A few days had passed since the carriage incident, and life in Ravennest had seemingly returned to normal. At least, on the surface.
Zach, now fully adapted to his current life as a four-year-old noble, found himself enjoying the little things especially spending time with his younger sister, Mia.
The sun shone brightly over the estate's vast garden, where Zach and Mia played near a patch of wildflowers. The little girl, her golden curls bouncing with every step, giggled as she chased after a butterfly.
"Big bwother! Look!" Mia squealed, pointing at the colorful creature fluttering just beyond her reach.
Zach smirked. "You can't catch a butterfly with your hands, Mia."
"Yes, I can!" she huffed, puffing her cheeks in determination.
Amused, Zach crouched down and picked up a large leaf. "Here, use this. You have to be gentle."
Mia nodded seriously, taking the leaf with both hands and tiptoeing toward the butterfly. But just as she got close, the insect flapped its wings and flew away causing her to stumble forward, right into a small puddle of mud.
There was a moment of silence. Then, Mia blinked up at Zach, her face and dress now speckled with dirt.
Zach burst into laughter. "Pfft----Mia, you look like a battle-worn warrior!"
Instead of crying, Mia puffed her cheeks even more. "I am not! Butterflies are just too fast!"
She tried to wipe her face, only to smudge even more dirt on herself. Zach couldn't hold back another chuckle as he reached out to clean her with a handkerchief.
A short distance away, under the shade of a pavilion, their mother, Vivian, watched the scene unfold. At first, a soft smile graced her lips. But soon, the worries in her heart resurfaced.
Despite seeing Zach laughing and playing, she couldn't erase the lingering fear in her chest.
Her son had almost died.
That thought alone made her stomach churn.
What if it happened again? What if there were more dangers lurking unseen? Was her baby truly safe?
She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the tight knot of anxiety that refused to loosen. Her sleepless nights filled with nightmares of Zach struggling to breathe, of him being taken from her had taken a toll on her.
She couldn't take it anymore.
With a deep breath, she turned to the waiting maid. "Prepare the communication crystal. I need to speak with Vincent."
In his study, Vincent sat at his desk, reviewing security reports. The recent breach still weighed heavily on him, and he had doubled the patrols around the estate. Yet, despite his efforts, he knew Vivian's worries wouldn't simply disappear.
A faint glow filled the air as the communication crystal on his desk activated. He reached forward and tapped it, and his wife's troubled face appeared in the shimmering surface.
"Vivian?" he greeted, immediately noticing the exhaustion in her eyes.
"I can't sleep," she admitted without hesitation. "Every time I close my eyes, I see Zach struggling to breathe… I see him suffering. I'm trying, Vincent, but I can't just sit still and pretend everything is fine."
Vincent's grip on the desk tightened. He had expected this. "I understand," he said gently. "But Zach is safe now. I won't let anything happen to him again."
Vivian exhaled shakily. "You say that, but what if------"
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Vincent frowned, glancing at the entrance. "Come in."
The door swung open, revealing a broad-shouldered man with a sharp gaze Rendon, the head of security.
"My lord," Rendon greeted, sparing a respectful glance at the glowing crystal before focusing on Vincent. "We have a lead on the incident."
Vincent's expression darkened. "Speak."
Rendon stepped forward, voice steady. "We've identified the culprit and taken them into custody. They're being held in a secure location."
A heavy silence settled between them. Vincent could hear Vivian's breath hitch on the other side of the crystal.
"Who?" he asked coldly.
Rendon's gaze was unreadable. "I believe it's best if you see for yourself, my lord. I've prepared everything for an interrogation."
Vincent nodded, his features hardening."I'll be there shortly."
The call ended, the crystal dimming as Vivian's worried face disappeared. Rising from his chair, Vincent's expression became unreadable.
Without another word, he followed Rendon out of the study. The truth was within his grasp.
And whoever had dared to harm his son would soon understand what it meant to cross him.