Chapter 264: Dawn

The first thing Damon noticed upon waking was the silence.

It wasn’t the comfortable silence of the night, nor the deep silence of a sleeping house. It was a different silence, lighter, punctuated by small, distant sounds that indicated the mansion had already awakened. Somewhere far away, a door closed softly. Discreet footsteps echoed down a hallway. The distant song of birds drifted through the windows.

Morning had arrived.

Sunlight already partially filtered through the curtains of the large bedroom window, scattering golden streaks across the disheveled bedsheets. The light illuminated the silent chaos of the previous night: the displaced pillows, the twisted sheets partially fallen from the mattress, some candles already completely melted on the bedside table.

Damon opened his eyes slowly.

For a few seconds he remained completely still, only breathing deeply as his still heavy body gradually awakened. His muscles were relaxed, but there was a slight, pleasant feeling of tiredness spreading across his shoulders and back.

Then he noticed something.

The space beside him was empty.

Damon slowly turned his face toward where Morgana should have been.

The part of the bed where she had slept was still slightly creased, the pillow marked by the shape of her head, and the sheets still warm enough to indicate that she had been there not long before.

But now she wasn’t.

Damon blinked once.

He slowly propped himself up on one elbow, observing the empty space with a calm but curious expression.

“Morgana?”

No answer.

The room remained silent.

He ran a hand through his hair, still a little messy from sleep, and then slowly sat up in bed. The movement made the mattress sink slightly as the sheets slipped a little further.

The morning light now illuminated the room better.

A few pieces of clothing were scattered on the floor, silent witnesses to the rush and intensity of the previous night. One of Morgana’s long socks had landed near the foot of the bed. The dark fabric contrasted with the light carpet of the room.

Damon let out a small, almost amused sigh.

“She woke up early.”

He ran a hand over his face, trying to shake off the remaining sleepiness.

Then his eyes moved around the room once more.

The room still carried the faint scent of burnt candles mixed with Morgana’s perfume, something soft and expensive that lingered in the sheets and the air.

But there was no sign of her.

Damon finally put his feet on the floor, feeling the soft carpet beneath his feet as he slowly stood up. His muscles stretched naturally as he yawned a little.

It was then that something caught his attention.

On the small table near the window was a teacup.

Still steaming slightly.

Damon walked over to it with calm steps.

As he approached, he also noticed a small folded piece of paper next to the cup. He picked up the paper.

Morgana’s elegant handwriting was immediately recognizable.

The message was short.

“Good morning, sleepyhead.”

Damon chuckled slightly as he read the first line.

He continued.

“I had to leave early to sort out some details before tonight’s reception.”

He flipped the paper over slightly to continue reading.

“Don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything important.”

There was a small pause before the last line.

“See you later. Try not to destroy anything in the house before then.”

Damon raised an eyebrow.

Then he flipped the paper over.

There was something written on the back.

“And don’t be late.”

The signature at the end was just a small, elegantly drawn letter M.

Damon stared at the note for a few seconds before placing it back on the table.

He picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

It was still warm. “Morgana really doesn’t waste any time.”

He walked to the window and slightly opened the curtains.

Outside, the estate’s garden was illuminated by the clear morning light. Some servants were already moving around the grounds, tending to the plants and organizing small daily tasks.

The mansion was alive again.

Damon took another sip of tea.

Then something flashed before his eyes.

A very familiar blue glow appeared in the air.

[Update in progress.]

[Time remaining: 27:41:09]

Damon looked at the interface for a few seconds.

Then he took another sip of tea.

“You’re still there.”

The countdown continued silently.

27:41:08

27:41:07

Damon sighed.

“Great.”

He leaned his shoulder against the windowsill, gazing out at the garden as the sun continued to rise in the sky.

“Let’s see what today brings.”

Damon calmly finished his tea, placing the empty cup back on the small table near the window as he watched the garden illuminated by the morning light for a few more seconds. The fresh air filtering through the gap in the open curtain carried the scent of wet grass and freshly watered flowers, a pleasant contrast to the heavy heat of the room after the previous night. For a moment he stood there in silence, letting his body fully awaken as the mansion slowly came to life around him.

