Departure
On the third day after the wedding, Baruch City was still steeped in the lingering joy of the celebration.
The morning mist had yet to fully disperse, and a fine layer of dew had gathered on the bluestone streets. Akes walked out of the Earl's Mansion alone, his boots clicking crisply against the paving stones and echoing through the quiet streets.
The red silk drapes along both sides of the street had not yet been taken down, fluttering gently in the morning breeze. Occasionally, a few petals drifted down from the eaves, spinning through the air before landing on his shoulders.
The early-rising vendors had already begun setting up their stalls. An old man selling bread pushed a wooden cart, steam still rising from the oven atop it. The aroma of bread mingled with the morning chill, whetting the appetite. A woman selling vegetables crouched by the roadside, arranging fresh produce in neat rows, droplets of dew still clinging to the vibrant green leaves. When they saw Akes, they all paused their work and bowed respectfully.
"Good morning, Lord Akes."
"Congratulations on your wedding, my lord."
Akes nodded to each of them in response, but his steps never slowed.
When he pushed open the door to the royal study, Linley was seated behind his desk, handling government affairs. A thick stack of documents lay on the table, all reports sent in from various regions—the movements along the O'Brien Empire's border, the activities of the Dark Church's remaining forces, and this year's tax records from the major territories. Linley wore a white linen shirt beneath a light suit of leather armor, his brown hair casually tied behind his head. He kept his head lowered as his quill moved swiftly across the parchment, occasionally pausing to think before continuing to write.