"Is this the report from the Silk Sparrows?" Jeremy asked when I handed him the stack of papers. He, Elise, and I were sitting in a carriage that was being escorted by the Hellhounds across the Holst duchy to Solfin now that my month stay in the capital with my parents ended. A warm summer wind blew like waves through the tall grassy plains that surrounded us while we made our way along the cobblestone road. The plains were mostly flat with only a few hills, and a distant forest to our south breaking the horizon.

"Yeah, I picked it up when we were in town." I closed my window so the wind wouldn't blow the papers around. "It's a lot different from what I was imagining the famed Gateway to the West would be like."

"Hmm," Jeremy hummed as he thumbed through the reports scanning each page with an intense glare that only grew more annoyed as he kept reading. I couldn't blame him as even I asked the Silk Sparrow agent who I met if what was written was correct only for him to confirm and wish me luck. "We'll have our work cut out for us if even half of this is true." Jeremy set the papers down on his lap and drummed his fingers over them while deep in thought. "Do you believe we have enough men to handle things smoothly, Countess?"

"We'll make due." Even though forty-three Hellhounds made it back from the final battle, only fifteen of them were currently riding with us to Solfin. After meeting Olivia and clearing my head by spending time with my family, I gave everyone in the Hellhounds a choice about their futures. Putting our roots down in Solfin and living in a relative peace wasn't something everyone wanted so I decided to split off those who still wanted to fight into a warband that would be sent off north into Lorn to assist Duke Einbore in battling the demon threat. It was a way to gain some favor with the Duke and would keep the more battle-crazed members busy and out of trouble since twenty-three volunteered for it. Many members didn't have homes to return to and didn't want to return to a life of 'peace' since they knew they couldn't do it. The remaining twenty all agreed to settle down in Solfin, and the five not currently traveling with us all had some form of family they went off to gather and move; like Peter who would be bringing his wife and daughter all the way from a small village in Relsh. Though, knowing what I do now about Solfin, I'm starting to feel bad about doing that.

"We always do," Elise agreed with me and looked out her window with a smile. "While we may be few, we're still more than enough for a single city. Plus, both Peter and Carl decided not to go to the north and they alone more than make up for our limited numbers." Surprisingly, Carl didn't want to head north and instead agreed to come to Solfin. He seemed hesitant to fully share his reasons but I was more than happy to have him since, like Elise said, he was an exceptional fighter.

"If only it were so easy." Jeremy, like my brother, was a man of few expressions, though unlike my brother his reasons were very evident now that he was my official aide in running Solfin; Jeremy had dreaded working in Mornhold. Olivia told me that Jeremy reminded her of a 'black company' employee and refused to elaborate on what that meant so I can only assume it's something I should work to avoid inflicting on my people. "It takes more than a few knights to-Woah!?!" Our carriage violently shook so I opened my window and peered my head out.

"What's going on?" Why was our otherwise smooth ride suddenly so bumpy?

"Apologies, Countess," the coachman said while tipping his hat in embarrassment. "But I think we've officially entered the county."

"…?" I looked at the road we were on and saw it was almost completely overgrown with grass and weeds, and potholes littered the path ahead. Looking back, I saw the road was perfectly paved before abruptly ending in this terribly conditioned one. "So we have." Looks like the report we got from the Sparrows would be, unfortunately, correct. There were dirt paths along the sides of the road that I guess carts had been using with how bad the official road got. "Take us off to the side for the rest of the way."

"Yes, Countess," the coachman replied before steering the horses to leave the road and start trotting on the dirt path that ran parallel to it. The headache was already beginning and I wasn't even at the city proper. As we continued our journey we eventually crested a hill and saw our destination.

"Solfin…" Farms filled the open plains around the city and all along the Helker that popped out of the forest to our left. Large stone walls loomed in the distance that surrounded the city with a few groups of houses huddled up against them. But the magnificence quickly wore off once we rode closer and saw Solfin for what it had become; destitute. The fields were being worked by only a handful of people who all looked overworked as they sweated away under the harsh sun. The houses along the walls were cobbled together from old or rotting wood planks and cracked stones that looked like one good storm would make them collapse. I saw a few people in ragged clothes huddling together near the doors and windows; a slum for the poor, outside the wall and out of sight. The wall also looked like it could use some repairs as sections were starting to crumble; except for the Helker gates. Docks lined special stone buildings that looked pristine at the ends of the walls that met the Helker where I watched guards on boats take a toll from a merchant ship that was trying to head inland.

"The Baron seems to have his priorities," Elise mused as she saw what I was looking at.

"It's not a rare sight," Jeremy commented as he glanced outside. I guess this place was already reminding him of Mornhold. "…Just like what's coming next." Elise and I looked ahead to see what Jeremy was talking about and saw a few city guards stop us at the gates.

"State your business and prepare to pay the toll!" …Were we getting mugged as soon as we arrived? And by the guards?

Fortunately, or unfortunately, Carl was leading our group and got in the guard's face, "Toll? Since when did the lord of this city need to pay a toll?"

"Lord?" the guard exclaimed and looked at my carriage and the Hellhounds in confusion. "That carriage doesn't belong to the Baron, I'd know, and you lot don't look like one of us. Now you can pay the toll or I can bring you in for impersonating my Lord!" Wow, his bravado is kind of commendable.

"If only you had the brains to back it up," I said while leaning out the window.

"Wha-?" While I was wearing a more humble green dress it was still luxurious enough to make me recognizable as a noble. "Unfortunately, my Lady, rules are rules so-"

"And since when did Solfin's 'rules' overturn the Emperor's decree?" I asked which got a rise out of all the gathered guards. Thankfully I brought with me the official document that stated my status and I showed it to the guard and introduced myself, "I am Lucina Sanguine, the new Countess of Solfin."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"!?!" As soon as they saw the Emperor's wax seal on my document and heard my name, a wave of unease swept over the guards. "A-Ah, my apologies for the rudeness, Countess." Even though he was apologizing to us, something felt…off. "I will send word to the Baron of your arrival and will have one of my men escort you to his mansion at once."

"The escort won't be necessary," I replied and felt some unfriendly gazes from the guards in the back. "I'd like to look around the city first before meeting the Baron."

"I insist you should meet the Baron first, Countess." He calls me my title yet shows blatant disrespect to it by giving me orders? He's making it sound like a baron outranks a countess. Maybe they were nervous that a new lord would mean their little operation would be getting scrutinized and punishments doled out. I could probably use that to my advantage but for now, I should keep my head down to see firsthand what's going on.

"…Very well, lead the way." Nothing is ever easy, though I'm thankful that Carl was controlling himself and not cutting the man down where he stood. A messenger was sent ahead and one of the guards started leading us through Solfin and toward a large, and very extravagant-looking, mansion that sat atop the tallest hill inside the city's walls. The hill was filled with trees as if to create a natural wall between the mansion and the rest of the city; a city that was almost as bad as the slums outside. The roads we were on were barely better than the ones leading up to the city though at least the potholes were filled in with gravel. Buildings weren't rotting away but many looked abandoned or barely held any customers once we went beyond the main street. People on the streets were scarce and those we did see gave us a wide berth; or to be more precise they gave the guard leading us a wide berth. Since Solfin was built on an incline I could see the piers along the ocean and all the ships that occupied them as we ascended toward the Baron's mansion; it was like the only life in the city was along the water and main street before gradually fading away.

"How dare they…!" Elise was doing her best but her clenched fists and soured expression showed how upset she was. "They dare treat The Harbinger of Zulm, and their new lord, with such disrespect!? If I didn't see the temple to the Storm Father in the distance I would think this a city of heathens!" Since Solfin was a coastal city it held a temple to Lord Sen as a way for sailors to pray for good fortunes and calm waters. That being said, even from how far away we were I could see at least one of the temple's windows boarded up. I knew the Emperor wasn't a fan of the gods but it looked like his follower vassals were also the same.

"Don't make your conclusion just yet," I said and motioned toward the door closest to Elise. "There's only one guide so slip out and make your way to the temple unnoticed. If the report's correct there should be an Elder Philip there, get in contact with him and try and figure out what he knows." Even if they weren't from the same flock, the people in the temple should be more receiving of Elise than one of the other Hellhounds.

"At once, Harbinger!" Elise waited until the guide went around a corner before quickly leaving the carriage and disappearing into an alley.

"Will she be alright by herself?" Jeremy asked as he watched her go.

"She's capable of handling herself." I gave Jeremy a knowing smile as I knew what he really meant, "I wouldn't send your~ Elise on an impossible task."

"…" He didn't respond to me, but his blushing cheeks told me more than any words he could have spoken. Considering we lived in a share tent for almost two years I'm not sure how they expected it to be a secret; even I knew about it and I was in my commander's tent by that point.

"That said, make sure to remind me about that guard we spoke to at the gate, later. Once Peter gets here I'm going to have him whip the watch into shape."

"Will you be purging them?" Jeremy asked as he refocused on the task at hand.

"I'll just be following some advice my brother gave me before coming here." I couldn't help but laugh as I thought about what Adam said to me which made Jeremy raise an eyebrow in confusion. "My name is both an insult and a badge of honor so I might as well get the most out of it by leaning into it." I can't wait to show them how a Sanguine deals with things.

