Chapter 46: Welcome back

Six days.

Lyra had counted every one.

Not intentionally. Just the bond made it impossible not to. Distance stretched it thin like wire pulled taut, and every morning she woke wondering if today he’d cross back into Aurelia’s borders and she’d feel that silver heat flare bright again.

She was in the kitchens when it happened.

Not supervising. Actually working. Hands sticky with flour because the head cook had looked at her funny when she’d offered to help.

Lyra had decided proving herself useful was better than pacing her chambers for the sixth day in a roll.

The bond suddenly ignited. It was sharp and sudden in her chest.She dropped the dough immediately.

“My lady?” The cook’s concern barely registered.

Lyra was already moving out the kitchen door. Through the corridor and into the courtyard.

She stopped herself halfway across the cobblestone floors.

Don’t run. You’re a noble. Be composed.

But her heart didn’t care about composure.

The gates opened. Hoofbeats echoed, even as two riders entered.

Borin first. The dwarf caught her eye and grinned then veered toward the stables without a word.

Why is he so happy? He knows?

Then Auryn entered. He looked different.

Different wasn’t the right word. Sharper maybe. Like something had been filed down to an edge during those six days.

He dismounted and handed the reins to a stable hand before he walked toward her.

Their bond sang like mockingbirds. Relief and exhaustion between them. Then something colder underneath, she couldn’t place her finger on.

Lyra met him halfway. She didn’t think. Just grabbed him with her arms swung around his shoulders and pulling him closer.

He stiffened for half a heartbeat. Then his arms came around her waist and held on for dear life.

“Six days,” she said into his shoulder.

“I know.” He spoke with a tired voice.

“You said five.” She said, tightening the hug.

“Negotiations ran longer than expected.” He tried explaining.

She pulled back enough to look at him. Her hand found his ribs through the shirt. Pressed lightly.

He faked a wince.

“Arrow wound not fully healed yet.”

“It’s healed.”

“Healed would mean I couldn’t make you flinch.” Her amber eyes searched his face. Her arms will around his shoulders.

“You look different,” she exclaimed

“Different how?” Auryn raised a brow.

“Like you left part of yourself in Uruk.”

She is so observant. Was she like this with everyone or just me? He wondered.

He didn’t deny her statement but didn’t explain either.

Lyra stepped back. Released him but didn’t look away. “Come inside. You need to rest.”

—

Soon they arrived at their chambers. Door closed behind them. Finally just the two of them and the bond hummed steady now they were alone.

Auryn sat heavily on the bed. Exhaustion visible now that no one else was watching.

Lyra didn’t ask if he was alright. She could see he wasn’t entirely. The arrow still hurts. Of course he wasn’t fine.

“How did it go?” she said instead.

“Northern district is ours.” He answered simply.

“Northern?” She asked in surprise.

“Yeah, I kind of changed my mind in the heat of the moment,” he explained.

She looked at him, still surprised but since Borin was there. She knew he wouldn’t allow her husband do anything too stupid.

“And?” She asked. Just by looking at him. She could tell there was more.

He was quiet for a moment. Arranging words in his mind. “Marriage alliance.”

Lyra’s chest tightened. “What?”

“Castor’s eldest daughter. Claudia. When she turns eighteen.”

The room suddenly felt smaller.

“She’s sixteen.” Lyra spoke. Her tone as sharp as a knife.

“I know,” Auryn’s voice was calmer.

Lyra adjusted on the bed and processed the political implications. The cruelty disguised as mercy.

“That’s his heir,” she finally understood.

“I’m aware,” he said flatly.

She moved closer to him. Merely touching his fingers. “You didn’t just take territory.”

“I took compensation.” His voice was direct. “He tried to kill you with this arrow”

He gestured his hand to his chest. She could feel his anger and protectiveness bleeding through.

Lyra forced herself to breathe. “Tell me about Northern District. Why that region?”

Auryn looked at her. His eyes paying close attention to every shift in her body.

“Because people avoid it,” he said simply.

“And you want what people avoid,” Lyra brows stayed still while her eyes sharpened.

