[color=lightgray][center][h1][color=red]FLASHBACK TO SOLA 29 EVENING[/color][/h1] [h2][color=D0B4EC]Charlotte[/color] & [color=4C93C2]Calbert[/color][/h2][/center] [hr] The carriage door opened, and Charlotte descended carefully as Delilah made her way back into the Vikena Estate ahead of her. She took a step to follow her, but then a hush of murmurs reached her ears, and when she lifted her gaze, she stilled. Before the iron gates of the Damien estate stretched a line of nobles and townsfolk alike, each clutching parcels wrapped in silks or paper. Servants in dark clothing stood outside the gate: one by one, they accepted the offerings, lifting lids, untying strings, inspecting for hidden dangers before carrying the acceptable gifts inside. Charlotte’s brow arched in quiet curiosity as she felt a sense of unease. She lingered for a moment until curiosity lured her closer. [color=D0B4EC]“Pardon,”[/color] she began softly, [color=D0B4EC]“What is all this?”[/color] One servant, startled to be addressed so directly, hesitated before answering. [color=FF73D3]“Lady Vikena… word has spread. Lord Cassius and Lady Violet were attacked last night.” [/color] His tone lowered as though secrecy might dull the horror. [color=FF73D3]“He was grievously wounded. Many wish to offer prayers and gifts for his recovery.”[/color] Despite the emotions within, Charlotte’s expression betrayed nothing, only the subtle flutter of her lashes and the momentary furrow of her brows. She inclined her head politely. [color=D0B4EC]“I see. Thank you.” [/color] And with that, she turned, her composure intact though her steps carried haste. However, once she made it through the threshold into her home, that ruse completely fell apart. In the privacy of her empty foyer, she fell to her knees and buried her face in her hands. She remained there longer than she had meant to; the weight of what she had been told dragging her down like an anchor until drowning was inevitable. But despite it all, she never drowned, and time continued as it always did. It was only a few hours later that Charlotte found herself before the Damien gates once more as the moon cast its light over the grand property. The line of well-wishers was gone now, the street emptied all but the torch-bearing guards who stood rigid on either side of the entrance. She stepped forward until the iron barred her path. Her voice was calm, but there was a strain beneath it. [color=D0B4EC]“I request an audience.”[/color] The nearest guard shook his head. [color=FF73D3]“I’m afraid not, my lady. By order of the Count himself—no visitors are being admitted.”[/color] Charlotte’s lips parted, a protest caught in her throat, but still she stood there, a basket with its contents covered by cloth in hand. [color=D0B4EC]“I must speak to the Count. You cannot turn me away without a message at least.”[/color] The guards remained unmoved. For a long moment, only the sound of crickets filled the night. Then the front doors of the estate creaked open. From the stairs descended Count Calbert Damien himself, a tall silhouette with long black hair swaying behind him. [color=4C93C2]“Lady Charlotte Vikena.”[/color] His voice carried the weight of dry amusement as he greeted her. He studied her in silence longer than politeness required. [color=4C93C2]“You arrive at my gates this evening uninvited. Rather bold of you.”[/color] Charlotte did not flinch beneath his scrutiny. [color=D0B4EC]“I brought this for your offspring.”[/color] [color=4C93C2]“Did you.” [/color] He paced a single step closer, his eyes narrowing. [color=4C93C2]“Curious. I asked that you leave them be… And yet here you are, standing at my gates with a basket, as though nothing has passed between us. Almost as if we were old friends.”[/color] He tilted his head, as though he could unravel her entire purpose by sight alone. For a long, suffocating moment, he simply studied her. Then, at last, he laughed. [color=4C93C2]“Very well.” [/color] His hand gestured toward the gates. [color=4C93C2]“If you are determined enough to stand in the night air for my son’s sake, then do come in. But do remember, Lady Vikena…” [/color] His voice dropped lower. [color=4C93C2]“In this house, nothing is given freely. Not even entry.”