Chapter 258: Wait for Morgana.

The carriage slowly left Arven’s busier streets, following Ingrivid along a series of increasingly quiet thoroughfares. The tall buildings and noisy shops began to disappear little by little, replaced by smaller houses, walled gardens, and wide streets where the flow of people drastically decreased. The constant sound of the city also transformed, ceasing to be a continuous roar and becoming just a distant murmur that faded into the distance as they advanced towards the outdoors. Damon watched from the window with quiet attention, following the gradual change in scenery as the stone buildings gave way to wooden fences, ancient trees, and small cultivated fields that marked the transition between the city and the surrounding countryside.

Ingrivid kept her horse a few meters ahead of the carriage, guiding it safely along a well-maintained dirt road that snaked between gentle hills. The animal’s trot was firm and disciplined, revealing careful training, and the rider’s posture in the saddle conveyed the same confidence as before. Damon watched her figure through the window for a few moments, realizing she clearly knew the way without much thought. This indicated that their destination wasn’t improvised; it was a place chosen beforehand.

As they moved further away from Arven, the air began to change as well. The heavy smell of the city, full of smoke and spices, was replaced by the clean aroma of grass, earth, and ancient trees. Small groves appeared along the road, their canopies forming pleasant shadows that covered parts of the path. The sound of the wind rustling through the leaves created a constant whisper that accompanied the trotting of the horses.

After almost half an hour following that rural road, Damon finally noticed their destination emerging among the trees ahead.

A mansion.

It wasn’t as large as Arven Mansion in the city center, but it was still clearly a property belonging to the nobility. The main building was constructed of light stone and dark wood, with two spacious stories and a sloping roof covered in well-maintained red tiles. Large windows with elegant frames reflected the soft late afternoon light, and a long veranda stretched along the front facade, supported by simple yet refined columns.

The property was also surrounded by a large, well-kept garden, where fruit trees grew in neatly maintained rows. Further back, stables and small outbuildings could be seen, indicating that the residence was regularly maintained, even if not constantly occupied.

Ingrivid slowed the horse’s pace as they approached the main entrance, guiding the animal along the gravel path leading to the mansion’s door.

The carriage followed close behind.

As soon as they stopped before the entrance, two figures emerged almost immediately from the large wooden doors.

They were butlers.

Men dressed in discreet yet elegant uniforms, who were clearly expecting Damon’s arrival. They descended the veranda steps with hurried but controlled steps, bowing slightly in respectful greeting when the carriage came to a complete stop.

The coachman opened the carriage door.

Damon descended calmly.

His feet touched the gravel of the driveway with a soft sound as he slightly stretched his shoulders after the long journey. One of the butlers immediately approached with a professional posture.

“Welcome, sir,” he said respectfully.

The other had already begun to carefully remove the luggage from the carriage, handling each item with the quiet efficiency of someone accustomed to serving important guests.

Damon observed the surrounding property for a moment before answering.

He took a deep breath.

The air there was fresh, clean, and quiet. The scent of freshly cut grass mingled with the soft perfume of the garden flowers, creating a sensation very different from the tense atmosphere he had felt inside the city.

He let out a small, satisfied sigh.

“Much better than the smell of the city,” he murmured.

Ingrivid dismounted from her horse shortly afterward and handed the reins to one of the servants who had appeared near the stables. She walked calmly toward Damon while the butlers continued organizing the luggage.

“This property is quite a distance from the city,” she explained. “But still within the lands controlled by Arven.”

Damon glanced at the mansion again.

“Discreet,” he commented.

Ingrivid nodded slightly.

“That was the goal.”

She then made a polite gesture toward the mansion’s door.

“Come in.”

Damon climbed the steps of the veranda beside her as the butlers carried their belongings inside. As soon as they crossed the main threshold, the interior of the residence revealed itself to be surprisingly welcoming.

The entrance hall was spacious, with a polished wooden floor that reflected the soft light from chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Long rugs decorated the floor, and paintings of rural landscapes adorned the walls. The decor wasn’t excessively luxurious, but clearly demonstrated good taste and moderate wealth.

Ingrivid continued walking down the main hallway while Damon observed the details around him.

“Lady Morgana acquired this property a few years ago,” she said.

Damon raised an eyebrow.

“Acquired?”

She glanced briefly behind her before answering. “Officially, no.”

They passed through an elegant living room where dark wood furniture and light upholstery were arranged around a large fireplace.

“She bought the land and the mansion through intermediaries,” Ingrivid continued. “Using a name that couldn’t be directly linked to her.”

Damon gave a small smile.

“A secret property.”

“Exactly.”

They walked through another hallway that led to the innermost part of the house.

“Her parents don’t know this place belongs to Morgana,” Ingrivid explained. “At least not officially.”

Damon lightly ran his fingers across the surface of a table as he walked.

“Clever.”

The knight nodded.

“Lady Morgana always liked to have contingency plans.”

They finally arrived at a spacious room with large windows overlooking the back garden. The light of dusk gently entered the room, illuminating the central table and the comfortable sofas arranged around it.

Ingrivid paused there.

“She specifically asked that you stay here for the time being.”

Damon looked around the room.

“While she sorts out the situation at the mansion.”

“Yes.”

The knight rested one hand on the back of a chair as she continued speaking.

“She also asked me to tell you that she will try to return as soon as possible.”

Damon crossed his arms slightly.

