The City Lord's manor loomed over Riverdale, its pale stone walls glowing in the late afternoon sun, while banners hung motionless in the warm air.
In stark contrast to the bustling Ashford Quarter, where trade and chatter thrived without pause, the manor exuded a different kind of silence, one that was deliberate and controlled.
Guards stood at measured intervals, servants moved soundlessly, and even the breeze that drifted through the courtyard seemed aware not to disturb the peace.
Inside the west wing, behind a heavy wooden door intricately carved with the Valencrest crest, lay the study of City Lord Arwin Valencrest. The room was spacious yet understated.
Shelves lined the walls, filled with ledgers, maps, sealed scrolls, and meticulously organized records of taxes and trade. A substantial dark desk occupied a central position, its surface neatly arranged with several documents, no scattered papers or careless clutter; everything here spoke of order.
