The city of Avelesse woke under a sky heavy with clouds, their gray folds pressed low as if the heavens themselves were leaning close to the rooftops. A chill wind swept through the cobbled streets, carrying the tang of salt from the distant sea and the faint smoke of early hearths. The city had the quiet energy of anticipation, markets already humming, guards marching with discipline precision, and nobles peering from curtained windows at the rare stir of excitement in the capital.
Today, the Duke Of Ashbourne was arriving.
Not just a visitor, but a man whose presence commanded whispers wherever his name was spoken. Tales of his sharp mind, colder temper, and striking appearance had traveled faster in the city of Avelesse than the fastest courier.
Noble daughters had fluffed their skirts for weeks in preparation. Courtiers polished their silver for audiences that might last no more than an hour, in an attempt to impress non other than the Duke himself.
Little did they know, the Duke of Ashbourne didn't care any less of what was going on in Avelesse, as if it wasn't for the letter from the king himself, he wouldn't have came back to the city of Avelesse for at least twenty more years.
The carriage rattled over the final stretch of covblestone, emerging from the bustling streets into the quiet expanse of Ashbourne castle's courtyard. Here the city's chatter faded into the soft crunch of gravel beneath the horses' hooves. And the only sound was that was heard as soon as his boots set foot on the ground, was the heaving sound of a woman walking in a haste to the courtyard to welcome the castle's new master.
"Alias!!" She called. Opening her arms to embrace the man in black in front of her. And the man accepted. " Welcome back home"
"Lady Serra" he called out.
Lady Serra let go of Alias and scanned him from head to toe as if checking for an injury or anything that may look like a hindrance to him.
"Oh you've grown so well. Look at you, now a full man ready to take the responsibilities of a duke!"
"And you've aged like a fine wine" he commented back to lady Serra.
He was two years old when his mother along with his younger sibling died in childbirth. Her mother along with her new sibling both lost their lives that day which led to his father, lord Alexander Harrington to lose himself and become distant to his son Alias.
The king of Avelesse would command the duke to lead his knights to war and hunt down the eastern beasts and reward them
If they come back successful.
Alias would usually wait at the porch of their castle and wait for his father's return, but as he returns, he pushes the boy away and strode to his bedroom, lock himself in his study room to take care of matters of his duchy, Alias would feel unwanted as he stared at the doors of his father's study, he once held a beautiful poem he wrote for his father but he chased him away the moment he saw his face. He would always be disheartened and cry in his room till the arrival of lady Seraphine Evermere.
She was his nanny, a woman who's like a second mother, with her, he never felt lonely and of course he longed for his fathers love, he was never disheartened as before.
When he was five, his father resolved to teach him the art of swordsmanship. But every mistake was met not with patience, but with cruelty: the harsh crack of a cane against his delicate face, followed by a venomous spit and the words, "I shall make you remember your mistakes." Each scar, each mark, was a reminder; every time he caught his reflection, the wounded cheeks stared back at him, etching both pain and memory into his young mind.
At first, it was fear and sorrow that gripped him. But as the blows continued, as the lessons turned relentless and merciless, that fear curdled into something darker. It became loathing. Pure, unyielding hate for the man who was meant to guide him.
And yet, through the torment, the boy endured. By the time he was fifteen, those same hands that had trembled beneath his father's cane now gripped a blade with precision and control. He had become an exceptional swordsman, honed by pain, hardened by hatred, and tempered into a weapon as formidable as his resolve.
And it was at this time, the news of his father's passing arrived.
" he died a hero, sacrificed himself for the betterment of Avelesse" they said.
People felt sorry and remorseful for the young man, who became a duke at such a young age, and lady Serra was always there to comfort him about his burden.
But try as he might, he felt nothing for his father, he stared at his father's face on a painting hoping to feel anything for him but nothing, and thus, his heart became cold and distant, at the same age, he left Avelesse and went to live with his aunt in a far away kingdom and has only return now at the age of twenty four at the call of his king.
Everything was exactly as he left them, the Servants of the castle of Ashbourne were already taking their lord's belonging inside the castle as lady Serra held on lord Harrington's arm escorting him inside as he stared at the tall building infront of him, which reminded him nothing but loathed memories.
Elias stepped into the grand hall, the echo of his boots ringing softly against the polished stone floor. His eyes swept over the familiar yet unchanged surroundings, and a small, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.
"I see you haven't changed anything, Lady Serra," he commented, voice calm but tinged with admiration, as he paused to take in the hall.
The tapestries still hung in their rightful places, depicting the battles and hunts of Ashbourne's forebears, their colors muted but intact. The suit of armor by the staircase gleamed faintly, polished to perfection as though ready for a master at any moment. Candle sconces lined the walls, some flickering with a warm light, their wax traces neatly trimmed—a small but telling mark of careful upkeep.
Lady Serra appeared behind him, her hands clasped, watching him study the space with a mixture of pride and reverence. "I've done what I could, Elias," she said softly. "This castle… it has always been yours. I only kept it ready for your return."
He ran a hand along the carved banister of the sweeping staircase, the wood smooth and cool under his fingers, just as he remembered. The air smelled faintly of polished stone, old oak, and the lingering scent of the gardens that climbed the outer walls. Even the hearth, now crackling with fresh flames, gave a sense of continuity, of care—the same warmth that had soothed him as a boy after harsh lessons.
His small smile vanished at the thought of it, and turned to lady Serra with another form of a smile on his face " has all been well here? No trouble since I left I presumed"
"No Alias, All is well here, only a few things went amiss but solved"
" that's good to hear"
"So….. are you back for good?"
The question he had no answer to, he didn't like it here, not one bit, this place held nothing but painful memories, his mother died in this room along with his younger sibling, his father Also made it worse, but he's a duke now, a full
Duke.
" I Donot think I can set my eyes on another sheet of paper again, the problems on your duchy are not big enough to cause a major problem but they're quite tiring…."
He knew were this was heading, and he didn't like it one bit. He turned away from her with a sigh and climb the set of stairs to the first floor of the build.
" I was in utter relief when I heard the king has finally called you back here, and am quite sure you have gotten enough lessons on how to manage a duchy so…"
" so I shall stay?"
"Yes!!!! Why you asking as if you have an option?"
"Don't I have one?"
"Absolutely not!! You shall stay in Ashbourne and take care of this land yourself!!! I cannot take care of the castle as well as the duchy, am your nanny not your duchess! If it all seems too much for yourself then bring a duchess in the castle, all will be well !!!"
Alias chuckled at the outburst of his nanny, he then turned to her and told her " I shall take care of the land issues from this moment forward but am not ready for a duchess just yet!!" He then turned abruptly and stared at her " we should change the castle"
" Even more reasons to get a duchess!!"
" I can do it on my own lady Serra!!! You did both in my absence why can't I?!"
"Well that's absurd"
"My lord!!" A guard ran to Alias and bow his head to him before he handed him an envelope
"It's from the palace!!"