On the way to the Camara Manor, City of Rivana, Kingdom of Astralia
The ornate carriage trudged along the bustling early evening streets of Rivana. Inside, Aiden Silver found himself alone, a rare moment of solitude since his return to this world in the ancient ruins' chamber. He was en route to the Manor of Baron Camara, the current ruler of Rivana and the southern duchy of Astralia, to partake in dinner with the Camara family.
While he had intended to visit the Baron at some point, receiving an invitation so soon meant that he hadn't been able to gather all the information he desired before this encounter. Consequently, he had to exercise more caution than he would have liked.
Aiden was intrigued by the Baron's decision to invite him already. From Bennett, he had learned that the man, and thus the entire duchy, was facing severe financial difficulties. Meanwhile, the Silver family had rapidly risen in influence in recent times.
Reviewing the limited documents he had access to, Aiden had discovered that the Black Swan company now controlled approximately half of the southern duchy's trade. This was achieved through contractual agreements with independent entities, like farmers, craftsmen or merchants not affiliated with the big families, and direct ownership of significant portions of the duchy's agriculture. Given these circumstances, it made sense for the Baron to seek an alliance with him as fast as possible. Nonetheless, the haste of the invitation struck Aiden as rather impulsive.
He was still deeply lost in thought when his carriage stopped in front of Baron's Manor. A servant in the livery of the baron opened the carriage's door and he stepped out. Before him stood the half-finished residence of the ruler of Rivana, and once again he was reminded of how long the house must have been in its current state. Even from so close, he couldn't see any signs of recent construction, and the splashes of damage that they had seen the day before visibly marred the building's facade.
He turned around, taking in a deep breath as he beheld the beauty of the city sprawled out below him. Atop the central hill, he had a panoramic view of the entire city. The last golden strands of the sunset mingled with the first silver rays of the moon, casting a magical glow on buildings and bustling figures in colourful clothing, as they hurried to complete their final tasks of the day. In the north-east, his mansion stood in the residential district, its small towers standing out amidst the sea of beautiful sandstone buildings. Towards the south, the majestic central tower of the Crafter's Square rose above the cityscape, and Aiden couldn't help but once again be amazed by the incredible craftsmanship.
"It is quite beautiful, isn't it?"
A delicate female voice pulled him from his reverie, and with slight chagrin, he realised that he had been so captivated by the breathtaking view that he had neglected his aura senses, failing to notice the approaching woman. He turned towards the source of the voice and found the woman to be as delicate as her voice. Her dark-brown hair was already greying, framing a middle-aged face with attentive light-azure eyes and a hawkish nose that exuded an air of intelligence.
"Lucia Camara," she introduced herself with an amused smile, extending her right hand to him. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Master Silver."
"Lady Camara, the pleasure is all mine" he replied, bowing his head and gently kissing her offered hand, eliciting soft laughter from her. He then turned his gaze back to the city. "The view is indeed quite beautiful, I'm sure there isn't another place quite like this in all the southern duchy."
Lucia chuckled warmly and gestured towards the grand entrance of the large manor house. As they walked, she spoke, "You're absolutely right. I think it's quite obvious why the rulers of Rivana have always chosen to have their residence here."
"Oh?" Aiden exclaimed as they entered the manor through the front doors. This part of the house was clearly finished, he thought, as he looked at the expensive tapestries and rich carpets adorning the grand foyer.
"Oh, yes. Before their treachery, the ducal family's ancestral estate was on this hill. When the king deposed them, any sign of the former duke was raced to the ground, including the original manor house," she explained without showing emotion as she guided Aiden through the house. "When my family ascended, we made it our mission to restore the old tradition of having the ruler of the city, and the region, living on this hill, and ordered the construction of our new home."
"Construction is still ongoing?" Aiden probed, knowing that the Baron's financial troubles were making it impossible to finish the manor house. However, he wanted to gauge how truthful the Camaras were toward him.
"Oh yes, we are hoping to finish it in the near future. There are some material shortages, but I'm sure that they'll be resolved soon," Lucia lied through her teeth, giving him a strained smile.
Aiden hadn't expected them to be entirely truthful, but it gave him valuable information nonetheless. If Lucia thought that she could deceive Aiden Silver, the son of the now most important merchant in the region, then they must believe that their secret wasn't out yet. That he knew more than they thought was something he could use to his advantage.
They spent the rest of the way to the dining room making idle conversation. Finally arriving at the large door to their destination, an ancient looking servant went to ceremoniously open the large double door but staggered back when it almost flew into his face.
"This is a disgrace!" an elderly man in expensive-looking clothing was shouting back into the room, his face visibly reddened.
"Get out of my sight you old oaf," a baritone voice returned from inside the room, a large piece of cheese following the words. The projectile missed the man however, hitting the shocked servant next to him in the head, who staggered back with a yelp.
As he turned, the angry old man noticed Aiden and Lucia. He bowed his head to the woman. "Lady Camara," he said, "I'm sorry that you had to witness this nonsense."
