It was the dead of the night.
Aldrich was pacing in his bedroom. It had been hours since the end of the ceremony and the local Barons were the first to go. The Counts hadn't stayed for long either. Especially after learning that a few of them had come under the rule of the newly appointed Earl.
Aldrich was more thoughtful of Marquess Nicholas' leaving, creating no drama. The Black Mist around his heart had fallen still, but now and then a few tentacles kept trying to penetrate it. A part of his thoughts, tied to the Black Veil, also kept reciting the language of Laws to fight this weird thing off. But it wasn't taking any heavy toll on Aldrich.
