From that moment on, the names of Riley and his wife, Duchess Monique, were etched deeply into the consciousness of the region.
They became figures of both notoriety and mystery—whispered about in taverns, discussed behind closed doors, and feared by nobles and commoners alike.
No one in their right mind dared to provoke them, for doing so was akin to courting disaster.
Riley was more than satisfied with this outcome.
In fact, it was precisely what he had intended from the very beginning.
Authority, once firmly established and reinforced by fear, required little maintenance.
With threats eliminated and rivals subdued, he was finally able to live in peace alongside his family.
Days blended into months, and months quietly slipped into years.
Life settled into a steady rhythm, calm and uneventful.
Before Riley truly realized it, five years had passed in the blink of an eye.