“Cinderfang Ruins,” he said. “Everyone called them cursed. Filled with anomalies. Death traps. But I went anyway.”

She remembered. The blade nearly taking his hand and an ever-present danger to him and not just his enemies.

“You got the sword that can kill dragons” she answered.

“Exactly. Risk paid off.” He leaned forward slightly. “Northern District is the same.

“There are dragon bones buried beneath Ashen Grove with anti-magic properties.”

He placed his cold hand over hers. “The verdant Springs with special healing hot springs. Easy tourism revenue. Resources others are too afraid to claim.”

Lyra’s fingers opened up underneath his touch and clamped his hand.

“You’re gambling on cursed land.”

“I’m investing in what cowards won’t touch.”

The conversation dived into a momentary silence and only their eyes spoke.

“When do we leave?” she asked.

“We?” Auryn’s head leaned back slightly.

“I’m your adviser remember?… I need to see what you’re walking into.” She insisted.

He nodded. “I need miners and guards gathered at dawn”

“I’ll arrange for those.” She said with a small smile.

“I knew you’d say yes.”

She stood after a slight squeeze on his hand and walked with purpose towards the door.

She suddenly paused with her hand on the frame.

“The kitchen staff should attend to you soon. I’ve been helping them prepare some things.”

“You were in the kitchens?” Auryn wasn’t surprised but rather happy.

“Someone had to organize those slackers.” Her smile widened slightly.

“And I needed something to do besides count the days before your return.”

He smiled softly and watched her leave.

—

Auryn sat motionless for a few minutes.

The silence was different this time. Wasn’t empty just calm.

Then something shifted. A new feeling.

Hmm…Borin?

He could feel him. He was at the stables. Moving toward the barracks. His emotional state was content, tired, amused about something.

What is this?

Auryn closed his eyes. He focused deep in his chest.The bond with Lyra lived there. Silver flames intertwined with his core.

But there was another spark. It was steady. Stretching toward the barracks. He followed it.

Borin’s soul. A mark burned into it. A kanji symbol glowing faint.

支配 — Dominion

I marked him automatically when the skill unlocked?

He dug deeper. Pushing the awareness outward. Borin’s amusement and state spiked in his mind. A simple joke with a guard.

Auryn withdrew and the sensation faded immediately, still there but not active.

He opened his eyes. He recalled the notification.

Capacity: 1/10. 9 more marks available.

Who next? Advisers he needed to trust but couldn’t fully? Guards whose loyalty he’d need to verify?

The thought felt cold.

I’m collecting people like pokemons now? Is this power? Or just another way to lose myself?

He couldn’t come up with an answer. He was now hoarding souls and not just artifacts.

He walked to his desk. Picked up a quill but he couldn’t recall what he wanted to write.

Fucking hell… His stomach groaned.

The room still felt too quiet. He walked to the door. Opened it. A servant passed carrying linens.

“My lord?” The servant stopped and bowed.

“Is the head cook still awake?”

Confusion flickered across the servant’s face.

“I—I believe so, my lord. We’re awake for whatever you need.”

“Good. Tell her I want a meal sent up. Whatever she and the lady were making. I’ll eat it,” he concluded.

The servant bowed deeper. “Of course, my lord.” She left quickly.

He shook his head as he thought.

Why did I do that? He didn’t get a straight answer but—-

It definitely had to do with Lyra being in the kitchens. Actually working instead of just commanding.

Maybe because tomorrow they’d dig into cursed ground and he wanted one normal thing before everything changed again.

The food arrived twenty minutes later. Simple bread and stew.

He took a bite and it melted with flavour in his mouth. He ate slowly. His thoughts went from the dragon bones to Nika arriving soon—the Hero, the protagonist, the story’s sword.

How his brothers now know of his political abilities and even combat abilities.

The bowl emptied in no time. Auryn set it aside and lay on his bed.

The Dominion Mark pulsed faintly. Even while Borin was asleep.

I can feel him even unconscious. Talk about Invasion of privacy

He closed his eyes. He didn’t want to think of anything else.

For tonight, maybe just for tonight

He let himself be tired.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep