"So," Rhyse finally spoke, his voice a low, controlled monotone that belied the storm raging within him. His Basic Leadership Aura, a subtle and constant thrum from the Synkar Core, seemed to lend an unearned weight to his words. "My cousin, Lady Livia Hawthorne, is not merely an ambitious opportunist. She is an active collaborator with the Valtari Syndicate, facilitating their operations against this House from within its very walls."
He looked directly at Lyra. "The 'H' signature is unambiguous. This is her direct correspondence. 'Asset'… that must be the Senior Lieutenant my uncle Marius manipulated before last night's attack. The assassins failed, so he is 'compromised' from their perspective. But we remain 'viable targets'."
"And a 'Secondary protocol' is in motion, my lord," Lyra stated, her gaze flinty. "With a 'new package' expected from their Krellian Deep nexus. That sounds like another wave of assassins, or worse."
"Precisely my fear," Rhyse agreed. "Mistress Meadowlight, your immediate and absolute priority is Lady Livia. I need to understand the full scope of her operation. Her contacts within this manor – who does she meet? Who serves her? What are her routines? How does she access this 'Channel Krellian'? Is it a specific communicator crystal she possesses, an enchanted relay hidden in her suite, or something more?"
Lyra gave a single, sharp nod. "Her suite is heavily warded, my lord, as expected for a Rank 2 Witch with her resources. Direct magical scrying will be difficult without alerting her. But observation of her physical movements, her use of manor services, any couriers she employs… these can provide significant leads. I already began establishing discreet surveillance points immediately."
"Good." Rhyse then turned to Technician Thorne, whose earlier enthusiasm was now tempered by a grim understanding. "Continue with your tasks assigned earlier."
Thorne, though still looking somewhat overwhelmed by the scale of the treachery, found focus in the technical challenge. "Yes, my lord."
Finally, Rhyse faced Sergeant Vance. "Sergeant, your role remains the most straightforward, and perhaps the most critical in the immediate term."
Vance's scarred jaw tightened. "There will be no second chances for assassins, my lord. And no Core Guard will approach you without my scrutiny."
"Master Valerius," Rhyse said, turning to his seneschal, "I want you to begin a quiet, deep review of all Hawthorne-managed Synkar subsidiaries, routes and anything else important. Look for financial irregularities, unusual personnel appointments, anything that might suggest resources being siphoned or influence being unduly exerted."
Valerius bowed. "It will be a complex undertaking, my lord, but I will initiate it immediately. Lord Marius has extensive reach within those subsidiaries."
"Which is precisely why it needs scrutiny," Rhyse stated. He felt a semblance of control, a plan taking shape. His new team, though small, possessed the skills he desperately needed, "I will also need you to map all personnel employed by the Synkar, directly and indirectly, and the key and talented personnel needed to keep our industries working. I want those who are critical, those who have ties to the Hawthorne, and I want substitutes for them ready."
Master Valerius was overwhelmed with all his tasks, but he didn't utter a single complaint, "It will be done, my Lord."
Rhyse smiled, "I know I ask too much of you, Master Valerius, but it is because you are the person I trust the most. From now on, you should also pay more attention to your security. I authorize you to hire high-tier bodyguards you trust for yourself and your family, and also to use the adequate artifacts from the treasure for your protection."
Master Valerius was taken aback, "My Lord, how can I? Those are for the direct line."
"There's no point in hoarding them. I can't use them without mana or aura, and right now the most important person in this family is you, Master Valerius. This is an order."
Master Valerius nodded, his eye full of gratitude.
The Synkar Artifacts were the greatest treasures of the Family. Even the former head only carried a few of them, which were recovered together with their bodies. They were usually the Theron's Synkar masterpieces, and each single one of them had imensurable value. With them in hand, even a high-rank support class holder like Valerius would become extremely tough to kill.
At this moment, Rhyse felt extreme pressure. He had to decide how he would deal with Livia's machinations. He could publicy dennounce and put pressure of them, but not only would that strain or destroy his relations with the Hawthornes, the evidence he had was not good enough to be undeniable. It was too risky to accuse them in the open since Rhyse's own position could be further weakened.
Besides that, cutting relations with the Hawthorne's meant losing key personnel all over Synkar Industries, which would cause a great blow to production and sale. Foreign trade routes were mainly managed through the Hawthorne's, and many of the Synkar Bannermen profited directly from them. Before dealing a blow to Livia and Marius, Rhyse had to make sure his family business would not be affected.
The bannermen were also a point of concern. While they were loyal to his father, powerful nobles were always lusting for power, riches and land. Most of the Barons, counts and viscounts under the Synkar were much more powerful individually than Rhyse, and some among them would love to take a piece of his fortunes. In fact, some of them already presented marriage offers several times, and rivalries between them meant choosing one side would definitely upsed the other.
Just as a fragile sense of order began to settle, Lyra Meadowlight, who had been silently observing from her shadowed corner, spoke, her voice a soft whisper that nonetheless cut through the room. "My lord, if I may begin my observations of Lady Livia immediately… there is a particular service access point near the East Wing guest suites that is often overlooked by standard patrols. It would be an ideal location to establish an initial, unobtrusive monitoring post."
"Permission granted, Mistress Meadowlight," Rhyse said, impressed by her immediate initiative.
Lyra departed, gliding with silent precision that revealed great expertise. Thorne left to continue his assigments and Vance went to stand outside and patrol the perimeter.
Left alone with Valerius for a moment, Rhyse allowed himself a small, weary sigh. "This is… more complex than I ever imagined."
"Ruling, even a House, is rarely simple, my lord," Valerius said with a commiserating smile. "Especially when serpents coil within your own garden. But you are making the right moves, asking the right questions. Your parents would be…" He paused, a shadow crossing his face. "They would be proud of your resolve."
The compliment, though heartfelt, did little to ease the knot of anxiety in Rhyse's chest. He was a thirteen-year-old boy playing a game of shadows against seasoned conspirators.
It was then that the main study door, the one usually reserved for formal announcements, chimed softly. Valerius raised an eyebrow, moving to answer it. He returned a moment later, holding a pristine, unbroken scroll sealed with the unmistakable crimson wax and sigil of the Royal Crown.
"A King's Messenger has just arrived, my lord," Valerius announced, his voice carefully neutral, though Rhyse detected an undercurrent of apprehension. "He bears a formal summons from His Majesty."
Rhyse's blood ran cold. He had been expecting this, dreading the moment the wider political world intruded upon his immediate crisis. The matter of his formal investiture as Duke of the Synkar territories.
Valerius broke the seal with a small, ornate letter opener and unrolled the heavy parchment. He read aloud, his voice resonating slightly in the quiet study. "His Majesty, King Valbrand Heavenwolf, Lord of the Northern Fang, formally summons Lord Rhyse Synkar, Heir to the Duchy of Synkar, to the Royal Capital of Skyfang. Attendance at the King's Court is required within the fortnight to discuss matters pertaining to the Synkar succession, the continued prosperity of the Duchy, and the affirmation of feudal oaths."
Valerius paused, his brow furrowing as he scanned further down. "There is an addendum, my lord. "For the assurance of Lord Synkar's safety and convenience during these trying times, His Majesty has graciously assigned a Royal Escort to accompany him from the Synkar Manor to the capital. This escort will be commanded by His Grace, Duke Regulus Astraulf, Cousin to the Crown.'"
Duke Regulus Astraulf. The name hit Rhyse like a physical blow. A leading figure in the court's anti-autonomy faction, a man known for his ambition, his political ruthlessness, and his well-documented (if discreet) ties to certain influential branches of the Hawthorne merchant family – branches beyond Marius's immediate local influence, but part of the same sprawling, powerful web.
This wasn't an escort for safety; it was a gilded leash, delivered by a potential enemy.
The System, as if sensing the shift in the political winds, chimed in Rhyse's mind.
[New Major Quest Line Initiated: The Royal Summons]
[Objective 1: Survive the Journey to Skyfang.]
[Objective 2: Successfully Navigate the Intrigues of the Royal Court and Secure Formal Investiture as Duke.]
[Objective 3: Identify and Neutralize Political Threats to House Synkar within the Capital.]
[Rewards: Massive System Advancement, Unique Royal-Tier Skill/Artifact, Solidified Ducal Authority, Increased Kingdom-Wide Reputation.]
Rhyse's pulse quickened as he analyzed the System's offered rewards. A Royal-Tier Artifact could turn the tide—it wasn't just power, but legitimacy, a weapon or tool forged with the kingdom's highest craftsmanship, likely infused with magics beyond standard Synkar designs. If he could secure it, the artifact might serve as both shield and blade against the court's machinations.
His mind also raced with the implications of a royal-tier skill—something that could potentially bypass his inherent limitations. For someone like him, born without the ability to wield mana or channel aura, such a skill would be invaluable. It could provide a way to wield power without relying on the very thing he lacked, a means to level the playing field against those who had always dismissed him as magically inert. The thought of wielding a skill of that caliber, one that didn't require the traditional foundations of magic, sent a thrill through him. It would be more than just an advantage—it would be a statement. A declaration that his worth wasn't defined by his deficiencies.
And "Solidified Ducal Authority"? That suggested more than mere title confirmation—it hinted at unshakable influence, the kind that could render petty political ploys worthless. The rewards weren't just incentives; they were the exact tools he'd need to survive what came next.
Rhyse shook from the system's words and looked from the royal scroll in Valerius's hand to the memory of Livia's treasonous message. The threats were not sequential; they were converging.
Survive the journey. Even with a Duke as an escort? or is the system warning that the duke IS the danger after all?
To avoid a conflict with the crown, Rhyse could only obey. There was no way to refuse the summons unless he wanted to lose his title as a Duke. Only an emergency such as a Monster Tide could justify his absence. It was his chance to be formally appointed, but things were never as they seemed. The Royal Court itself was a viper's nest, and the danger started with his own escort. He felt that if he truly went with the Duke he would definitely face terrible danger.
"It seems, Master Valerius," Rhyse said, his voice dangerously soft, a cold fire kindling in his eyes, "that the vipers are not just in our garden. They await us in our own doors, and the King's own halls. It appears I am going to court."