The sun is setting, leaving the sky a mix of colors. A calm and silent atmosphere permeates the office of Felnatus's mansion. As always, Mellorus is at his desk working, stacks of documents to be reviewed, approved, or denied. Problems with the delivery of raw materials to the furniture factory, increased petty theft in the southwestern part of Vitalia, and many other small issues to be resolved.
Without warning, the office doors open with force, and a shrill and petulant voice destroys the peaceful environment.
"Are you crazy, Dad?! You allowed that bastard to go on this year's patrol expedition?!" Luccio is visibly tormented and furious by the news that Manila is under Boltu's protection, much to his father's disappointment.
"I didn't call you to my office, Luccio. I don't owe you any satisfaction for anything I do. I am the current patriarch of this family, and what I say and decide here must be considered law." In a cold tone, devoid of emotions, Mellorus evaluates his eldest son's arrival in his office.
"This decision I made was due to your mistakes. Your stupid actions made that damn Guideless the target of Boltu's affection and concern. If you could control yourself for one minute of your miserable life, none of this would have happened. Now she's outside, and the latest correspondence from my spies is that she's doing a decent job, something you've never done in your life." Mellorus got up from his chair, staring at Luccio, and with firm steps, he approached.
"From today onwards, you are no longer the heir of the house of Felnatus. Your incompetence, lack of emotional control, and total lack of any useful skills were the crucial factors in my decision. I love you as I love my children, but instead of showing yourself worthy of this love, you have heaped errors and dishonor on the name of this family." His presence has become frightening for Luccio, who can no longer face him directly.
"You can't do this, Father! I'm your heir! I've always followed all your orders." He said almost in a whisper.
"I cannot? I, patriarch of the Felnatus family, Archduke of the kingdom of Orlos, cannot decide on the fate of my family in the face of the failure I call my son?" His firm voice gradually became full of fury.
"Who are you to say what I can't do? You can't control your stupid desires towards a mere Guideless! You can't excel in any area that is beneficial to this family! The only thing everyone in this mansion knows about you is the lack of emotional control and your cruelty towards all the employees in this house!"
Gradually, his voice became louder until the entire mansion could hear the conversation. Luccio, previously afraid, felt his face redden, and a common fury engulfed him.
"I am your eldest son! I am your heir! The servants of this mansion are just pieces to be discarded or used by this family! I did what any noble has the right to do! I..."
Before he could finish, Mellorus punched him in the face with all his strength, on the floor, with blood coming from his lips and probably missing a tooth or two. Luccio looked at his father in horror.
"I gave you everything you ever asked for, the best instructors, the best clothes, the best servants in this mansion, all of this…was in vain. I see now that my desire to give you everything so that there would be no obstacles to your growth turned into the poison that made you into this vile person that I see." Mellorus smiles in anguish. "Perhaps this is my punishment for treating that creature so badly. Hoping to create a strong house without flaws, I was cursed twice."
Mellorus turned his back to Luccio and, with a weak voice, addressed him as he sat back down in his chair.
"Get out of my sight, go to your quarters, and wait for your escort to arrive. You will go north of Orlos and join the expedition already patrolling that area. This is your last opportunity to show that you are still worthy of being in this family ."
Stunned by the blow he received, Luccio got up and walked awkwardly out of the office. Many things went through his head: shame, fury, sadness, hatred, disappointment, and resentment. Feelings boil inside Luccio's body, he never imagined that he would be the target of his father's fury. With every step on the way to his room, the looks of the employees who passed by him seemed to be judging him.
"This is all that damn maid's fault" Luccio thought clumsily. "If she didn't exist, my father would never do something like this, I need to get rid of her." Three soft knocks on the door and a gentle voice brought Luccio back to reality.
"Brother, I know you're there. Please let me in. We need to talk."
"What do you want, Amiliath? Our father's rage is no longer enough to make my life miserable, and now you want to come here and make it worse?"
"Making your life worse? Your tone offends me, dear brother." The sarcasm in her voice is like a sharp knife that cuts even the strongest ego. "I'm here to offer you help, so who knows, maybe calm our father's spirits a little."
Reluctantly, he opens the door. With graceful steps, as usual, she enters and sits on the spacious bed.
"I knew I would make the best decision at this moment. As I said, I have a plan for you to get back into our father's good graces and, on top of that, have... fun, so to speak."
"You want me to believe that this plan of yours somehow will benefit me?" With the usual mocking and suspicious tone, Luccio knows his sister well and knows that she would never do anything that would not guarantee some advantage for her.
"Do you have any other way out by any chance, Luccio?" Her smile makes her seem like she's ridiculing him. Grinding his teeth to contain his anger, he shuts up.
"Wow, two good decisions in one day. Do you see how my presence makes you a better person?"
"Say what you want, Amiliath! If you keep wasting my time, I'll leave, and neither of us will have what we want!"
"Yes, yes, yes, calm down, my dear brother. You know Father will send you to the expedition north of the territory. You will be escorted by some soldiers to be sure you arrive at the correct location. When you reach the northern expedition, you can forget any chance of receiving his pardon."
"What do you suggest?" Luccio asked submissively. He knows his sister wants to take advantage of him, but maybe that's his only choice.
With a triumphant smile, Amiliath stands up and places her index finger on Luccio's chest.
"If you agree to nominate me as the heir of the house in your place, I will ensure that the escort that will accompany you will be made up of people who are loyal to me. After you leave the territory, one will continue north with a message to the regimental commander, while the others will follow you wherever you wish."
"I knew you wanted something for this help. Have you forgotten that he is furious with me? If I recommend you as the heir, don't you think he will be against the idea?"
"Fool, when in your entire life, have you spoken well of someone other than yourself to our Father? Never, right? Imagine when you come back from your expedition and do something like that, he will be surprised and see it as a sign of maturity ."
Surprised, Luccio stops and starts thinking about the proposal. If he doesn't accept, he will be doomed, but if he accepts, maybe he will have a chance to recover everything he lost.
"Where should I go then?"
Placing a hand on her forehead and giving her a look of disappointment. She took a deep breath before speaking.
"I don't know how you managed to get so far in this life without having the minimum necessary intelligence. Where are you going? To the place where the reason for all your problems is, why you became a laughing stock in high society after a certain duel, to the place where the person who managed to convince one of the most loyal commanders in our family to let her join his regiment. I think you know who I'm talking about, right?"
His fists clenched in an attempt not to be controlled by his anger, and his gaze became cold and sickly, even giving Amiliath chills.
"Manila..."
"Perfect! I have a trusted person in Boltu's regiment; thanks to this person, I am well-informed about what is happening there. Your objective then is to go to Maarum, and then when a window of opportunity opens for you, do whatever you want with this thorn that bothers our family, and make sure it will never bother us again."
A maniacal smile appears on his face.
"This time, this damned bastard will not escape me and I will show her why she should never have defied me."
"Yes, yes, yes, do what you want with her, but remember, you cannot be seen at all. One of my soldiers who will go north will send letters to our father informing him of your situation there. If anyone discovers you somewhere else, I'm sure exile will be the mildest thing our father will do." She walks to the door and, before closing it, shows a triumphant smile. "I can't wait for the good news, brother."
She closes the door and walks alone towards Mellorus' office.