The system’s blue interface still floated discreetly in the corner of his vision.

[Update in progress.]

[Time remaining: 27:35:42]

Damon glanced at it for only an instant before simply ignoring it again.

“Stay there.”

He murmured to himself, already accustomed to the intermittent presence of that thing that seemed to exist more as a curiosity than as something truly useful.

After a few more seconds, he moved away from the window.

It wasn’t long before he found his own clothes scattered on the bedroom floor. He gathered them up with calm movements, dressing again while the morning silence remained comfortable around him. When he finished, he took one last look around Morgana’s room.

The sheets were still rumpled.

Her black stocking was still lying near the bed.

Damon let out a small, amused smile before finally walking to the door.

The second-floor hallway was illuminated by natural light streaming through the tall windows along the wall. The place seemed much more alive than the previous night. Distant footsteps of servants moving through the house echoed softly between the wooden walls.

Damon began to descend the stairs calmly.

The steps creaked softly under his feet as he descended to the main floor of the mansion. As he approached the lower floor, a pleasant smell began to reach his nostrils.

Food.

The aroma of freshly baked bread, warm butter, and something that seemed to be meat slowly being prepared hung in the air.

Damon raised a slight eyebrow.

“Interesting.” He naturally followed the scent to the mansion’s kitchen.

As soon as he entered, he found a scene he hadn’t expected.

Ingrivid was there.

The normally rigid and silent knight stood before the stone stove, moving a frying pan with precise movements while the smell of hot food filled the room. Her hair was simply tied back, and the sleeves of her shirt were slightly rolled up to her elbows.

The kitchen was silent, except for the soft sound of food being prepared.

Ingrivid noticed his presence almost immediately.

She turned her head slightly.

“Good morning.”

Damon leaned a shoulder against the kitchen doorframe, observing the scene with evident curiosity.

“Good morning.”

His eyes quickly scanned the already partially set table.

Bread.

Fruit.

Some slices of meat.

And eggs that were clearly being prepared at that moment.

He then looked back at Ingrivid.

“I thought you were just a horsewoman.”

She flipped the egg in the pan with a simple movement before answering.

“I am.”

Damon crossed his arms with slight amusement.

“So this is some kind of secret skill?”

Ingrivid picked up a plate from the counter and slid the cooked egg onto it.

“I learned it from my mother.”

The answer came calmly, almost neutrally, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Damon tilted his head slightly.

“She was a horsewoman too?”

“No.”

Ingrivid picked up another piece of bread and placed it on the table.

“She was a cook.”

Damon let out a small, low laugh.

“Now that makes sense.”

She picked up the plate with the eggs and walked to the table.

Without any ceremony, she placed the plate before him.

“Eat.”

Damon pulled up a chair and sat down calmly. “You’re surprisingly authoritarian for someone serving breakfast.”

Ingrivid went back to the stove to get another small pan.

“Lady Morgana asked me to make sure you were fed before she left.”

Damon took a piece of bread and began to eat.

“What exactly did she say?”

Ingrivid thought for a second.

“She said, ’If he wakes up late, give him food before he starts asking annoying questions.’”

Damon paused for a moment.

Then he laughed.

“That sounds exactly like her.”

Ingrivid placed another plate on the table, this time with some slices of warm meat.

She sat in the opposite chair, but didn’t take any food for herself.

She just watched.

Damon noticed.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“I already ate.”

He nodded as he continued his breakfast.

The silence that followed was comfortable.

After a few moments, Damon spoke again.

“So.”

He calmly cut a piece of meat.

“What is Morgana doing now?”

Ingrivid answered without hesitation.

“Preparing the mansion for tonight’s reception.”

Damon chewed slowly before continuing.

“And you?”

She crossed her hands on the table.

“I’m here to make sure you don’t disappear before the plan begins.”

Damon raised an eyebrow.

“She really doesn’t trust me.”

Ingrivid replied with her usual neutral expression.

“Lady Morgana trusts you enough.”

Damon tilted his head.

“Enough for what?”

Ingrivid answered calmly.

“Enough to bring you here.”

Silence returned to the kitchen for a few seconds as Damon continued eating.

Then he smiled slightly.

“That’s fair.”

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