Back at House Silver, the manor slowly came back to life after Arceus was officially appointed as the Duke.
The mourning ribbons were taken down.
Servants reopened the boxes of decorations that had been set aside after Wester's funeral.
Florists returned, musicians resumed rehearsals, and Master Daniel quietly took full charge of the wedding preparations alongside his staff.
Without Armada's presence, the work felt different — heavier in some ways, but strangely lighter in others. There were no hidden schemes, no subtle manipulations. Only honest effort.
That afternoon, Selene sat alone in the western pavilion overlooking the lotus pond.
She had returned to House Silver after Arceus told her everything. She listened in silence as he explained Armada's true identity, the anonymous letter, the manipulation, and how Kiara had saved Wester.
Now, she simply stared across the water, her fingers tightly wrapped around a teacup.
"It was me," she whispered.
