"What a terrible sight," Lord Zoltar said with a frown, as he took a break from reading the letter. "To think that bandits had taken advantage of the chaos and caused more havoc and harm."
"It's a pity, my lord," the servant agreed. "But, at least the bandits have been caught and brought to justice."
"Yes, but the damage has already been done. Several people have been killed and many injured. The entire village has been left in ruins, and it will take months, if not years, to rebuild."
Lord Zoltar shook his head and sighed, "It's a tragedy, indeed. And to think that the royal family has allowed this to happen."
"I agree, my lord. They should have been more vigilant and kept better control over their lands. This could have been avoided."
"Indeed. The royal family is incompetent, and they are clearly unfit to rule."
"I'm sorry to say, but I must agree with you, my lord."
Lord Zoltar frowned, "This is outrageous! How dare the royal family allow this to happen? And then they have the nerve to ask for my help! This is an insult!"
The servant nodded in agreement, "It's disgraceful, my lord. We should teach them a lesson."
"I'll have to write a response and make my position clear," Lord Zoltar grumbled.
"Perhaps we can help them, my lord," the servant suggested with excitement.
"What do you mean?"
"We could offer our assistance in rebuilding the village," the servant said. "We could also send some of our men to protect the villagers until the bandits are completely eliminated."
Lord Zoltar nodded, "I like the way you think, my servant. I will consider it."
The servant bowed, "Thank you, my lord."
"We cannot allow the royal family to get away with this," Lord Zoltar continued maliciously. "They need to be taught a lesson. Their arrogance and incompetence are unacceptable. We must show them who is in charge."
"Yes, my lord. You're right, as always," the servant agreed, his eyes filled with admiration.
Lord Zoltar smirked, "I have a plan. We'll show the royal family what happens when they mess with us. They'll soon learn not to trifle with our power."
"Your plan is brilliant, my lord," the servant said. "But, what if the royal family tries to retaliate? They have the numbers, and they could easily overpower us."
"They're not the only ones with resources and influence," Lord Zoltar countered. "Don't worry, I have a plan. This will work, and the royal family will be humiliated."
"Yes, my lord. It will be done," the servant replied, bowing his head in respect.
The lord was satisfied. He sat back in his chair, his mind working out the details of his plan. He would show the royal family what happened when they crossed him. He would destroy them and seize power for himself. He would become the new ruler of the kingdom.
In the afternoon, Lord Zoltar and Lady Rosamund were enjoying a pleasant meal. The food was exquisite, and the wine was perfectly aged. Everything was exactly as Lord Zoltar liked it. He was pleased with himself, feeling a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
He had succeeded in his plans so far, and he was certain that his future would be even more successful. He could taste the power and control already, and it was delicious. In a buoyant mood, he spoke to his wife, Lady Rosamund, with a rare warmth.
"My dear," he said, a smile playing on his lips, "I have something for you."
Lady Rosamund looked up, intrigued. "What is it?"
He handed her a small, ornate box. "Open it and see for yourself."
As she opened the box, her eyes widened in delight. Inside were the jewels she had coveted for so long.
"You remembered," she said, her voice soft with appreciation.
"Of course," he replied, his tone light. "Anything for you, my love. Your happiness is mine."
Lady Rosamund smiled, genuinely pleased. "Thank you, this means a lot to me."
He nodded, satisfied. "Enjoy them, my dear. There will be more to come, I promise."
"I'm looking forward to it," she replied eagerly.
"Now," he said, shifting to a grim expression, "we have something else to deal with."
Lady Rosamund's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. "What is it?"
"As we know, there is a dark, looming threat in our town," he began in a solemn voice. "The dark force will be coming soon, opening their gate as they do every month. We need a bait to appease them so they won't attack us."
Rosamund's eyes widened in fear. "Who do they want this time?"
He hesitated before answering, his tone grave. "This time, they ask for our precious one."
A gasp escaped her lips. "You don't mean—"
"Yes," he confirmed, "they want our first daughter. We have to make a decision, and quickly. We can't afford to provoke them."
Lady Rosamund paled, her hands shaking. She knew the danger the town would be in if they didn't appease the dark force, but she couldn't bear the thought of sacrificing their daughter.
"No, we can't!" she cried. "We have to find another way."
"There is no other way," he replied. "It's her or the town."
Tears streamed down her face. "But she's our daughter!"
"I know," he said, his voice strained. "Believe me, I know."
Lady Rosamund shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't accept it, and yet, she knew he was right. There was no other way.
"If we don't give them the sacrifice, they will attack and kill everyone," Lord Zoltar explained. "And trust me, they won't hesitate."
"What will we do?"
"I'll figure something out," he assured her. "I promise. But for now, we have to prepare ourselves for the inevitable."
"We can't give her up," Lady Rosamund said, her voice trembling.
"I know," he replied. "But, for the sake of our people, we have to."
"How can you be so cold-hearted?" she asked, her voice filled with pain.
"It's not easy. But it's the only way."
"Please," she begged, "there must be another way. I can't bear the thought of losing her."
"We don't have a choice."
"There must be another way," Lady Rosamund insisted, her tears falling freely.
She gazed at her husband, feeling both desperation and disbelief. She had always known he was cruel, but the thought of sacrificing their own daughter was too much for her to bear. The realization that he was willing to go to such lengths shattered the last remnants of hope she had in his humanity.