At the Vargas estate, Count Vincent Vargas sat at his desk, a deep frown creasing his forehead. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the flickering candle on his desk. His fingers drummed impatiently on the polished wood surface as he stared at the papers before him. It had been four weeks since Alaric had gone to the Carmine forest, and there had been troubling news of a small goblin invasion.
"Damn it, Alaric," he muttered under his breath. "What are you up to out there?"
The news of the goblin invasion had sent waves of concern through the Vargas estate. It wasn't just the threat of the goblins themselves that worried Vincent. He was more concerned about the potential backlash to the family's reputation. The Vargas name had always been associated with strength and stability, and any sign of weakness could be disastrous, especially with Duke Edmond's interest in the family hanging by a thread.
Vincent leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "If Alaric doesn't show up soon, this could ruin everything. Duke Edmond's interest is already waning. If he becomes annoyed or loses interest entirely, all my plans for elevating the Vargas family's social standing will crumble."
He couldn't afford that. The Vargas family had clawed its way up from obscurity, and Vincent had no intention of letting it slide back down. His mind raced, trying to come up with a solution. He needed to present something to Duke Edmond, something that would keep his interest piqued and his favor secured.
With a sudden burst of determination, Vincent grabbed a quill and a sheet of parchment. He began to write a letter to Baroness Karmon, outlining his concerns and his request for her assistance.
"Baroness Karmon," he wrote, "I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to you with a matter of great urgency. My son, Alaric, has been in the Carmine forest for the past four weeks, and there have been reports of a goblin invasion. I fear for his safety and the reputation of our family. I implore you to use your resources to locate him. In return, you will be granted military and financial aid."
He paused, considering his words carefully. He needed to make the offer enticing enough for the Baroness to take immediate action. After all, her support could be crucial in locating Alaric and bringing him back.
"As a gesture of our goodwill, I am prepared to offer substantial military and financial support to your endeavors," he continued. "Your assistance in this matter will not only secure Alaric's safety but also strengthen the alliance between our families."
Vincent signed the letter with a flourish and sealed it with the Vargas family crest. He called for a servant to deliver the letter to Baroness Karmon without delay. As the servant hurried off, Vincent leaned back in his chair, a sense of unease settling over him.
"Please, let this work," he whispered to himself. "We can't afford another setback."
Unbeknownst to Vincent,the military and financial aid promised to the Baroness would play right into Alaric's hands, furthering his own goals.
As Vincent sat in his study, anxiously awaiting a response, he had no idea that his carefully laid plans were being used against him. The Vargas family's future hung in the balance, and the next move would determine whether they rose to new heights or fell into ruin.
The weight of responsibility bore down on Vincent's shoulders, but he remained resolute. He had faced challenges before, and he would face this one head-on. The fate of the Vargas family depended on it. Little did he know, the real game was just beginning, and his son Alaric was holding all the cards.
A few days after Alaric's departure alongside Margaret for investigation, a letter from Count Vargas arrived at the Karmon residence. Baroness Celeste Karmon was seated in her study, her eyes scanning the neatly written lines on the parchment. She sighed deeply, the weight of the situation pressing down on her shoulders. The words from the letter mingled with the memory of a note she had received a few days ago.
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A few days earlier:
Alaric had sent a note to Baroness Celeste in private, a few hours before his departure with Margaret. The contents of the note were straightforward and alarming.
"Baroness Karmon, I am well aware that you are suppressing the news of my presence here to leverage aid from the Vargas family. In exchange for 1% of the aid money that will come, I will keep my mouth shut."
Celeste had read the note with a growing sense of dread. Alaric's sharp mind and perceptive nature had caught her off guard. She knew he was intelligent, but this level of directness was unexpected.
If Count Vargas found out that she had delayed the news of Alaric's recovery to gain aid, it would mean disaster for the Karmon household.
Count Vargas was not a man to be trifled with,if he found out he had to give a large number of men and money,when he could have been done with spending a small some in name of recovery after the war,his wrath would be merciless.
She had no option but to comply. Alaric had her in a corner, and there was no escape. The risk of exposure was just too great. She had to ensure that the aid from the Vargas family would come through without any suspicion falling on her.
Returning to the present, Celeste folded the letter from Count Vargas and set it aside. The Count had made it clear that he was deeply concerned about his son's safety and the reputation of the Vargas family, albeit only as a formality.
He had requested her assistance in locating Alaric and had promised substantial military and financial support in return.
Celeste leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as she thought about the predicament she was in. She needed to play her part perfectly to ensure that everything went smoothly.
"I have to act quickly," Celeste muttered to herself. "If I delay any longer, the Count might grow suspicious."
She called for a servant to prepare a response to Count Vargas. She needed to reassure him that everything was under control and that she was doing everything in her power to locate Alaric. In the meantime, she had to ensure that the aid would come through without any issues.
As she dictated the letter to the servant, her mind raced with thoughts of how to handle the situation. She needed to maintain the facade of concern and urgency while keeping Alaric's secret safe. It was a delicate balance, and one misstep could lead to disaster.
"Tell Count Vargas that we are tirelessly searching for his son," she instructed the servant. "Assure him that we will leave no stone unturned and that we are committed to bringing Alaric back safely."
The servant nodded and quickly began writing the letter. Celeste watched, her thoughts returning to Alaric's note. She couldn't help but marvel at the young man's audacity and intelligence. He had turned a potentially dangerous situation to his advantage, and she had no choice but to play along.
A few minutes later, the letter was sealed and sent on its way. Celeste sat back in her chair, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She had to ensure that everything went according to plan. The future of the Karmon household depended on it.
As the days passed, Celeste continued to monitor the situation closely. She received regular updates from her servants and kept a close eye on any developments. She knew that Alaric was out there, working on his own plans, and she had to stay one step ahead.
The tension in the air was palpable, and the stakes were higher than ever. Celeste couldn't afford to make any mistakes. The fate of the Karmon household, and possibly her own life, depended on her ability to navigate this treacherous situation.
In the end, it all came down to trust. Celeste had to trust that Alaric would keep his word and that she could manage the situation without arousing suspicion. It was a risky game, but she had no choice. The die had been cast, and there was no turning back.