Under the exact same night sky, the silverash estate was far from peaceful—just as the Doctor had anticipated. The entire residence seemed trapped in an unsettling cycle, swinging erratically between frantic clamor and stifling silence.
Every corner of the house was alive with heated whispers about the mysterious explosion on the tracks. Some voiced genuine terror for the missing master of House Silverash, who had vanished without a trace, while others... secretly weighed their options, opportunistic glints flashing in their eyes.
House Silverash was in a far more fragile state now than it had been all those years ago. Only two young women were left to uphold the bloodline. And to make matters worse, one of them could no longer officially represent the family's interests.
Ensia sat quietly in her usual chair, her eyes filled with sorrow and desolation. She refused to believe her brother had perished on that railway, yet logic whispered a brutal truth: surviving an explosion of that magnitude was almost impossible.
"What do we do now? Hand over control of those territories? If that's the plan, sitting around this table discussing it is a total waste of time!"
"Exactly! If we yield now, the Vine-Bear Court will never return power to us, no matter the outcome! Besides, the whole incident stinks of a setup. I suspect—"
"Third Miss, what is your stance on this? You're the only person left here authorized to make a call. Whatever you decide, we'll back you to the hilt..."
Unlike the silent Ensia, the retainers and heads of the vassal clans served by House Silverash were frantically calculating their next moves. All they cared about was safeguarding their own wealth and authority amidst the chaos.
They mourned the sudden tragedy of the family they served, but when push came to shove, raw self-interest ruled the day. Each of them had entire clans to feed; relying on empty notions of fealty would leave their people to starve.
It felt horrifyingly reminiscent of the turmoil that broke out years ago, right after her parents met their untimely end. The current power struggle within the estate was practically a continuation of that past nightmare—the only difference was the face sitting at the head of the table.
"Everyone, follow the decisions made during the previous council meeting," Ensia spoke up, her voice firm despite the underlying pain. "Even though my brother's situation is deeply suspicious, we gave our word to yield control to the Saintess. We must respect the agreement forged at the Tri-Clan Council."
She knew her words would spark massive outrage, but she stood her ground, choosing to temporarily hand over the clan's authority to the Saintess just as Enciodes had agreed.
Predictably, the vassals who were already dissatisfied with the order erupted. What had they been arguing about for hours? Was it not to scrap this exact arrangement?
Just as several clan representatives pushed off their seats, ready to rail against the young woman, a crisp, sharp set of footsteps echoed down the grand corridor, freezing everyone in their tracks. Every eye darted toward the hall.
The heavy double doors swung open. When the figure stepped into the light, a collective sigh of relief swept through the room, including from Ensia herself.
"I'm so glad you made it back safely, Degenbrecher," Ensia breathed, looking at the former Black Knight. In that moment, the woman's notoriously stern countenance seemed infinitely softer.
"Lady Ensia, I deeply apologize. I failed to protect the Master," Degenbrecher said, bowing her head slightly.
Her opening words instantly dragged the newly relieved atmosphere back down into a cold, suffocating abyss.
"What do you mean?" Ensia panicked slightly, her heart hammering against her ribs as her worst fears threatened to come true. "Weren't you supposed to be guarding him closely? Why weren't you by his side when it happened?"
"After the council concluded, the Master ordered me to remain at the Vine-Bear Court to manage the handoff details. He departed ahead of time, intending to return home and apologize to our guests. But the train took a detour onto an old, abandoned tunnel, and then..."
Hearing this, Ensia collapsed backward into her chair, her body draining of strength. Degenbrecher's words were a heavy, unspoken verdict: her brother's chances of survival were practically zero.
"So... Miss Degenbrecher, do you believe my brother is... gone?"
"I cannot say for certain," Degenbrecher replied evenly. "For now, I can only hope the Master is safe and sound. But during this critical period, I will personally guarantee your safety!"
As she made that declaration, the former champion didn't look at Ensia. Instead, her sharp, deadly gaze swept across every single retainer in the room.
The vassals felt as though a physical blade had been pressed against their throats. The terrifying, oppressive aura rolling off her was almost tangible, forcing several people to lean back instinctively in sheer self-preservation.
"We have yet to identify who planned this attack or what their ultimate goal is," Degenbrecher continued, her voice cold and unyielding. "However, before the Master left, he instructed me to maintain complete stability within the family. He expects every one of you to fully cooperate with my commands."
Though phrased like a request, her imperious tone left no room for negotiation. This was a clear command, not a discussion.
Being bossed around by an outsider was a bitter pill that almost everyone in the room refused to swallow. Yet, looking at the fierce Caprinae standing before them with her arms crossed... obedience suddenly seemed like a very wise life choice.
"Degenbrecher... are you saying my brother foresaw all of this beforehand?" Ensia asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"I cannot confirm that," Degenbrecher replied smoothly, offering a vague, noncommittal answer instead. "However, the Master always operates with his own master plan in mind."
"Can I leave the estate tomorrow, then?"
"No one is placing you under house arrest. You are free to go wherever you wish," Degenbrecher stated. "The family's day-to-day affairs will be managed by trusted individuals according to the emergency protocols left behind by the Master."
"I see... That's good." Ensia breathed a sigh of relief, instantly deciding she would go find the Doctor first thing tomorrow.
The complexity of this crisis was far beyond what she could handle on her own. She desperately needed outside perspective to help her make sense of the mess, and the Doctor was the first person who came to mind.
"Though it might sound improper, I strongly advise against stepping into the territory of the other ruling clans right now," Degenbrecher added, her tone softening slightly with genuine concern. "In times like this, wandering anywhere near their turf will only breed suspicion and spark unwanted political rumors."
"I understand," Ensia nodded, appreciating the warning. "Thank you. But there are things I eventually have to face. I can't keep myself locked in this mansion forever."
Looking at the towering martial artist, a sudden, uncanny realization washed over Ensia. She felt a strong gut instinct that her brother was actually perfectly fine—that he was simply lurking in the shadows, orchestrating a massive play behind everyone's backs.
The emergency preparations were just far too thorough to be a coincidence.
Of course, she couldn't entirely rule out the possibility that her brilliant brother had simply prepared for every conceivable worst-case scenario well in advance.
Where are you really? Did you truly perish in that explosion... or are you hiding somewhere, setting the stage for an operation no one else can comprehend? Where did you go, Brother?
Standing alone in her room, Ensia stared out the window at the twin moons hanging in the night sky, whispering the heavy questions that had been weighing on her heart for so long into the quiet, empty darkness.
"What are you doing here?" a voice demanded coldly. "If I recall correctly, you were publicly banished from Kjerag. If Enciodes hadn't used his influence to shield you at the last second, you wouldn't even have the right to breathe the air in these snowy mountains right now."
Inside the grand estate of the Browntail clan, Ratatos looked at the Liberi standing before her, a flash of genuine surprise passing over her face.
"I am here, naturally, in pursuit of greater profit," the cold Liberi replied calmly, his posture immaculate. "If House Silverash can discard me like trash, why shouldn't I seek out a far more reliable business partner to collaborate with?"
The man speaking was none other than Gnosis Edelweiss—the unfortunate scapegoat who had shouldered numerous false accusations and been exiled from the realm.
"A traitor coming forward to demand bigger profits... that might be the most greedy story I've ever heard," a nearby Browntail retainer mocked sneeringly. "Especially considering it's coming from someone of the Edelweiss bloodline."
The surrounding clan members chuckled in agreement, viewing the young Liberi with open disdain. After all, the reputation of the Edelweiss family in Kjerag was notoriously tarnished.
"As for whether the Edelweiss family actually committed those crimes back then, I believe the Browntail clan knows the truth far better than I do," Gnosis countered without a hint of fear or weakness. He hadn't come here to beg for shelter; he had come to negotiate a high-stakes partnership. At least, that was the impression his confident words conveyed.
"And what exactly can you offer us?" Ratatos interrupted, not dwelling on his family history. Just as Gnosis said, she was well aware of the dirty secrets buried in Kjerag's past. "If you want to pull off a deal here, you'd better bring something valuable to the table."
"I brought news that I think will interest you immensely," Gnosis said, a thin, somewhat rigid smirk forming on his lips.
"Enciodes Silverash is currently alive and well. How does that sound?"