[/color] The gates groaned open, the path before leading her into the lion’s den. The Damien halls were quiet, their grandeur darkened in color by the hour. Servants melted into the shadows, their eyes lowered as Charlotte was escorted deeper inside. At last, she was led into the Count’s study—the very same he had once threatened her in. Count Calbert Damien entered with the ease of a man utterly at home in his power, his presence filling the room as though he were both host and predator. With a languid gesture toward the chair opposite his desk, he said, [color=4C93C2]“Sit, if you please.”[/color] Charlotte obeyed, lowering herself into the chair with her hands folding atop the basket still in her lap. [color=D0B4EC]“Tell me… how are they?”[/color] [color=4C93C2]“Violet is perfectly fine. Cassius, however…”[/color] He let the words hang, pausing just long enough to watch the flicker in her eyes. [color=4C93C2]“He was struck terribly. Resting now. Alive, but battered. The physicians will do what they can.”[/color] A flicker passed across Charlotte’s expression, though she smothered it quickly. [color=D0B4EC]“May I see him?”[/color] The Count’s dark eyes gleamed with amusement at her audacity. He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. [color=4C93C2]“No, my lady.”[/color] Her fingers tightened faintly against the basket’s handle. [color=D0B4EC]“Then at least allow this to reach him.”[/color] Calbert’s gaze flicked to the covered bundle, then back to her. He inclined his head. [color=4C93C2]“That, I will oblige. Your offerings will find their way to him. But beyond that, I can do no more for you tonight.”[/color] [color=D0B4EC]“That isn’t true.” [/color] Her fingers tightened in the fabric of her dress, as though bracing herself to go on. [color=D0B4EC]“I want to speak with you as well, after all.”[/color] [color=4C93C2]“You intrigue me, Lady Vikena,”[/color] he said as he leaned back, steepling his fingers. [color=4C93C2]“Speak, then. What is it you seek?”[/color] [color=D0B4EC]“I–... I can see that you have kept your word, Count Damien. My friends have been made to suffer, just as you vowed they would. “[/color] She raised her gaze with an intensity not usual for her countenance. [color=D0B4EC]“But this has gone far enough. Whatever satisfaction you’ve taken from it, it must end.”[/color] Calbert chuckled, [color=4C93C2]“Straight to the point. I admire that… But you speak as though I am a villain in a tale, pulling strings out of spite alone.”[/color] His eyes narrowed, [color=4C93C2]“Lady Vikena. I act because you and your circle could not resist interfering with my family. I showed you mercy when others might have seen you all dangling from the gallows for your trespasses. And yet, here you sit, daring to accuse me while my son lies wounded in this very roof… For all I know, that misfortune could trace its roots back to your dastardly circle’s scheming as well.”[/color] Charlotte met his gaze, unflinching. [color=D0B4EC]“Then let us call it even at this point, Count Damien. If you will leave us in peace, I will do whatever I can to ensure you and your family are left in peace as well.”[/color] Silence stretched, Calbert’s eyes fixed on her. Then, at last, he leaned forward. [color=4C93C2]“Very well. I will make you an offer. I will leave you—and all your friends—alone.”[/color] Her shoulders eased, only for him to raise a finger. [color=4C93C2]“But only on one condition: you will leave my family untouched. Especially Cassius. He is off limits from this day forth.”[/color] Charlotte’s breath caught at the firmness in his tone. She hesitated, then lifted her chin. [color=D0B4EC]“And Violet? …If we are to honor this truce, I request that I be allowed to speak with her. Not freely, but… sometimes. Please.”[/color] Calbert’s smile returned. [color=4C93C2]“You are bold to bargain so openly, but I expected nothing less.”[/color] He tapped a finger against the arm of his chair. [color=4C93C2]“Very well. You may speak with Violet—under the supervision of my guards. But let me be perfectly clear: if this accord is to hold, Cassius must remain untouchable from your end. No visits. No letters. Not even whispers.”[/color] Charlotte’s throat tightened, but she forced herself to nod. Calbert rose from his chair. [color=4C93C2]“Wise girl. Let us hope you can keep your word.”[/color] He moved past her toward the door, his hand briefly brushing her shoulder as he opened it for her. [color=4C93C2]“Do not mistake my concession for welcome in my home. You and your friends will not be forgiven for your transgressions, Lady Vikena. Remember that.”[/color] Charlotte lingered for only a second in the heavy silence, then stepped out into the hall to make her leave, the echo of his words following her. [/color]