Part 53
As Sofia returned inside to join Ethan, the night seemed to deepen, wrapping the estate in a blanket of absolute stillness.
Alexander turned his gaze back to the horizon, but I noticed a slight change in his posture, a subtle tension that only I could detect.
"What is it, Alexander?" I asked softly, setting my wine glass down on the small wicker table beside us.
He remained silent for a moment, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass as he carefully measured his thoughts before speaking.
"The world outside these gates is changing, my love, and though we have won our peace, we cannot afford to become blind to it," he answered.
He reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a small, folded piece of parchment that I hadn't noticed earlier.
The paper looked old, its edges slightly frayed, sealed with a crest that made my breath catch in my throat.
It was the seal of the council, the very organization we thought had dissolved after the final confrontation in the northern valleys.
"This arrived via a private courier just before dusk, while you were helping Sofia with the baby," Alexander whispered, handing it to me.
My hands trembled slightly as I took the parchment, the cool night air suddenly feeling a bit sharper than it had just moments ago.
"They aren't looking for a war," Alexander continued quickly, sensing the sudden rise of anxiety in my chest and stepping closer to comfort me.
"The letter is from Marcus; he has taken control of the remaining factions and is offering a formal, binding treaty of non-interference."
I looked down at the unbroken wax seal, feeling the immense gravity of what this document represented for our family's future.
May you like
If Marcus was truly offering peace, it meant the final piece of our old life was being laid to rest, giving us the absolute freedom we desired.
"Do you trust him?" I asked, looking up into Alexander's eyes, searching for the instinct that had never failed us during the dark years.
