Steve remained standing outside the castle gates long after he had delivered the troubling news. His eyes searched Zilayefa's face, as though trying to find the cheerful village girl he had once known beneath the elegant gowns and noble bearing of the Lady of Ralston.
"I didn't want to bring you sorrow," he said quietly. "But you deserved to know."
Zilayefa lowered her gaze. For a moment, she could almost see her father's weathered hands working the soil under the hot Ama sun. That small piece of farmland had been everything to him. It had fed their family through years of hardship, even when drought threatened the harvest. Before he died, he had often told her, "No matter where life takes you, never forget where your roots lie."
Now strangers wanted to erase those roots.
"They waited until he was gone," she murmured, pain creeping into her voice. "They knew he was no longer here to defend what he built."
Steve nodded grimly.
"The men claiming the land are wealthy. They believe no one will challenge them now that your family no longer lives in Ama."
A flash of determination crossed Zilayefa's face.
"They are mistaken."
Before Steve could respond, a deep growl rumbled through the courtyard.
Fire emerged from beneath the shade of an ancient oak tree. The massive wolf moved with slow, measured steps, his golden eyes fixed on Steve. His thick black fur shimmered beneath the afternoon sun, making him appear even larger than he truly was.
Steve instinctively took a step backward.
"I still don't think I'll ever get used to him."
Fire stopped beside Zilayefa without taking his eyes off Steve. His ears remained alert, every muscle tense, as though waiting for the slightest excuse to send the visitor running.
Zilayefa gently rested a hand on the wolf's neck.
"It's all right, Fire."
The wolf's growl faded, though his gaze never softened.
Steve managed a nervous smile.
"I suppose that's the closest thing to a welcome I'll ever receive."
For the first time since their conversation began, Zilayefa laughed softly.
"It is more than most people get."
The brief laughter eased the heaviness between them, but only for a moment.
Steve reached into the leather satchel hanging from his shoulder and carefully removed a folded parchment.
"I almost forgot."
He handed it to her.
"This is the document the men are using to claim your father's land. My father, as village head, when I saw it, I told him not to approve it because something about it felt wrong. But they intend to take the matter before the district elders within a few days."
Zilayefa unfolded the parchment, reading every line carefully.
Her brows slowly knitted together.
"This seal..."
She looked up.
"It isn't genuine."
Steve blinked.
"You can tell?"
She nodded.
"Since coming to Ralston, I've handled enough official documents to know the difference. The ink, the wax, even the signature—they're poorly copied."
A spark of hope lit Steve's face.
"Then this can be stopped."
"It can," Zilayefa replied firmly. "But only if we act before the elders make their judgment."
She folded the parchment and held it close.
"I will not allow anyone to steal my father's legacy."
Just then, the castle's great bell echoed across the courtyard.
One of the household guards hurried toward them and bowed respectfully.
"My lady, your mother has been looking everywhere for you. She requests your presence in the east garden."
Zilayefa exchanged one last glance with Steve.
"Stay in the castle tonight," she said. "You've traveled a long way, and there is much more we need to discuss. Tomorrow, we will decide our next move."
Steve inclined his head.
"As you wish, my lady."
He caught himself and smiled sheepishly.
"I mean... Zilayefa."
She smiled in return, a reminder of the friendship they had once shared before fate had carried them down different paths.
Without another word, she turned toward the castle gardens, Fire silently padding beside her. Yet even as she walked away, her thoughts remained fixed on Ama.
Someone had dared to lay claim to her father's land.
They had assumed the daughter of a poor farmer would never return to defend it.
Soon, they would discover just how wrong they were.
The next morning, zilayefa asked the maids to tell her family to come down for breakfast and also prince Steve was invited, she told her family what has happened and because she was forbidden by the Duke to leave to Ralston, she told her mother and her brothers to go with Steven to Ama, to get their property back.
Steve Stevenson stood beside his horse, still hoping Zilayefa would change her mind and ride with him to Ama. Instead, four armed palace guards emerged from the courtyard, dressed in the dark blue colors of House Ralston. Their captain bowed respectfully before her.
"My Lady."
Zilayefa stood on the palace steps with Fire seated beside her like a silent guardian. The enormous wolf watched every movement Steve made, his amber eyes never leaving him for a second.
"You will accompany Mr. Stevenson back to Ama," she commanded. "The farmland belongs to my late father. Whoever has taken it unlawfully will return it immediately."
The captain nodded.
"And if they refuse?" he asked.
Her expression hardened.
"Then arrest every person responsible and bring them before the magistrate in Ralston. Duke Larry's law protects the weak as much as it protects the powerful."
The guards struck their fists against their chests.
"As you command, My Lady."
Steve looked at her in surprise.
The timid village girl he had once known had vanished. Standing before him was a woman who carried authority as naturally as royalty.
"I'll bring you good news," Steve said softly.
Zilayefa managed a faint smile.
"I know you will."
She wanted to say much more—to ask about her mother, her younger brothers, and the little house where she had grown up. She wanted to know if the old mango tree still stood beside their farm.
But she couldn't.
The palace guards stood only a few steps away.
And Fire had quietly moved between her and Steve.
The wolf's thick body formed an invisible wall, his ears raised, his deep growl barely audible.
Steve understood the warning.
He gave Zilayefa one last respectful bow before climbing onto his horse.
Within moments, he , Mr Agele, Richard, Bryan, Ryan, Bernard and the Ralston guards disappeared down the winding road toward Ama.
...
Far away, across forests and rivers, Duke Larry rode at the head of his army.
The men celebrated another successful campaign, laughing around their horses as they prepared for the next day's march.
Larry, however, remained unusually quiet.
His hand rested gently on the necklace hidden beneath his armor—the one that connected him to Fire.
Closing his eyes, he saw everything through the wolf's vision.
He had watched the entire conversation.
He had expected Zilayefa to break down in tears or beg to return home.
Instead...
She had stood like a true lady of Ralston.
She had obeyed his command not to leave the estate.
She had trusted his authority.
And then she had used that authority without hesitation.
A slow smile spread across Larry's face.
"So," he murmured to himself, "there's steel beneath all that weakness"
One of his commanders noticed the smile.
"Your Grace?"
Larry shook his head.
"Nothing."
But inwardly, pride filled his heart.
He had chosen well.
The frightened servant girl he had rescued months ago was gone.
( But did he really rescue her or abducted her? )
In her place stood a woman capable of protecting both herself and those she loved.
For the first time since leaving Ralston, Larry felt completely at peace.
...
Back in Ralston, Zilayefa pushed every personal worry aside.
There was work to do.
The western district had sent word of another dispute between two farming families over an irrigation canal.
Without wasting time, she mounted her horse while several palace guards rode behind her.
Fire trotted faithfully beside her, his massive paws kicking up dust along the road.
As they entered the village, anxious voices filled the air.
The two families stood on opposite sides of the canal, shouting accusations while frightened children watched from a distance.
The moment the villagers saw Zilayefa, the arguing slowly stopped.
"My Lady has come."
"Lady Zilayefa is here."
She dismounted calmly and looked from one family to the other.
"No one speaks until everyone is willing to listen," she said firmly.
The crowd fell silent.
Her voice was gentle, yet carried the unmistakable authority of someone speaking on behalf of the Duke himself.
As Fire sat silently beside her, no one dared challenge her order.
For the first time, the people of Ralston no longer saw her as the servant who had once scrubbed the palace floors.
They saw the woman Duke Larry had trusted to rule in his absence.
And before the sun set that day, Zilayefa would prove that his trust had not been misplaced.