Roland Lievan Castell adjusted the cuffs of his deep indigo coat, the fabric crisp, elegant, and fitting for a man of intellect and station. He glanced at his reflection in the polished mirror of his study, smoothing his hair and straightening the collar of his shirt.
I wonder what she's doing right now… he mused silently, fingers lightly tapping the edge of his desk.
Would she even notice I was coming today, or is she deliberately keeping herself… distant?
He shook his head, lips twitching in quiet amusement.
There is something in her that always draws my attention, no matter the distance.
Stepping outside, a grand carriage waited, polished to a mirror sheen, the horses stamping softly on the cobblestones. Roland approached, his footsteps precise and measured.
"Take care of the estate while I am gone, James," he said to his butler, his tone calm yet commanding.
The butler bowed deeply, the lines of duty etched into his face. "At your command, my lord. Farewell and safe travels."
Roland settled into the carriage, the interior suffused with a quiet elegance. He rested his arm on the edge of the window, chin cradled in his hand, gazing at the passing city streets.
Does she enjoy making me chase her?
He wondered, a faint, almost amused smile crossing his lips.
The carriage rolled away from the southern capital, leaving behind the clamor, the smells of spices and smoke, the bustle of merchants and carts. Soon, they were traveling north, the road flanked by dense forests, the air cooler and fresher with every mile.
At last, the Sunspear Estate emerged from the treeline, its stone walls and slate roofs half-hidden amidst the greenery. Despite its elegance, a certain austerity clung to the place, as though it were a fortress against the world rather than a welcoming home.
The carriage door opened, and Roland stepped down, greeted only by the distant clatter of hooves and the presence of a single knight stationed at the gate.
Two guards moved aside, swinging the gates open as the Marquess approached. He nodded politely toward the knight in charge.
"Welcome, Lord Castell," the knight said with measured formality, eyes sharp beneath his helm.
Roland waved his hand in return.
"It's been some time, Ser Roderic. I trust the sunspear estate remains in order during my absence?"
The knight's towering frame loomed over him, his gaze steady and unyielding. A chill ran down Roland's spine.
"Of course, Lord Castell," Roderic replied, his voice calm but edged with an unspoken weight. He said no more.
Roland shifted slightly, feeling the tension in the air.
"And… my wife—is she at home? I've heard she has been… somewhat reclusive these days. Not even a single letter from her."
Ser Roderic's eyes did not waver, his presence commanding.
"Lady Duavan is occupied. She does not wish to see any visitors today."
Roland's brow furrowed, the words striking him like a cold wind. He tried to mask his rising frustration with a polite smirk.
"Even a visit from her husband?"
The knight's stare intensified, unflinching.
Roland swallowed, stepping back slightly under the weight of that glare.
A dog who dares growl at its master should learn to obey, he thought wryly, irritation mingling with disbelief.
"Ser Roderic… staring at me in such a manner might earn you more trouble than you wish. Is there… a reason for this?"
Ser Roderic's expression remained calm, voice steady, almost rehearsed.
"Lady Duavan does not allow visitors today."
He paused, letting the words hang, then repeated with quiet intensity.
"Even from her husband."
Roland's chest tightened Absurd, he thought.
Why would she deny me? He could feel the heat creeping into his cheeks, a mixture of indignation and worry.
His mind raced—Has something happened? Has she… changed so much in my absence?
"Impossible," he muttered, tone sharp but controlled. "I am her husband, Ser Roderic. Surely she would—"
But Roderic's unwavering stance and unyielding gaze left the words hanging uselessly in the cold air of the estate gates. Roland clenched his fists briefly at his sides, feeling the unusual sting of frustration.
Roland took a slow breath, straightening his coat and forcing his mind to focus.
I must see her, he told himself.
Even if the entire world—including her own knight—stands against me.
The knight's calm authority was unnerving, as though the man could sense every unspoken thought and measure it with cold precision.
Roland's eyes narrowed slightly, scanning the knight's rigid form. The coldness in Ser Roderic's gaze would have unsettled most men—but Roland's patience, though thin, was not so easily broken. He took a deliberate step forward, boots clicking against the cobblestones, and let his presence fill the space.
"Ser Roderic," he said evenly, voice low but firm.
"I am not a mere guest wandering the grounds. I am her husband. There will be no exception for me."
Roderic's eyes flickered, a subtle tension in his jawline, yet he held his ground, the silence pressing like stone. Roland inhaled slowly, forcing his chest to steady.
So be it, he thought.
If she wishes to remain distant, I will not be deterred by her guardians.
Roland took another step forward, his tone sharpening with quiet authority.
"If my presence is unwelcome, then perhaps the lady has forgotten the bounds of propriety. I am here to see her, Ser Roderic. Not to parley. You may choose to obey—or face the consequence of standing in my way."
The knight stiffened, and for the briefest moment, Roland sensed the undercurrent of respect—and caution—behind the man's stoicism.
Roland's gaze swept past Roderic, toward the estate itself, the cold stone walls standing in silent defiance. Yet in his chest, a pulse of determination beat stronger than irritation.
She may try to evade me, to hide herself in her sanctuary—but I will find her. I will speak to her.
Finally, Roderic's shoulders shifted slightly, a subtle acknowledgment. His voice, measured, broke the tension.
"My lord… you may enter. But know this—Lady Duavan's wishes are not lightly ignored. She will not receive you willingly."
Roland's lips curled in a faint, controlled smile.
Whatever it may be…
Nothing that I can handle, he thought.
He stepped past Ser Roderic, letting the knight's stern presence fall behind him. The estate was quiet, almost eerily so—far colder than he expected, the hearths unlit, the usual signs of activity absent. His boots echoed against the polished stone floor, each step amplifying the emptiness.
The main hall spread before him, austere yet elegant, the walls lined with tapestries that whispered of legacy and pride. Noting the meticulous order of the estate—every tapestry, every suit of armor, perfectly maintained—but no sign of her. A subtle frustration coiled in his chest.
She's not here. Where is she?
Roland's fingers brushed against the smooth banister as he moved through the halls, eyes sharp.
Hiding from me, even now, he mused, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips despite himself.
A test? Or is she simply indifferent to my arrival?
The silence was almost mocking, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves outside and the distant clop of horses at the stables. Roland stopped at the main sitting room, glancing at the empty chairs and polished surfaces.
Ser Roderic made it abundantly clear she won't welcome me today. Very well—then I'll wait. She cannot avoid me forever.
He leaned against the edge of the window, resting his chin on his hand, eyes tracing the horizon beyond the estate.
Even in absence, she commands my attention. Absence or not, I am not so easily dismissed.
Eyes tracing the tree line beyond the estate. The wind stirred the leaves in quiet whispers, he pressed a hand to his temple, letting a low sigh escape.
"Perhaps… I shouldn't have acted as I did before," he murmured, voice barely above the sound of the breeze.
His tone was measured, but there was an edge of regret beneath it—an acknowledgment that something in his own choices had driven her to retreat from the world, even from him.
He let the words linger, each shadowed thought carrying the weight of months of distance.
She's kept herself here ever since… Ever since that day. Have I made her wary that I may have hurt her in ways I cannot undo?
The faintest shadow of a frown crossed his face, eyes narrowing slightly.
No matter… I will find a way to reach her. Even if the estate walls themselves try to keep me out.
Roland exhaled slowly, letting a quiet determination settle over him. The day would be long, the chase postponed, but he would not leave Sunspear Estate without speaking to her—whatever it took.