The next morning...

Ethan was seated on the edge of his desk, with one hand braced against it as system screens floated before his eyes.

He had been going through them for a short while, reviewing some rewards from the midnight training session with Isabella.

[Guardian Class: Fifth Foundational Stage — 100% Complete]

[You have gained the Rage Skill]

[Fifth Meridian: Opened]

[Experience Points Balance: 205,000]

He dismissed the screens with a thought just as the door opened.

Hayley stepped in dressed in her usual leather jacket, looking far more lively than she had the night before.

She jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "Hey, what’s up with Percival and Aliyah? They’re both acting weird...I thought they were a thing now."

Ethan smiled. "They had the talk, and decided to stay friends until they’re sure about it."

He let out a chuckle. "Now it’s just making them both miserable."

Aliyah had been sitting in the lobby all morning, doing absolutely nothing while Percival was in the training room alone, which never happened since they were always in there together.

Hayley laughed at that.

Then Ethan asked, "So what happened yesterday? You weren’t around for a while, and when we were heading out, you just... zoomed off on us. "

Her expression change a bit. "Yeah... I was just having a rough time," she said, waving it off. "But I’m good now."

Ethan gave her a look. "You sure?"

"Yeah, yeah." Then she added, almost as an afterthought, "Though... I might’ve done something a little stupid."

Ethan raised a brow.

She scratched the back of her neck. "I may have confronted Isabella’s sister."

"Hayley..." Ethan began

"I know, I know," she cut in quickly, already making a face. "You don’t have to scold me."

She looked away slightly. "She just got to me. I couldn’t help it."

Ethan exhaled, then shook his head lightly. "It’s fine."

Hayley walked toward him then wrapped her arms around him, resting her head into his chest.

"You barely talked to me yesterday," she muttered. "You were all about the princess. That wasn’t... nice."

Ethan went stiff for a second as he had been caught off guard. Then he relaxed, with smile forming as he stroked her hair. "What Isabella and I were discussing was important. I was trying to learn more about the Desdemonas. She knows them better than I expected."

Hayley pulled back slightly, studying his look. "Okay."

"Speaking of which," she said, "that was some announcement yesterday."

"Yeah." Ethan nodded. "Lady Audrey played that perfectly."

Hayley glanced at him. "How so?"

"The moment she made that declaration openly," he began, "everyone who had already started distancing themselves from House Desdemona would stop and reconsider."

Hayley listened quietly.

"The King punishing Edgar had already set a tone. But her statement came off as though she wasn’t standing behind nor defending her grandson."

He paused briefly. "And on top of that, she publicly aligned herself with the King’s family. That changes alot of things."

Hayley then said. "So people are just... switching back because of that?"

"You can put it that wah," Ethan said. "I mean... Why cut ties with House Desdemona when they’re about to be connected to the throne? The value of that association just went up overnight. Anyone who stepped back is now looking at what they stand to lose by staying away."

Hayley shook her head lightly. "That’s insane."

"Yeah." He nodded slowly, and for a moment it looked like his gaze had gone distant. "And honestly... I think this country is moving toward a conflict of some kind."

Hayley stared at him with a puzzled expression. "You’re making it sound like some war is brewing up"

Ethan didn’t answer immediately. Then he simply said, "honestly... I think someone wants there to be one."

Hayley held his gaze for a second, then let it go as she seemed to have noticed something else.

His overcoat was still on him and his tie hadn’t been adjusted at all, which prompted the question from Hayley, "Are you headed out or you just arrived?"

Ethan glanced at her. "I came in to check a few things, but I’ve got a meeting at the company."

"A meeting?" She asked

"With the estate developers," Ethan said. "They’re handling a large area of land the King gave me as a gift. Part of everything we’ve got going on."

Hayley nodded slowly. "Ohh. I see." Then a mischievous smile crept onto her face. "So what do I have to give you to enter a marriage alliance with me too?"

Ethan laughed and Hayley laughed with him, amused by her own joke.

"Alright, I should get going," he said. "You want to come?"

Her eyes gleamed. "Of course."

He smiled, and with that, they both left.

Ethan stepped into the boardroom and immediately drew the attention of everyone present.

"Apologies for being late," he said, moving straight to the head of the table.

Just behind him, Hayley stepped in. "Hi, guys," she offered casually, before her eyes landed on Eduardo. She lifted a hand with a grin. "Hey, co-pilot."

Eduardo smiled and gave a nod.

Hayley moved to the seat beside Valerie, who was already positioned next to Eduardo.

To Ethan’s left sat three men. One bore the distinct features of an orc-person, though dressed sharply in a fitted suit. Beside him sat an elf, composed and watchful. Next to him, a human representative.

To his right was Eduardo, Oswald, Valerie, and then Hayley.

Ethan took his seat. He let the room settle for a second before turning his attention towards his advocate. "Mr. Oswald. Are those documents ready?."

Oswald nodded and opened his briefcase, retrieving a set of neatly prepared documents.

"The first document," he began, placing it before Ethan, "is the formal transfer record of the King’s gift."

He tapped lightly on the page.

Although the land had been given as a permanent gift; one that, under Gritnia’s law, could not be reclaimed by anyone, including the King himself; Ethan still wanted it properly formalized on paper before anything else moved forward.

"Prior to this meeting, I visited the palace," Oswald added. "The document has been reviewed and stamped by an official acting under the King’s direct authority."

Ethan’s eyes dropped to the page. And there it was, the royal seal.

He read through it briefly and without saying anything further, he picked up the pen and signed.