For some reason, his carriage was at the lead of the procession. The instrumentalists followed just behind him, playing a tune that could deoress any soul.

He was the only guest that was allowed to use a vehicle. The others grumbled silently, envying him for defying tradition because they couldn’t.

Some women were desperate enough to ask for a ride with him.

But of course, he was not about to incline himself to endure the company he abhorred for the sake of being polite.

The skies still hadn’t recovered from the heavy downpour of the previous night.

When he glanced at the guests that had begun the long walk to the chapel, he noticed that Miss Stenly was nowhere to be seen.

Neither was her guard, or her precious Lord Bronan.

They were probably going to come out together.

The thought repulsed him so much that he refused to look out the window again. The last thing he wanted was to see them together, to see her bestowing her dazzling smile at him, to hear her laughing with any man that wasn’t him.

He shook his head, running a hand through the locks his attendant had taken pains to tame.

Since when did he become so possessive? He wondered.

Even when riding in the carriage, with time he became bored and would have much rather preferred to walk.

The carriage finally came to a halt in front of the chapel and he stepped down.

Yeren smoothed his garments and looked back at the path.

Some guests had arrived before him while others were still on the path.

With his guards in tow, he entered the building.

Soon after, more guests began trooping inside the building.

The pews were filling up very fast and from his position on the dais, he couldn’t spot Claire or Aldrich.

Or her guard.

Then the ceremony began.

The priest mounted the stand and began to recite the passage of the great wolf that Malrick had been.

Throughout the whole boring speeches that were made, she never came in.

She had been supposed to sit on the dais with him and the other guests of honour.

Worry began to creep in, but the thought that she and Aldrich were probably having a tryst in the woods shut the door hastily.

Then they began to proceed to the graveside.

The women were grumbling from all the walking they had to do.

All of Malrick’s sons were dressed identically, each holding on to a woman. Only the wife of the second son was deceased - he heard she had died of some peculiar illness that plagued weak-hearted wolves.

The renowned Lady Malrick had died nearly ten years ago. He proceeded along with the other guests seated on the dais since the graveside was in the prestigious cemetery behind the chapel.

Even during the procession, she was nowhere to be seen.

Aldrich finally appeared, looking disheveled as if he had been running a marathon.

He heard him speak to someone beside him and discovered that that was Claire’s guard beside him.

Was something wrong?

He turned to Maurius beside him and mind linked with him.

Maurius went to where her guard and Aldrich stood and spoke with them. Then he returned and shook his head.

Yeren didn’t need words to understand that they didn’t know where she was.

She was missing?

As the body was about to be laid to rest after the rites were said, he finally saw her. She looked flushed and sweaty and Lord Moonstone appeared behind her.

He hadn’t been there before, had he?

Her eyes were wide and dazed and she was frowning.

Aldrich and her guard rushed to where she stood.

Then she looked up and their eyes met.

He was the first person to look away this time.

He didn’t want her to see through his cool facade. Especially after the aloof way he had treated her the previous night.

"Please, say a few words, Your Grace." The priest said, turning to him.

He blinked at first before he immediately composed himself.

"Lord Malrick as you all knew served my father as the master of coin, and my father’s father before serving me. Not once did I find a fault with his service, even when his sight was growing dim."

He paused and let his gaze flick through the crowd.

He looked at everywhere but where she stood.

"He was an upright man. May his soul rest in peace."

"May his soul rest in peace." The crowd chorused.

The ceremony came to a close. The sombrely dressed crowd began to proceed back to house for refreshments and much needed rest for their feet.

He moved towards the bereaved family. The crowd parted like the clouds to let him through.

The new Lord Malrick stood there, his eyes blank and red. Yeren could see he was struggling not to cry.

They must have been a closely knit family.

It reminded him of how he’d had to be strong when his father died. But he hadn’t even been half the age of the new Lord Malrick then, not to speak of currently.

He patted the man on the back. He nodded, squeezing the hand of his weeping wife beside him.

"Thank you for coming, Your Grace. You have truly honoured the old man."

Yeren nodded, patted him again and turned to leave.

As he turned, Claire was just coming up behind him. Their bodies brushed as she moved past him to offer her condolences to the new Lord Malrick.

If the man noticed the slight, he gave no sign.

"Thank you for inviting me. My apologies for not making it on time... I was a little lost." He heard her saying.

"Lost? How were you lost?" Malrick asked her.

She fell silent.

When he realised he was standing there listening to their conversation like an idiot, he moved away and went towards where his carriage was parked in front of the chapel.

Many people came to greet him and offer well wishes as if he was the one who suffered loss.

But he might as well have.

Because he couldn’t think of someone who could manage the coin of the Kingdom better than Malrick did.

He slid into the carriage.

Then he glanced out the window.

Claire was coming towards where his carriage was.

He thought he was mistaken until she knocked on the door of the carriage.

His guards glanced at him.

"Open for her." He said.

The door was opened and she climbed inside without any assistance.

His heart rate rose to the roof of the carriage.

What did she want with him this time?