The weeks after duke’s announcement had been a whirlwind of change. The once-dilapidated estate was now bustling with workers sent by Duke Donovan, who patched roofs, fixed creaking doors, and even brought crates of fresh fruits and rare delicacies. A pair of guards now stood stationed outside, their stoic presence a clear message: Idris was no longer the forgotten bastard.
Even the household staff seemed transformed. They had gone from grumbling about their misfortune to serving Idris with an eagerness bordering on reverence. One of them even bragged to visiting merchants about working for the future Duke. As for me, my salary was raised, though I rarely spent money on anything.
For a fleeting moment, life felt almost... peaceful. But Tristan’s presence shattered the illusion.
I had ju
