“Let's go home, Secilia.”

The duke says, looking at the girl and then turning his face to the rest of the group.

“Rosaria and Olyver, tomorrow I want you in my office, tell me what happened, everything that happened.”

The Duke says toughly, looking at each one, and then turns, heading out of the place. Secilia follows alongside her father, head bowed, while Helena stays behind for a moment.

“ Thanks for looking out for her. I don't know the details, but take good care of the boy you found. A clinic doctor will check on him tonight.”

After saying this, with a slight smile, the woman turns and leaves the place. The family stops outside, near the fountain in the city center. The Duke turns to Secilia, looking down.

“ How do you feel, Secilia? Did you get hurt in any way?”

The duke asks in a calmer voice than usual.

“I didn't get hurt, but Rosaria and... the boy did.”

Secilia omits the boy's name before finishing the sentence.

“Better go home and rest. Your mom will take you, I still have things to sort out today.”

Helena puts her hand on her husband's shoulder as he finishes the sentence.

”Love, maybe you should take Secilia with you. I think you both need some time together. She already said she's fine, and I can't see any injuries.”

The duke looks at his wife and sighs. He turns his face to his daughter.

“I'm going to meet some people. You can come with me or go home to rest with your mom, what do you prefer?”

The girl looks at her dad and then her mom, a choice with pros and cons on both sides, but Secilia always prefers to meet new people.

“ I'll go with you, I'm fine, no need to rest.”

The duke smiles at his daughter's choice.

“Let's go, Secilia, today you'll accompany me.”

The duke starts walking toward the mansion. Upon arriving home, Helena looks at her daughter and puts her hand on her head.

“See you later, dear.”

Helena says goodbye and goes to the library on the second floor. Secilia goes to her room, changing. Meanwhile, her dad waits in the living room. After the girl gets ready, both head directly to the winery.

Upon arriving at the location, the employees bow in reverence and return to work, with only the assistant heading towards the Duke.

“We've already sent the boxes and left the orders ready at the distributor. Also, some merchants are already arriving in the city, but the caravans are expected to start coming tomorrow or in the evening.”

The Duke walks over to one of the tanks where the wine is produced.

“Have you started the new production?”

“We've started the harvest, without any problems this time. The first batch of wines is already ready.”

The Duke opens the tap of the tank over a glass and moves it slowly.

“Ildens Inn was thinking of hosting a stomping presentation. Why don't we provide them with some grapes and offer a tasting of Modrika and Farvayn wines?”

Secilia suggests to her father while he moves the glass. The Duke doesn't look at the girl when he hears her suggestion and then tastes the wine.

“Set aside enough grapes for 4 winepresses. It should be enough for a presentation.”

The Duke extends the glass to his daughter.

Secilia holds the glass and lightly tastes the drink.

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A wine with a light pink color, a strong acidic taste, but with a sweet flavor in the background, giving a distinct sensation where the alcohol seems to emerge at the beginning and disappear shortly after, leaving a sweet grape taste in the mouth. This was the Farvayn wine, made with grapes of the same name that had a whitish-pink color.

“Let's go.”

The Duke heads towards the exit. Secilia leaves the glass on a nearby tray and follows closely behind her father. The duo walks through the city, stopping occasionally to greet important merchants or a few mercenaries with gold plaques.

“The nobles haven't arrived yet. I wonder if they had any problems on the way?”

Secilia asks her father shortly after a conversation with a merchant. The man looks towards the distant city entrance where guards are stationed, checking the visitors.

“ No serious problems, just a delay in the schedule, a route blocked by rocks. We were notified yesterday.”

Secilia smiles briefly. Her father was prepared. No wonder he was one of the few dukes who maintained direct contact with the royal family.

The duke walks along a street beyond the main one, heading left in the city.

The way to the location is relatively far. Most nobles would use a carriage for this, but the Duke always showed a dislike for exaggeration, preferring to walk like any normal person. After a while, they reach Ildens Inn, where a sign with a heart surrounded by flames hangs.

Upon entering, the duo is greeted by a girl dressed in a red dress and long gloves.

“Welcome, Duke, miss.”

The girl bows in greeting.

“He's already waiting in the meeting room. Can I help you with anything else?”

The duke looks around the inn. The place is crowded with various merchants and mercenaries in front of the reception.

Secilia is somewhat curious about who the "he" referred to, but she doesn't inquire her father about the situation.

“Tell Gaurin that Lafrey Winery will sponsor the stomping with 4 winepress.”

The girl nods and indicates the way for them to be guided to the meeting room.

"I thought we were just going to announce the sponsorship, but it makes sense. He said we would meet some people."

Secilia thinks, looking at her father as they follow the girl towards a wide corridor with side doors. At the end, there is only a red door with a golden eagle on it.

"Wow, the golden hall? Is it someone from a royal family or some tribe chief in Harlas?"

Secilia wonders. The receptionist stops on the left side of the door, opening it for the duo. A long table with some chairs arranged is visible. The Duke enters the room, maintaining a stern expression on his face, and Secilia follows right behind him.

Upon entering the room, it is possible to see more clearly the details of the hall: red walls with four beams arranged in a rectangular shape in the corners of the room in a white and gold tone, and a table with golden carvings forming a tree with several branches.

“ Long time no see, Andino. I see you brought your daughter to this meeting.”

"She called my dad by his name... Who could he be?"

Secilia wonders, and the man looks at the girl with a smile on his face.

“Sorry for the delay, Director Haj’yut” (pronounced separating the names Haj Yut).

The duke replies, sitting in the chair opposite the table, maintaining a serene expression.

The so-called director glances at Secilia and smiles subtly.

“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Secilia. I'm Haj’yut, director of the Nalfir Institute.”

The girl smiles, making a bow, holding the edges of her blue dress. From his voice, the owlman didn't seem to be more than 40 years old, which surprised Secilia, he was the director and member of the Tower of Heaven.

She sits on the right side of her father with a strange sensation passing over her eyes, making her blink a few times. It feels like a feather brushing against them. The director turns his gaze back to the duke.

The meeting ended near dusk. The duke and the director only discussed political matters regarding the relationship between the duchy and the magical kingdom.

The trio had just left the room and now found themselves in front of the inn.

“See you at the festival. The Director of Karmity and I decided to send students from both institutions. I'm curious about their progress.”

The director says, putting his hand on his chin and opening a subtle smile.

“Me too. It's been 3 years since the academies participated in the festival. Who will accompany them?”

The smile lingers for a moment before he answers.

“It will be an old friend of your wife.”

He looks at Secilia and smiles, taking a bracelet of intertwined orange threads from his pocket.

“Here, it should help with the discomfort in your eyes.”

The girl takes the bracelet without understanding how he noticed, but her father agrees with the gift.

After putting on the bracelet, the director bows slightly and leaves the place.

“Let's head back home, that's enough for today.”

Said the duke, turning towards the mansion. Secilia watches the director move ahead, but there's still something bothering her eyes. However, now she can see something more, as if there's a thin transparent layer around the director.

“Oh, I wonder if the doctor went to Cyclops?”

Secilia asks her father, who was already walking.

“Tomorrow, after I talk to Rosaria and Olyver, I'll see if I let you go check on the boy.”

The Duke's voice sounded somewhat serious. Secilia just nods with a "yes" and walks alongside her father.