***

"We're here, Countess!" After climbing a steep path through the miniature forest that surrounded it, Lucina and her party finally reached the gates to the Baron's mansion. Stone walls topped with black iron spikes formed a perimeter around the mansion's grounds with a large iron gate blocking the way inside with two guards dressed in leather armor adorned with tabards depicting the Baron's family crest: a red catfish on a white background. The guide approached the guards first and briefly talked with them before turning back to the carriage and calling out, "I'll lead your knights to lodgings in the city while you go on ahead, Countess."

"What?" Carl barked which made the gate guards tense up.

Even if she was calmer, an underlying anger bled into Lucina's voice as she asked, "Are you telling me my knights can't enter the estate I'll be staying at?"

"Yes, Countess," one of the guards spoke up and glanced at the Hellhound knights. "For the safety of the Baron and Baroness, we ask that you leave your…knights behind." The disrespect was so blatant that Lucina had to stop herself from laughing and making the situation worse.

"You make it sound like my knights will go out of their way to harm the Baron's family." Even if she wouldn't escalate just yet, Lucina wouldn't take the insult lying down.

"While you are of noble birth, Countess, rabble are still rabble and we cannot allow their ignorance to bring harm to the Baron or his wife."

"Are you sure it's my knights you fear and not your own citizens?" Lucina mused which got her a glare from the gate guard. "Am I at least allowed to bring in my aide?"

"That-"

"He was the former aide to Mornhold's mayor and I can vouch for his credibility." Lucina gave the guard a sly smile and added, "You wouldn't force a noblewoman to be without even a single servant, would you?" While her mother tried to send some maids with her, Lucina denied taking anyone from the Felswore house with her to Solfin since she wanted to start fresh with her own people; and she still held an old grudge against their servants.

"We will provide you with adequate servants from the mansion's staff." The guard was getting annoyed with this back-and-forth Lucina was doing, but Lucina was having fun so she kept pushing.

"But this will be my first time living in another's home so it would ease my mind greatly to have at least one person I knew by my side. He was also approved by my father, Count Felswore, so if you have any complaints about him then feel free to send a letter to Gauldrin." She deliberately brought up her father's name to put more pressure on the guard as continuing to push back would be going against the requests of two people who held ranks above the Baron's. Lucina's innocent smile didn't match the daggers in her eyes as she stared down at the gate guard who started feeling a cold sweat run down the back of his neck.

"…Please wait a moment, Countess," the guard pleaded before giving a bow and rushing into the estate and toward the mansion.

"Honestly, who do they think they are?" Carl complained while not caring that their guide and the second guard were still here to listen to him.

"It's their home, so for now we'll play by their rules," Lucina said while leaning back into the carriage and resting against her seat.

"…Lucina?" Carl rode up next to the window and whispered inside so as not to be overheard. "Can I take some of the men and…look around the city after we get lodgings?"

"…For fun or business?" Lucina curiously watched as Carl pulled his cloak's hood over his head to block his mouth from being seen and lips from being read.

"I know it's not good to just confront a noble without anything to back up our words, so I'd like to do some digging while you're dealing with the Baron."

"Do you know people in Solfin?" Lucina wasn't sure how Carl, a man she only knew as a fighter, would 'dig up' things without help.

"No, but you don't need to since the best source of information's only a single coin away," Carl said while patting his coin purse.

"You mean street urchins?"

Carl gave a nod and explained, "Growing up I would often go days without food so I'd sneak out to steal from the trash." It was clear that he was uncomfortable sharing, but Carl pressed on and continued, "I know how to sweet talk them, and kids on the street see and hear a lot more than you'd think. This city looks rife with them, so it probably won't even take a day before I find something interesting to hold against the Baron."

"…Well isn't this a surprise," Lucina quietly chuckled as she just found the person she was looking for to help build her information network. "Will you need more money than what you have?"

"No, but do you have any change?" Carl took out two gold coins and held them out to Lucina. "Kids can't use gold since it'll likely get stolen by adults, or no vendor will accept it since they'll think the kid stole it; copper coins are better."

"Sure." Lucina took the gold and exchanged it with Carl for some copper and silver coins. "If you find any kids with potential then give them a silver and remember their names."

"Got it," Carl said and gave a nod before putting the coins away in his pouch.

"Countess!" And just in time for the first guard to return with news. "Your aide may join you, but only him."

"Excellent," Lucina sarcastically exclaimed and smiled at the returning guard. She turned to their guide and said, "Then I trust you to lead my men to some lodgings."

"Of course, Countess," the guide said and gave a small bow before heading off back down the hill with the Hellhounds following close behind.

"This way, Countess. The Baron wishes to speak with you." The guards opened the iron gates and motioned for the carriage to head inside. Jeremy made sure he had all his things ready to go and looked at Lucina one last time before they stepped out of the carriage only to see a familiar-looking smile playing across Lucina's face. Lucina was getting excited at how things would turn out.