Silence.

A small white hand gripped the pages of a parchment, the other found its way under a small chin. Their owner displayed an amused smile as her thrilled eyes followed in compliment. Soft white hair adorned the face, plaited half atop her head and the rest flowing down back; covered in pale blue soft lace, gently to meet a small waste. Her sharp laughter took the room, causing those who stood before her to tremble more than they thought they could.

Her spectators two well-built men dressed in formal white shirt, covered by dark brown well tailored jackets. They had words at the tip of their tongue; but no matter their courage, it dared not descend, for fear of disturbing her melodious laughter. A laughter that pleased the ears of any who heard, but made their stomachs quake in fear.

"I have not laughed that well in years," Lucy said and the men believed her. Who would believe Lady Wickshire was amused enough to laugh? They had known her long, yet they had never heard it, save this day.

"I dare not imagine it was the list of guest on your coming birthday celebration that causes your amusement?" Lord Morge asked.

"Oh, sit down both of you," Lucy said and they sat. Was it not the shock of her laughter that had caused them to stand? They wanted to say, but held back in the end.

"The turnout of events is amusing. Very amusing," she said, putting down the parchment.

"In the guest list?" Lord of Merve asked.

"The Ligrel clan," Lucy said and they nodded.

"They are still around, I see,"

"They are not the only ones around. The Marjiont Valley is around. So are the Vigron and Ostie," Lucy said and the two men frowned.

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"The ancient clan has gathered in the capital? Why?" Lord Morge asked.

"They are all in disguise. The Marjiont is here because of the state of things in the Ligrel clan,"

"Helen being the last descendant of the main house?" Lord Morge asked.

"Yes. The Marjiont and Ligrel are unlike other ancients, they used to be one clan. Marjiont was a branch clan under the Ligrel clan, but that was ten thousand years ago. Now they are enemies. Other clans have alliances with each other in some way, except those two. They can't seem to see eye to eye," Lucy said.

"Then they must be really happy with the turn of events for the Ligrel clan," Lord of Merve said.

"Oh, they are. You see, Ancients are just a group of people with bloodline power; nothing special about that. This is concentrated in the Main house and direct blood, and if the main house dies off, the bloodline power would lose its effect," Lucy explained.

"Understandable why they would need Helen,"

"They want her safe. But now that the entire main house is gone, save for the current clan chief and Helen; they are fragile," Lucy said.

"Does not explain why you are amused, though," Lord of Merve asked.

"With the pressure of the Marjiont Valley on their neck, and the Ligrel clan so weak, don't you think they would have started a war by now?" Lucy asked.

"That's true. Why have they not?" Lord Morge asked.

"Walter," Lucy said mildly and they all paused.

"What? Why?" Lord of Merve asked.

"An unexpected factor. You see, the Steinhouse home is protected by The Religion. That pendant I gave Walter for Lady Steinhouse was to do just that. The Ligrel clan did not barge in and attack the manor; my guess is, the protector found out how the pendant works, because they had their younger generation who needed protection, move to the capital. They are living behind the Steinhouse manor, still in the radius of the pendant," Lucy explained. She sighed for talking too long.

"Protection. They are protecting themselves by staying near Helen," Lord of Merve said in wonder.

"The Marjiont Valley know something is odd. Of course, they now know that Helen is married and seeing as the Ligrel clan opted to move their younger generation under her care, they assume it must have something to do with the new husband nobody has seen. They are wary that the Ligrel clan has found themselves a worthy in-law," Lucy said and they thought it through.

"It's hard to imagine that you had not thought this would happen," Lord Morge said.

"I did, just not this way. I had plans for how to make them accept Walter, but this way is fine also," Lucy chuckled.

"Walter will be shocked at how he has made a name for himself without appearing," Lord of Merve said.