The corridors of the Duke's castle were abuzz with whispers.
The audit had gone well, and Lord Valmont's report cleared the treasury of any significant discrepancies.
The Duke appeared pleased—at least, on the surface.
But there were others who were not so sure.
And Aric sensed it.
The way certain nobles glanced at him just a fraction too long.
The slight variation in the way certain lords pronounced his name.
Someone was observing him.
And he aimed to discover why.
---
---
Aric stood by one of the large windows overlooking the courtyard, a goblet of wine in his grasp. He waited.
The nobles, in small groups, talking politics, alliances, and rumors of war.
But one man did not belong.
Lord Edwin Strathmore.
A keen-eyed noble with a mind that sliced like a sword.
Strathmore stood apart from the others—he was not drunk on excess, nor blinded by pride.
He was a tactician. A thinker. A problem solver.
And right now, he was a problem for Aric.
The man's piercing gaze kept flickering in Aric's direction.
Not openly—no, he was too clever for that.
But Aric knew the look.
Suspicion.
So, you're the one…
Aric took a slow sip of wine, his expression unreadable.
Then, he made his move.
---
Strathmore was seated in one of the castle's private study rooms, poring over old records.
Aric entered without knocking.
Strathmore looked up, surprised at first—but quickly masked it with serene calm.
"Master Aric," he replied, laying down his quill.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Aric grinned, closing the door behind him. A measured action.
"I was looking forward to a conversation," Aric replied naturally. "I've noticed your interest in me."
Strathmore didn't blink.
"That's a skillful play of words," the noble said. "Interest?"
Aric went over to the bookcase, tracing the spines of dusty books.
"I don't like being under surveillance, Lord Strathmore."
A beat.
Strathmore leaned back, his hands laced. "I don't like unnecessary coincidences, Master Aric."
Aric's eyes went narrow.
Strathmore's voice remained level.
"The audit of the treasury was meant to uncover something. untoward. And yet it didn't manage to do that somehow."
Aric laughed. "Maybe there just wasn't anything corrupt there to be found."
Strathmore smiled. "Or maybe someone made sure that was the outcome."
Aric finally turned completely to him.
"Do you accuse me of something, Lord Strathmore?"
Strathmore gazed into his eyes.
"No. Not yet."
A moment of silence.
Then, the noble's face changed a little—calculating.
"But I have to ask, Master Aric… how is it that wherever you are, everything works out for you? The right people seem to agree with you. Things disappear.".
Aric crept forward slowly. Measured. Calculated.
"And what are you implying?"
Strathmore didn't back down.
"I believe you have… power," he said warily. "Power beyond words."
Aric's pulse quickened.
Strathmore was too close to the truth.
This is not good.
But Aric wasn't a worrier.
He just smiled.
"I guess I'm just really persuasive," he said matter-of-factly.
Strathmore looked at him.
Then, a smile of his own spread across his face.
"Perhaps."
But Aric knew that look.
Strathmore wasn't convinced.
This wasn't played.
---
As Aric emerged from the study, his head was a haze.
Strathmore was an issue.
And issues needed to be resolved.
[ Ding! ]
[ New Quest: A Watchful Eye. ]
[ Objective: Take out Lord Strathmore before he reveals your secret.
Options:
1. Make him your ally.
2. Blackmail him in Duke's court.
3. Take him out before he puts the pieces together.
Reward: ??? ]
Aric's smile returned.
Another game to play.