Dawn Territory, the Count's castle.
Sunlight streamed through the tall, dust-covered arched windows, casting shafts of light.
The light fell across the long table in the Council Chamber, illuminating Diana Chenxi at its head.
She sat with her back ramrod straight, like a rapier poised to leave its sheath, striving to uphold the dignity of the Dawn Family.
But her pale blue linen dress, washed until it had faded slightly, hung loose on her. Its once-fitted cut now left extra room around her waist and shoulder blades.
Clearly, the strain of these past weeks had left her even slimmer than before.
Hubert, the treasurer, stood before the table, his graying hair meticulously combed. Yet the cuffs of his old, stiffly starched coat had begun to fray.
He opened the ledger in his hands.
"My lady, the treasury... has only three thousand four hundred Gold Suns left."
He paused, then added with difficulty.
"The summer taxes won't be collected for another four months. If we're to cover the Garrison's wages and the castle servants' food... we'll have to tighten this year's budget further."
Diana did not look at the ledger she had already pored over countless times.
Her gaze passed over Hubert's shoulder and settled on the view outside the window.
To cut expenses, the courtyard fountain's magic array had been left inactive, and the ice in its pool had yet to melt completely.
The stone water spirit at the center of the pool was mottled by years of wind and rain, though the exquisite expression it had been carved with was still discernible.
"Viscount Valerius's envoy came again today," Hubert said, his voice sinking lower.
"He delivered a hundred longswords and thirty suits of chain mail. They're piled outside the armory. But he reiterated that you must grant the Wind