you've heard about the village, Louis," the Duke said. "What is your assessment?"
Louis shook his head. "Your Grace, I would prefer to see the site myself before drawing any conclusions."
"Good," Caspian replied. "Take Kai with you. Depart as soon as possible."
The order was final.
Erwin and Louis bowed and turned to leave. Kai stayed behind, his jaw clenched. The moment the door closed, he rose to his feet.
"Father—why?" Kai demanded. "Why do you never ask what I want? I just got back from the capital and—"
Caspian stood.
The movement alone silenced him.
The Duke crossed the room and stopped mere inches away from his son. His posture was flawless, his presence overwhelming. For a moment, Kai was not facing his father—but the Duke of Draconis, the man who had crushed armies and drowned rebellion in blood.
Golden eyes locked onto his.
For a fleeting second, they glinted like a predator's.
Kai swallowed.
"Yes… I understand, Your Grace," he said quietly, retreating from his defiance.
The words tasted bitter. He had more to say, so much more but this was not the moment.
Dawn broke faintly over the tallest tower of the castle, a rare sight in the heart of winter. Louis and his knights prepared the carriages, checking rations, weapons, tools, and bedrolls. Kai inspected his horse one final time before asking a maid to summon Erwin.
Before she could move, Erwin emerged from the castle behind the Duke, papers tucked under his arm as always. Kai noticed he always noticed how his father never went anywhere without them.
"Is everything ready?" Caspian asked.
"Yes, Your Grace," Louis replied. "We should depart immediately. The weather may turn without warning."
"Alright then," the Duke said. "Resolve this swiftly."
He turned to Kai, his gaze sharp.
"And do not trouble Louis."
It was not a request.
The gates opened. Horses and carriages rolled forward. As the procession began to move, Kai turned back one last time.
He searched his father's face for warmth, for concern, for anything that resembled love.
What he found was the same familiar expression: distant, unreadable, expressionless.
The child inside him recoiled.
Then Kai turned away and rode out.