"Master Vivell." She nodded in acknowledgement, then pointed at Aiden. "Have you had a chance to meet Master Silver yet? Aiden has only recently arrived in the city."
The thin man turned his hateful brown eyes to Aiden. "Oh? So the would-be usurper sends the runt of his litter to finish me off?" He stepped closer, pointing a boney finger at the younger man's chest. "Remember this, brat. I will not idly stand by while you ruin me and my business, not as long as my name is Samuel Vivell!"
Aiden knew a little bit about the man. His family used to be the most important merchants in the southern duchy. The man himself got appointed to the Royal Mercantile Council by the previous duke, whose downfall had brought Vivell's business into trouble as well as the merchant and Camara didn't see eye-to-eye at all. Furthermore, the old man did not have any heirs and the expectation was that the Baron would replace him with a different candidate as soon as he ascended to dukedom, a situation that Egon Silver, Aiden's father, was looking to pounce upon.
"Master Vivell, you are insulting my guest!" Lucia exclaimed angrily and gestured to the servant. "Bertram, make sure that Master Vivell finds the exit."
Samuel Vivell looked like he was ready to explode, his already reddened head growing into an even darker shade of red. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to challenge the lady of the house's words, but then decided better and, with an angry huff, strode after the servant.
"Please excuse Samuel's behaviour," Lucia said, her strained smile returning as they entered the dining hall, "he just hasn't been the same recently. Trouble with the business and his advanced age, I assume."
Aiden observed the room that he had just stepped into. He found the Dining hall of the Camara Manor not too dissimilar from his own in the Silver Estate. The room was richly adorned with black and red tapestries, and the dark wood furniture gave it a formal ambiance. A long, ornate table occupied the centre of the room, elegantly set with four glimmering sets of silverware, at its head sat an exceedingly overweight man.
Baron Camara, Aiden realised, opened his arms in a welcome gesture, the buttons of his satin shirt straining against his considerable girth. "Welcome, Master Silver, welcome!"
Aiden gave the man a nod, bowing his head just low enough to be proper. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Baron Camara. You have a magnificent home," he lied.
The man waved away the compliment with a sweep of his pudgy hand. "Bah! Kind words, but let's not dwell on them. Come, join me at the table; the food will be served shortly. And please, call me Francesco."
"As you wish… Francesco," Aiden obliged his host's request.
As Aiden was about to sit down, one of the side doors opened, and a young woman with dark brown hair entered the room. She appeared to be a few years younger than him, undoubtedly the daughter of the Camaras. Her azure eyes were almost identical to her mother's, and she possessed the same tanned skin as both her parents. She was pleasant-looking, dressed in a tight evening gown that accentuated her curves and hinted at supple cleavage, leaving an air of allure.
The young woman approached her parents, giving each of them a quick peck on the cheek before regarding Aiden with a frown. "Mother… Father."
"Master Silver, may I introduce my daughter, Valentina Camara," the Baron said with a grin.
"A pleasure," Aiden said as he stepped toward her and kissed her right hand, just as he had done with her mother's before.
"Hah. She is quite a pretty one, don't you think, Aiden?" the Baron said in a boisterous voice, patting the blushing young woman's back.
Aiden gave him a strained smile, not willing to play whatever game the man was trying to engage in. "Of course, Francesco."
The group settled into their seats, and the Baron clapped his hands, summoning a group of servants carrying plates of food into the room. They served the first course, a delectable roasted tomato and basil soup with local cheese and garlic bread. Aiden savoured the rich and velvety flavours, enjoying the taste of the meal along with the others as the initial moments of the meal were spent in silence as everyone relished the delicious dishes.
"Aiden, how was your journey? Arturo told me about the bandits getting some of your guards, but at least you made it out alright, isn't that right?" The fat man finally broke the silence, laughing as he brushed off the deaths of the guardsmen.
Valentina looked at Aiden with wide eyes, gasping at the revelation. Aiden couldn't exactly claim the moral high ground here. After all, it was him who had killed two of the deceased guards himself right after his soul took over this body. Not that the Baron knew that, of course. "It was long, but mostly pleasant," he said with a smile, eliciting a chuckle from the Baron. "However, I must say that I'm happy to have finally arrived here in Rivana. It's a beautiful city."
"Let us drink to that!" the Baron exclaimed, and a servant carrying a delicately decorated bottle of white wine stepped forward, filling their glasses with the alcohol. The group raised their glasses, clinking them together.
"To our beautiful city, and to the blossoming friendship between our families!" the man toasted, and they all took a sip. "Ah, delicious, isn't it? My wife's family has been producing it for generations in their ancestral barony."
"It's lovely. My compliments to your family," Aiden replied, addressing the lady of the house. The wine was actually quite bland, but he didn't want to upset his hosts by telling the truth.
"So, Aiden, what are your plans for your stay here in Rivana?" Lucia inquired, gently dabbing the corners of her mouth with a napkin.
"For now, I'm mainly focused on settling in and familiarising myself with this aspect of the family business. Unfortunately, I haven't had much time for anything else since I arrived," Aiden replied.