“And how long should that take?”

Ingrivid hesitated for a second before answering.

“She didn’t specify.”

The silence that followed was brief.

Damon walked slowly to one of the windows and looked out at the silent garden outside. The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, painting the sky with soft shades of orange and gold that reflected off the trees on the property.

He seemed completely calm.

Almost relaxed.

But Ingrivid could see that his eyes were attentive, analyzing every detail of his surroundings.

Finally he spoke again.

“So she wants me to wait.”

“Yes.”

Damon let out a small sigh.

“That means the situation inside Arven Manor is even worse than you suggested.”

Ingrivid didn’t answer immediately.

But her expression already said enough.

Damon gave a small, almost amused smile as he moved away from the window.

“Interesting.”

He then looked directly at her.

“Well,” he said calmly. “It seems I’ll be staying here for a while.”

Ingrivid tilted her head slightly.

“Lady Morgana will be pleased to know that.”

Damon walked slowly to one of the sofas and sat down calmly.

“Then let’s wait.”

The hours passed slowly inside the silent mansion, dragging on almost lazily as the sun disappeared behind the hills and the sky gradually took on deeper shades of blue and violet. The interior of the property remained tranquil, interrupted only by the occasional sound of discreet footsteps of the butlers passing through the corridors or the soft creaking of the old wood of the house adjusting to the falling night temperature. Damon had remained in the large room for much of that time, initially observing the garden through the window, then walking around, examining some books on the shelves, and finally settling back onto the sofa like someone who clearly wasn’t used to simply waiting.

Ingrivid, on the other hand, seemed perfectly comfortable with the situation. Throughout that period she remained near the entrance of the room, almost motionless, maintaining a straight and disciplined posture as if she were still mounted on her horse patrolling a road. Her arms were crossed behind her back most of the time, and her eyes observed the surroundings with constant attention, even though there was absolutely nothing threatening happening inside the tranquil mansion.

The contrast between the two was evident.

Damon shifted position on the sofa for the third time in a few minutes before finally letting out a long, irritated sigh.

“This is becoming unbearable,” he muttered.

Ingrivid didn’t respond immediately, but her eyes moved slightly in his direction.

Damon ran a hand through his hair as he slowly rose from the sofa. He walked a few steps across the room, observing the walls as if expecting to find something interesting hidden within them, but naturally there was nothing but elegant paintings and well-placed furniture.

He stopped near the window again.

The sky outside was already dark now, and some lanterns had been lit along the garden to illuminate the stone paths between the trees.

Damon let out another sigh.

“I wasn’t made to sit around waiting.”

Ingrivid finally spoke.

“Most people who work for Lady Morgana learn to wait.”

Her voice was calm, almost neutral.

Damon looked at her with a slightly raised eyebrow.

“I don’t work for Morgana.”

“No.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“But you’re still waiting for her.”

Damon let out a small nasal laugh at that.

“Fair point.”

He was silent for a few seconds before speaking again.

“Say something.”

Ingrivid maintained her firm posture.

“Yes?”

“Does this property have a place for training?”

There was a small pause before the answer.

Her eyes scanned Damon for a moment as if trying to understand exactly what he intended.

“We have a training room at the back of the property,” she finally replied. “It’s not large, but it’s adequate.”

Damon straightened his shoulders slightly.

“Perfect.”

He began to walk towards the door of the room with calm steps, clearly more animated now than at any time since they arrived at the mansion.

Ingrivid watched the movement.

“Planning to train?”

Damon stopped at the door and turned his face partially toward her.

“Planning not to die of boredom.”

She almost smiled.

Almost.

Damon then made a small gesture with his hand toward her.

“You’re coming with me.”

Now it was Ingrivid who raised an eyebrow.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

She slowly uncrossed her arms behind her back.

“I’m here as a guard.”

Damon shrugged calmly.

“Then consider this guard training.”

She remained silent for a moment.

“Lady Morgana asked me to ensure her safety.”

Damon chuckled softly.

“I think I can survive a training room unsupervised.”

Ingrivid kept her gaze steady for a few seconds before finally letting out a small sigh.

“Alright.”

Damon smiled contentedly.

“Great.”

He opened the door and began walking down the hallway while Ingrivid followed a few steps behind.

The mansion was even quieter now that night had completely fallen. Lanterns attached to the walls illuminated the corridors with a soft golden light, casting long shadows on the wooden floor as the two walked towards the back of the house.

After crossing two corridors and descending a small side staircase, they arrived at a simpler wooden door than the others.

Ingrivid pushed open the door.

The training room was exactly as she had described.

Small, but functional.

The floor was covered with thick tatami mats that would absorb impact during fights or physical exercises. Several training weapons were arranged on racks along the wall, including wooden swords, batons, and some carefully stored real blades. Sandbags hung from beams in the ceiling, and there were marks on the floor indicating that the space was used regularly.

Damon entered first.

He observed the surroundings with interest as he walked slowly through the center of the room.

“Better than I expected,” he commented.

Ingrivid closed the door behind them.

“The property isn’t used often, but Lady Morgana likes to keep everything functional.”

Damon stretched his arms slowly, lengthening the muscles in his neck and shoulders like someone who had finally found something productive to do.

The soft sound of joints moving echoed briefly in the silent room.

He then turned to Ingrivid.

“So.”

She remained standing near the wall.

“So?”

Damon gave a small smile.

“Let’s train.”

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