That evening, Lucian took an uncharacteristic walk through Duskwatch. A young girl ran up to him, clutching a loaf of fresh bread. "Thank you, my lord! My mother says we have food now because of you!"

Lucian blinked. "I… I just cancelled taxes."

"You made it so we could keep what we worked for!" she beamed, running off before he could respond.

Lucian stood there for a moment, watching the bustling town that was somehow, impossibly, thriving. A flicker of something unfamiliar settled in his chest.

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Elaine, leaning against a post nearby, smirked. "Starting to feel like a real lord yet?"

Lucian sighed. "I don’t know what I’m doing."

She shrugged. "Maybe. But it’s working."

He studied her for a moment. "You were a knight. Why didn’t you try to get reinstated?"

Elaine chuckled. "I like it here. Chaos suits me. Besides, I don’t need a fancy title to make a difference."

Lucian scoffed. "So you’re saying you enjoy the madness?"

She grinned. "Let’s just say I’m not interested in boring leadership. And you, my lord, are anything but boring."

Nearby, Dorian watched the exchange with a contemplative look. He adjusted his glasses, exhaling slowly. "Maybe I’m starting to believe in this place after all," he muttered under his breath.

image [https://pin.it/3gfreuMOs]