~Aiden~

Today should’ve felt like victory. After weeks of sleepless nights, back-and-forth negotiations, and hours of pretending to care about small talk, I finally sealed the deal. Darkmoon’s biggest investor had agreed to partner with us. Father would be proud, or so I thought.

By the time I returned to the castle, dusk had fallen over Darkmoon Valley, draping its towers in a deep, silver glow. I stepped into the castle, already exhausted but burning with the need to share the news. For ...