Two days had passed since Zach returned to Ravennest, and his days had been peaceful or so he thought. As he made his way to the dining hall, the faint murmurs of the maids caught his attention. At first, he paid little mind, but as he passed by, a particular phrase made him stop in his tracks.
"Another merchant was arrested today. His business shut down on the spot."
Zach's eyes narrowed slightly, his steps slowing. Merchants arrested? That wasn't normal. He stepped back a little, pretending to check his sleeves as he listened further.
"It's not just one or two, either," another maid whispered, lowering her voice. "The town has become restless. People are afraid to speak too loudly, afraid they might be next."
"I saw soldiers stationed near the marketplace yesterday," another voice joined in. "Security has doubled overnight. I don't know what's going on, but it's making everyone uneasy."
Zach's fingers tapped against his arm. Increased military presence, unrest among the people, and merchants being shut down something big was happening. But why? His father had already left for the capital, meaning these decisions had to come from his mother, Vivian, or someone else in charge.
He needed to know more.
With a small smirk, he straightened his clothes and walked toward the dining hall as if he had heard nothing. If he started questioning people outright, it might raise suspicions. Instead, he decided to listen more carefully to the idle chatter around the manor.
A perfect cover presented itself as he entered the dining room his little sister, Mia, was already waiting for him, her bright eyes lighting up as he approached.
"Big brother! Play with me after breakfast!" she beamed, raising her tiny arms excitedly.
Zach chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Of course. Let's have some fun today."
In truth, he planned to use their playtime as a way to move freely around the manor and catch more gossip. The maids and servants spoke more freely when they thought no one was paying attention, and Mia's presence made him seem less suspicious.
The morning sun had long risen by the time Zach finally took a break from his so-called 'playtime' with Mia. While it appeared to everyone that he was simply indulging his little sister's whims, his mind had been hard at work, filtering through the rumors and conversations floating around the estate.
After hours of careful observation and discreet listening, he began to fit the pieces together. The sudden unrest in town, the closure of several businesses, and the increased military patrols it all pointed to a larger issue looming over Ravennest.
But the final piece of the puzzle came when he overheard two maids whispering in the hallway.
"Did you hear? Those merchants were trying to sell the young master's game outside the town. They got arrested!" one maid whispered in a hushed but excited tone.
"I know! Lady Vivian was furious! If that game is sold at unfair prices, it'll ruin the family's name! The merchants only care about their profit, but people will blame the Ravennest family for the high prices."
Zach's expression darkened slightly as he turned his attention back to Mia, who was attempting to stack wooden blocks into a wobbly tower.
So that was it.
The game he had designed had gained explosive popularity, and many merchants saw it as an opportunity to capitalize on the demand. However, without proper regulation, they had begun selling it outside Ravennest at ridiculously high prices. And because it was a product tied to the noble family, any negative backlash wouldn't fall on the merchants but on the Ravennest name itself.
Reputation.
Zach understood all too well that for a noble family, wealth meant nothing if their reputation was tarnished. Trust, once lost, could not be easily regained. If people believed the Ravennest family was exploiting them, it could spark resentment, even rebellion.
He had seen such things in his previous world unregulated products running rampant, businesses inflating prices, and the poor suffering because of it. If this continued unchecked, Ravennest's standing could be damaged beyond repair.
His thoughts returned to the other rumors plaguing the town. The merchants' arrests were causing unrest among the people, and the increased military presence was only adding fuel to the fire. If they didn't handle this properly, the situation could spiral out of control.
In his past life, Zach had seen it happen before a small, innovative product, originally meant for a niche audience, suddenly exploding in popularity. With demand came greed, and with greed came exploitation. He recalled a particular brand, once a symbol of quality and exclusivity, that had lost everything because of uncontrolled expansion and imitation.
At first, it was just a small company selling handcrafted leather wallets. Their designs were simple yet elegant, and each piece was made with care. Word spread, and soon their brand became a status symbol. Wealthy individuals flaunted their ownership, appreciating not just the function but the prestige attached to it.
But as the demand grew, so did the number of merchants who saw an opportunity to profit. Some bought the wallets in bulk and resold them at outrageous prices. Others copied the designs and flooded the market with cheap imitations. In the end, what was once a respected brand became a mockery of itself. The original creators, despite holding rights to their work, lost control of their reputation. The market dictated the narrative, and soon enough, no one cared about quality only price and availability mattered.
And so, the brand crumbled.
Zach had witnessed this phenomenon many times in his old world. A product would rise, and if left unchecked, its own success would lead to its downfall. Now, as he pieced together the whispers he had heard around the estate, he realized the same thing was beginning to happen in Ravennest.
The game he had designed was no longer just a pastime. It had become a phenomenon, something everyone wanted to own. Merchants, driven by profit, were trying to distribute it outside Ravennest, inflating prices and exploiting the noble family's name to justify their markups. If left unchecked, this would eventually damage the reputation of Ravennest itself. People would no longer see the game as a creation of noble ingenuity but as a symbol of greed and unfair pricing.
A noble's wealth wasn't measured in mere gold but in reputation and trust. And once that trust was lost, no amount of money could buy it back.
Zach clenched his fists. This was a dangerous path, one that Ravennest could not afford to walk. He knew what needed to be done but for now, he would keep this realization to himself. He needed to observe more, to think deeper, and to find a way to control the situation before it spiraled beyond their grasp.
Zach walked through the halls, his mind still occupied by the troubling realization of how the game he had created had spiraled beyond his control. But as he neared his mother's study, a new, deeper concern took hold of him.
The door was slightly ajar, and through the small gap, he caught sight of his mother. Vivian sat at her desk, surrounded by stacks of documents and reports. The dim candlelight flickered against her pale face, emphasizing the dark circles under her eyes. Her once radiant and composed demeanor now seemed burdened, worn down by the relentless weight of responsibility.
Zach had always admired his mother's strength, but now, for the first time, he saw something he never expected exhaustion.
She was rubbing her temples, sighing as she read another document. Her hands trembled slightly when she reached for her cup of tea, now long cold. A quiet knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts, and she forced a smile, one that barely hid the weariness behind it.
"Sebastian, is that you?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.
Zach hesitated before stepping in. "It's me, Mother."
Vivian blinked in surprise, then quickly straightened herself, as if trying to mask her fatigue. "Zach? What brings you here?"
Zach took a step closer, eyes scanning the scattered reports. He could see the problems piling up merchant complaints, the unrest among the townspeople, the looming bandit threats. His game, his idea, had unknowingly become another burden on her already overwhelmed shoulders.
"Mother… are you okay?" he asked quietly.
Vivian chuckled lightly, though it lacked warmth. "Of course, sweetheart. I just have a lot to do."
Zach didn't believe her. He could see it how she barely slept, how she shouldered everything alone with Father away. He clenched his small fists. This was his fault. The game had started as a simple idea, a way to bring fun and distraction, but in reality, it had created problems he never foresaw. And because he was a child, the responsibility had fallen entirely onto his mother.
A heavy guilt settled in his chest. He had made things harder for her.
Vivian reached out and gently stroked his hair, her touch still filled with warmth despite her exhaustion. "Why do you look so serious, Zach?"
He wanted to say something to apologize, to promise he would fix it but the words wouldn't come out. What could he do? He was just a child.
Instead, he quietly leaned against her, resting his head against her arm. Vivian paused, then let out a soft sigh, pulling him close.
For now, Zach said nothing. But deep inside, he made a silent promise he would find a way to ease her burden.