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Villain Awakening: Rising to the Strongest Dragon God-Chapter 63: Leaving Home (fixed)
KNOCK
The knuckles of a servant hammered against the wooden door of the guest chambers.
Given permission, the servant bowed upon entry, announcing that the administrators from Aurelia had arrived.
Auryn dismissed every attendant from the guest quarters leaving just him and Lyra alone in the space.
Lyra remained by the window, watching silently. She’d wanted to see how this worked. How he would build the networks that would make the Eastern Province his, eventually.
About a minute later. Two people walked into the chambers. The woman looked like she was in her early fifties. Gray strands of hair trailing down her rather eye-catching brunette weave. Her blue eyes glanced between Auryn and Lyra.
Helen.
She’d worked with Lord Wren in Aurelia and had a decent track record of loyalty that Auryn could bank on. Afterall Borin was the one that sent her here.
Behind Helen was a young man, probably in his early twenties. He carried the careful posture of someone who’d learned to navigate noble courts without being born into them.
He’d considered this duo after he returned from Uruk and it seemed Borin agreed. Quite obvious why he sent them here.
So the bastard agreed to my suggestion huh ? he smiled and watched them with careful eyes.
Both of them bowed in unison.
"Your Highness..."
Auryn didn’t answer, merely gestured them to the small table at the center of the room.
Lyra moved from the window to stand beside him, she was close enough to hear every word afterall she was his partner.
"Lord Castor’s household security was thoroughly infiltrated by Second Prince Vaedon’s spy network," Auryn began.
"The breach was exposed last night and I believe there is to be a purge in time," he gestured while he spoke.
Helen nodded once, taking in the information as best she could.
"I’m assigning you to Castor’s household. Publicly, you’re here to assist with Aurelia’s interest in this parts and help keep a mutual co-existence."
Auryn stopped, allowing the room to grow silent for a second.
"Your actual function is different," his eyes narrowed.
Helen and Jonah immediately sneaked each other a glance even as Lyra watched quietly.
Her gaze seemed to be quite present and yet cold enough to make the duo shift in their seats, every now and then.
Auryn continued but not before glancing at Lyra momentarily.
"By the time Lady Claudia and I get married, Valeroy should be mine in everything but name. Castor will sign documents i prepare through you. His commanders will implement trade policies you draft,"
He swallowed.
"In that time, your control of their trade profits should have them in economical debt deep enough, his only choice would be for Aurelia to take over."
They both nodded frantically. "Of course your Highness," voices coming in unison.
Auryn leaned forward slightly. "Do you have any questions?"
Helen and Jonah exchanged another glance. It seemed easy enough with words. Merely to fake smiles and offer help while subtly removing Castor’s authority in his own land. Use the fact Aurelia would have monopoly of all trade profits for the next twenty years as established by the triarch council to entangle the province in debt.
But the more they dwelled on this mission. Their faces grew weary even as Jonah’s hands stilled on the table. Castor was second sword. What if he uses his status?
"If I may, your Highness. What authority do we have should Lord Castor resist?"
"He won’t resist," Auryn answered confidently
"He’s exhausted, isolated and in need of allies. He’ll accept help because refusal means watching Vaedon poison everything he has left"
He raised his index finger.
"Remember, you’re not here to help him recover but to keep him alive enough to replace him," he paused again allowing the room to adjust to his plans.
"Take your time and understand everything there is to know about the Eastern Province and by the time he fully understands what’s happening, it will be too late."
Helen and Jonah shifted in their seats. This was quite the assignment and also a major opportunity.
Auryn stood and approached them placing a hand on their shoulders. His left on Jonah and right on Helen.
He subtly imprinted Dominion Mark. The skill settled into the depth of their souls, a connection they couldn’t hope to understand but tied their existence to him in ways one might even find disturbing.
"You’re under my protection now. If you’re in danger, I’ll know. If you need me, I’ll know," his voice carried unwavering confidence.
You’re mine. Truly, he thought.
They looked at each other but neither counselor realized they’d been marked or the reason he spoke as such.
Nodding as one would expect from citizens who’d been given opportunity by their leader.
"We understand the assignment, Your highness" They bowed.
Lyra said nothing. Watching how he picked and pieced his own network. This was how empires were made, not through grand declarations, but quiet conversations in closed chambers.
----
By afternoon, Helen and Jonah had been introduced to Castor’s household. Presented as temporary assistance, expertise generously offered by Auryn to help.
Castor’s three commanders received them with tight-lipped politeness that didn’t reach their eyes. Men who understood exactly what Aurelian administrators in their halls actually meant.
But no one objected. Not after last night’s executions. Not after the security failure that had required an outsider to save Castor’s daughter.
----
The courtyard bustled with activity. Horses were assembled. Items loaded in what carriages.
Helen and Jonah would ride to Aurelia with Auryn, then return to begin their assignment in earnest. For now, they observed everything and knowing what to return with.
From the main entrance of the Castle. Eva emerged with Claudia. The mother pulled her daughter aside near the courtyard’s edge, pressed something small wrapped in cloth into her hands.
She whispered words that were meant only for her ears. Claudia unwrapped the parting gift and it was a ring, Claudia closed her fist around it.
Her face crumpling while Eva pulled her close and held her tight, like she could prevent the departure through sheer force of will.
"Take care my darling."
When they separated, Eva kept one hand on Claudia’s face. She caressed her child slowly like a mother too scared to let go.
"I’ll be fine mother," Claudia assured even in her uncertainty.
"Always know you can come back whenever you want," Eva smiled.
While she spoke, Cara ran over, tears streaming from her eyes as she hugged Claudia’s legs then looked at Auryn who was already on his horse.
"Take care of my sister, Mr dragon."
The words caught Auryn by surprise, forcing a genuine smile on his face and a loose canine.
"As you wish princess," he assured the child. Cara finally let Eva pull her away while he continued waving at everyone leaving.
Through the entire procession. Daren was no where to be found. Watching from a window on the second floor of the castle. He couldn’t handle the fact, his sister still chose the man that murdered her brother.
Castor stood at the center of the courtyard facing the approaching Claudia. He simply smiled. Trying his best not to change his own mind.
He looked at her and his mouth opened before it closed again but words eluded him.
Claudia saw his hesitation. She bowed to him instead. Acknowledging his authority even as she prepared to leave it behind.
But just as she walked past and their backs were facing one another. He whispered.
"I love you.... I’m sorry!"
Claudia froze in place. Her hands shaking but she held everything that was waiting to erupt from her chest together. One final time.
"I love you too father!"
---
Claudia mounted her horse. Lyra positioned on Auryn’s right, Claudia took her place slightly behind and to the left. Auryn glanced at them and then half-turned to Castor.
He nodded in respect to the second sword afterall. He would be seeing him soon.
The gates opened and the procession moved through Valeroy’s streets toward the eastern road.
Citizens stopped their work to watch. Everyone knew who was leaving and the recent news allowed them understand what it meant.
Claudia looked back once as they passed through the outer district. Valir Keep rose in the distance, stone walls where her entire life had been till this moment. The memories of everyone including the one she lost still etched in her mind.
Claudia let out a deep sigh and turned forward. Aurelia waited ahead, and there was no going back now.
Auryn rode at the front, his posture relaxed but his mind was far from still. The countdown to this body’s imminent death still rang loudly in his head.
But his resolve steeled.
"I will change this fate. I’ll find a way!"







