[Late Evening]

[Southern Kingdom - Capital city: Chesterton - Lenoir Manor]

Though married, she shared her bed with no one. 

Left to her own devices, her husband rarely visited and tended to his own affairs elsewhere.

Uneasy thoughts, the cause of her restlessness as she now walked the silent and dark halls of her manor. A single source of light in hand brightened her path. 

Nothing moved about, save her; the servants long retired to their rooms. Closed and locked doors lined every hallway. With no fixed destination in mind, her feet led her onwards until eventually she arrived on the ground floor.

Past the Great Hall and the Dining room and the kitchen. All was quiet and still.

Locked doors found here led only to rooms opened for cleaning and dusting prior to her husband's rare arrivals. And always they usually were. 

However, now, in the distance she observed a glow, a faint light streaming out from one of the rooms and into the corridor.

Careful and hushed, the voices spoke within. A stranger’s voice then that of her husband. Of a letter and crossing over the border he whispered. The Emperor too was mentioned. And the stranger’s voice then replied in favour, for it said ‘Very well’.

The rapid thumping of her heart soon the only sound heard as the voices fell silent. 

Footsteps matching pace approached the door and a tall figure loomed to find her standing near.

-- Christine?

The voice enquired. His dark eyes glinted from the lamp’s light in her unsteady hand.

-- Why are you still awake?

Christine: I- I could not rest

-- …

Christine: You have returned? No word was sent that-

-- I shall not be staying long.

Christine: Oh. I see..

An unsettling silence then passed between them. 

All the while the man kept a narrowed gaze upon her before suggesting

-- Perhaps, it is best that you return to your quarters now.

Tight lipped she nodded and turned; her husband observing her, ensuring she obeyed. 

[WEEKS LATER]

*

[October]

THE GREAT EMPIRE

[Evening shift]

[Caspian Islands - Prison Island - Inside Tower A]

-BLAM!!

Spilling more than half of the water contained within, the officer slammed the bowl down onto the food tray. A pair of hands;  with dirty ragged nails, came slowly through the slot to obtain it. 

Impatient, the man then barked at him

-- Be quick about it!!

However, at that same instant 

-BANG! -BANG! -BANG!

Someone heavily knocked at the front door. The unexpected booming sound in the stillness of the late evening, momentarily alarming the officer. 

At once he opened the wooden door, undoing its locks and latches. It squeaked open and a man’s face appeared. 

A familiar face.

-- Father?! I- I mean- Chief Commander! 

Casually he addressed him and entered, closing the door behind saying

Sir Rícard: It’s quite alright, William

He smiled warmly, taking notice of his son’s alarmed expression.

William: …

Sir Rícard: Apologies for the lateness of my visit. But I came to personally report that I shall be departing the island before dawn. I have been reassigned

William: ..! Where to?

Sir Rícard: The location is… it is a special assignment from the Emperor.

William nodded and replied

William: Understood.

Sir Rícard: Which means that a new Chief Commander shall be required during my absence. 

William: …

Sir Rícard: I made recommendations and the position was assigned to you. 

William: Me?!

Sir Rícard: …

William: I mean- thank you for the opportunity, Sir. I shall do my best.

The Commander smiled as he nodded and said

Sir Rícard: In the meanwhile, I recommend that you carefully consider a replacement for this post. It is essential to have an officer in whom you can trust. 

William: -nod- Yes, Sir.

Sir Rícard: With that being said,...it has been some years since your graduation.

William: ..?

Sir Rícard: Your final exam? The spar between Darren and yourself. I thought you would have admitted your fault to me by now.

William: …!

Sir Rícard: I know what you did, William.

Unable to meet his father’s eyes, he dropped his which were still wide, and remained silent

Sir Rícard: What have you to say for yourself now?

His father firmly asked of him. William, his mouth twisting before he replied then said

William: …At the time- I..

Sir Rícard: …

William: No, I.. know what I did was wrong, but-

Sir Rícard observed the struggle he had in expressing himself and interjected saying

Sir Rícard: A little more self-examination is still required I suspect…

William: …

Sir Rícard: Use this opportunity afforded you to do such.

William: …yes, Sir

**

All the while as the pair spoke, ears were pricked as it listened in the darkness, and eyes of cold blue peered menacingly through the gap in a door left open. 

It observed both men’s appearances as they conversed.

The younger one was known only by his voice,  however, as now noted, he greatly resembled the other man. A livelier impression of what the older one once was. For that man had aged and greyed and became less hardy than when he was last seen. 

But the mind of the prisoner behind his cell door cared not for what the man had become, only for what he had done and about taking revenge.

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