"Oh? So you haven't had the chance to explore the city yet?" Lucia looked meaningfully at her daughter. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could show him around, dear?"
"Mother!" the younger woman exclaimed incredulously, earning a reprimanding look from her mother.
Aiden was spared from having to respond as the main course was served. Creamy mashed potatoes in black truffle oil and sautéed vegetables accompanied a succulent roasted bird whose species he did not recognize. As he took a bite of the meat, his eyebrows shot up in surprise. He detected the distinct aftertaste of magic-infused protein. While everything else served thus far had been ordinary food, this meat clearly originated from a magical creature. The trace of magic was faint, not as potent as the magical animals and plants specifically cultivated for consumption in the empire, but it was undeniably present.
"This meat tastes absolutely delicious. What is it?" Aiden inquired, aware that obtaining magical food like this could significantly accelerate the expansion of his mana core.
"It's Blacktip Razorclaw, a rare delicacy from the Forbidden Region here in the southern duchy. I shot this one myself," the Baron proudly claimed.
Aiden had his doubts about the Baron's words. The overweight man didn't strike him as someone who would venture out to hunt a rare animal, but he chose not to confront him on it. The mention of the Forbidden Region piqued his curiosity though; he hadn't come across any discussions or maps of such a place so far.
"The Forbidden Region? That sounds intriguing," Aiden remarked, hoping to elicit more information from the Baron.
"It lies to the north of Rivana," to Aiden's surprise it was Valentina who spoke up. During the meal so far, she had mostly remained quiet, only speaking when prompted. Aiden guessed she was relieved that the topic had shifted away from her. "Some of my friends say it was once the home of a powerful wizard, hundreds of years ago. Can you believe it?"
Aiden saw that Lucia rolled her eyes at her daughter's words, but he was intrigued. "Exciting, and this species of bird lives there?"
Valentina's excitement was evident as she replied, "Yes, that's right! Normally, nobody is allowed to enter the area, but sometimes hunters seek father's permission, and they bring back game from there, like this bird."
Aiden shifted his gaze to the Baron, who shot a dark look at his daughter. It was clear that Valentina had unintentionally exposed her father's lie. Seeking more information, Aiden continued, "Is it a dangerous place, then?"
Francesco responded before Valentina could, his puffy lips contorting into an ugly grimace. "Yes, exceedingly so."
Not deterred, his daughter continued, "A few years ago, father sent some men into the Forbidden Region, and only one ever returned!"
"Valentina, enough!" Francesco's patience snapped, and he slammed his hands on the table, causing silverware to scatter. Valentina flinched and withdrew into her chair, hurt by her father's reaction.
"Please excuse my daughter's behaviour. She hasn't quite mastered the art of knowing when it's appropriate to speak and when it isn't," Lucia explained, shooting her daughter a stern look before playfully winking at Aiden. "We hope she'll find a husband who can help her improve on those faults. Speaking of which, do you have someone waiting for you back home, Aiden?"
"No, not yet I'm afraid," Aiden replied, noting Valentina's incredulous sputtering next to her mother. He knew it was just a diversion from the previous topic. Nonetheless, Aiden had already gathered information that had been previously unknown to him. He mentally reminded himself to have Bennett investigate further into the survivor of the expedition.
The remainder of the dinner proceeded amicably, the dessert was a luscious tart with a buttery, flaky crust filled with velvety dark chocolate ganache and topped with juicy berries. The discussions were kept to meaningless smalltalk, and soon the two women excused themself, wishing the men a good night.
As the two women left the room, the Baron let out a sigh and retrieved a bottle of brandy from under the table. Pouring two glasses, he handed one to Aiden. "What do you think of my daughter? Isn't she a beautiful young woman?" he asked, surprisingly nervous.
"She is, whoever she ends up with will be a lucky man," Aiden replied truthfully. He couldn't deny Valentina's beauty, though he couldn't help but notice her naivety as well.
The Baron took a long sip of the strong alcohol and continued, his words tinged with a hint of desperation, "You know, a union between our families could be mutually beneficial. I'm sure your father would approve, especially since Vivell is old and frail, and will need to be replaced soon."
"You're offering your daughter to me?" Aiden wasn't surprised that this was the ultimate goal of the Camaras, they needed funds and the Silver family could provide more than enough. Furthermore, he believed his new father, Egon Silver, wouldn't be averse to such a marriage. Marrying into a Baron's family, especially one with a potential claim to a duchy, would be advantageous for the Silver family, particularly if the Camaras remained without a male heir. He didn't however expect the Baron to be so blunt about it, and he wondered if the situation that the man found himself in was even worse than expected.
"Consider it as food for thoughts for now," the Baron said, seemingly reading the situation.
"Of course, I will certainly consider it," Aiden replied diplomatically.
The two men spent another hour idly chatting about the ongoing events in Rivana, and it was late at night as Aiden finally stepped outside into the fresh night air. He sighed deeply as he waited for his carriage to arrive.