Chapter 291: Bed Stands

Garren didn’t simply stand around either. Once the carpenters finished the frames, he started helping organize where each one should go. He checked the list of rooms and kept track of which beds belonged where. He made sure the workers weren’t accidentally putting larger frames into smaller rooms.

Darion watched him for a moment. "You’ve gotten pretty good at this."

Garren looked over. "At organizing beds?"

"At organizing everything."

Garren gave a small smile. "Someone has to."

Darion nodded. This reminded him why Garren had become so useful. Darion could make decisions, but Garren was the person who made sure those decisions actually happened. He was the backbone of Percvale, the steady hand that kept everything running smoothly.

Seren also joined the work. She started helping carry lighter pieces into the rooms and arranging the mattresses. Darion noticed that she seemed surprisingly invested in getting everything organized properly. She moved with purpose, her hands sure, her eyes focused.

At one point, she looked at a bed stand. "This one’s mine."

Darion looked at her. "You don’t even know if it is."

She smiled, a warm, genuine smile that reached her eyes. "I do now."

Their interaction was casual and easy. There was no discussion of Vrethka for the moment. That was exactly what Darion wanted. A moment of normalcy, of peace...

Darion told them to put his bedstand in his room first. They carried the frame inside, their steps careful, their movements coordinated. The mattress was placed carefully on top, its surface smooth and inviting.

Darion stood beside it and looked at his new bed. Compared to everything else happening in Percvale, it wasn’t impressive. It was simply a sturdy wooden frame with a decent mattress. But Darion had been sleeping on a terrible mattress for far too long. The old mattress was lumpy, uneven, and uncomfortable. He had gotten used to waking up with his back aching.

’Finally.’

He pressed one hand against the mattress. It sank slightly beneath his hand before returning to its original shape. He sat down, his body immediately sinking comfortably into it. He paused.

Oh.

He hadn’t realized just how uncomfortable his previous bed was until now. He lay back for a moment, his body relaxing into the mattress. The difference was ridiculous.

’Why did I tolerate that old thing for so long?’

He stared at the ceiling, a smile spreading across his face. This was probably the best thing that had happened today. Considering what had happened with the scouts, the thought was almost funny.

Garren happened to pass by the doorway and saw Darion lying on the new bed. He stopped. "My Lord?"

Darion didn’t move. "What?"

"Are you... testing it?"

Darion closed his eyes. "Yes."

"For how long?"

"Until I decide it’s good."

Garren smiled.. "I see."

Darion eventually sat up. "It’s good."

---

Once Darion’s room was finished, they moved to Seren’s room. The carpenters brought in the next frame, their steps quick, their movements efficient. Seren watched as they assembled it, her eyes following their work.

She sat on the mattress after it was placed, her body sinking into the soft surface. "Much better."

Darion stood in the doorway. "Don’t fall asleep."

"I wasn’t planning to." She immediately lay back down.

Darion looked at her. "You’re literally lying down."

"I’m testing it."

Darion gave her a look. "Apparently everyone needs to test their beds."

Seren smiled, her eyes closed. "It’s a good bed."

Garren’s room was furnished next. Unlike Seren, Garren didn’t make much fuss about the bed. He simply checked that the frame was sturdy and nodded. "Good enough."

Darion looked at him. "That’s all?"

"It’s a bed."

Darion almost laughed. Garren was more concerned with making sure all the other rooms were completed.

The remaining beds were carried into the servants’ quarters. This took longer because there were more rooms. The servants were initially hesitant to interfere with the workers. Some were surprised that they were receiving new mattresses and proper bed frames at all.

Darion noticed their reactions. Some exchanged quiet smiles, their eyes bright with gratitude. Others immediately started discussing how much better they’d sleep, their voices low and excited.

Maret, Aldra, and Wulfric approached Darion, their faces warm with appreciation.

"Thank you, my Lord," Maret said, her voice sincere.

Darion gave a simple response. "You need somewhere comfortable to sleep."

He didn’t make a big deal out of it. Internally, however, he was pleased. These weren’t extravagant gifts. But morale wasn’t built only through grand gestures. Sometimes people simply needed to feel that someone cared about their living conditions.

---

More and more rooms received their new beds. The castle gradually looked different. The previously empty rooms now had proper furniture. Mattresses were neatly arranged. Blankets were folded. Bed frames filled spaces that had once looked abandoned.

Darion walked through several of the finished rooms. He noticed how much warmer the castle felt simply because people now had somewhere proper to sleep. The castle had finally begun to feel lived in.

This actually feels like a home now. Really, now, with the beds, it is complete.

He paused in one corridor, his eyes scanning the finished rooms. Months ago, Percvale felt like a place that was dying. Now there were workers, knights, servants, farmers, livestock, food, construction projects, and people actually planning for the future. It wasn’t perfect. Far from it. But it was improving.

Eventually, the thought of Vrethka returned. Darion’s expression became slightly more serious. He remembered the scouts watching the castle. He remembered their confidence. He remembered the words: ’The Baron won’t know what hit him.’

Darion looked down the corridor.

Well... now I know.

He didn’t know when the attack would come. He didn’t know how large Vrethka’s army was. But he knew he couldn’t ignore it. Still, he didn’t let the thought ruin the moment. The beds were finished. The castle was finally becoming what he wanted it to become.

By evening, the carpenters cleaned up their tools and prepared to leave. Their work was done, their job complete. Garren checked the rooms one final time, his eyes scanning each space. Seren walked through the castle, seemingly satisfied with the changes.

Darion returned to his own room. He looked at the new bed. He sat down once more. This time, he didn’t immediately get up.

He looked around his room. Well, that was it for now with the castle renovations.

It finally felt like somewhere he could actually live rather than simply sleep. The renovation was finally complete. Percvale had a castle that felt like a home.

Now Darion had to make sure it survived the war that was coming. It was time to plan Vrethka. Time to investigate, time to take action before he was hit first.