The carriage rumbled quietly through the dimly lit path as Alaric leaned back in his seat, his eyes closed but his mind alert. The ride back to the mansion was uneventful, but there was an underlying tension in the air, as if everyone knew that the calm was only temporary. They were heading deeper into a game of power and deception, and Alaric was determined to remain three steps ahead of everyone involved.
Gilbert sat quietly across from him, his posture rigid but ready to act at a moment's notice. Beside them, Viktor kept his thoughts to himself, occasionally glancing at Alaric as if to gauge his mood. But Alaric gave nothing away, his expression unreadable.
As the carriage finally pulled up to the mansion's gates, the towering structure loomed ahead, shrouded in the evening mist. The servants moved swiftly, opening the doors and bowing respectfully as Alaric stepped out first, followed by Viktor and Gilbert.
