Chapter 97: Lady Alyse’s Arrival

Three Weeks Ago

***

Three weeks prior, long before the Dragon’s Pit in the Old Valley had seen its grand completion, a very different storm was brewing within the shimmering borders of the Golden City.

Austin Paureen paced back and forth beneath the carved mahogany arches of the emerald pavilion.

Built within the expansive private backyard of the grand estate his family had purchased upon arriving in the city, the pavilion offered a tranquil view of rolling green lawns dotted with rare, vibrant flora.

Crimson roses, golden lilies, and rare starlight blossoms bloomed in deliberate, beautiful arrangements across the field, scenting the air with a faint, sweet perfume.

Yet, none of that scenic beauty could soothe the violent tempest raging inside Austin’s chest.

His knuckles turned stark white as he tightly clenched his fists, the veins along his forearms bulging as he fought a desperate battle to keep his volatile emotions under control.

His jaw was set so tightly that his teeth ground against one another, his sharp eyes burning with unbridled fury.

It had been more than a week since he had stepped foot into the Golden City.

He had arrived with high expectations, leading a prestigious trade delegation on behalf of his house to finalize a continent-spanning transaction.

Yet, for seven agonizing days, he had been kept waiting.

He had requested multiple formal audiences with the primary architect of the deal, but the young heiress of the Veraxes bloodline—Lady Alyse von Veraxes—had offered nothing but a continuous string of polite, hollow excuses.

One day it was urgent state administrative affairs; the next, an unexpected audit of the ducal trade fleets.

She had trapped him in a humiliating political deadlock.

Austin could not push forward without her explicit audience, nor could he swallow his pride and return empty-handed to the Eastern Continent without completing the transaction.

For a man accustomed to having entire merchant houses bow to his family’s every whim, this prolonged delay felt like a deliberate, public slap to his face.

"Brother, please... you must calm your temper," a young, soothing voice called out from the carved stone bench nearby.

Mauri Paureen, the elder of Austin’s twin younger brothers, set down his teacup with a soft clink.

Beside him sat his identical twin, Jauri Paureen.

Though the two boys were young and often displayed a playful, mischievous childishness around the family estate, their expressions right now were remarkably serious, their sharp eyes reflecting a maturity far beyond their years.

"Mauri is right, Brother," Jauri added quickly, leaning forward and resting his hands on the marble table. "If you let your anger dictate your actions here, you risk burning the bridge before we even cross it. You must try to reason through the situation.

The trade parameters we are establishing aren’t just important to us—the Veraxes Ducal Family genuinely needs this deal as well. Their southern fleets are overextended, and their resource routes require our backing."

Mauri nodded in agreement, picking up the thought seamlessly. "Exactly. A deal of this magnitude involves astronomical amounts of capital and complex geopolitical leverage.

This delay is almost certainly not a deliberate insult aimed at hurting your pride, Austin. Something unexpected must have complicated matters on their end.

If you lose your composure now and allow your wounded pride to ruin the negotiations, all our efforts will be rendered meaningless."

Austin stopped his restless pacing.

He stood still in the center of the emerald pavilion, taking a long, slow breath of the cool garden air, letting his brothers’ carefully measured words wash over his heated blood.

Gradually, the tension in his shoulders began to thaw.

His clenched fists slowly uncurled, and the deep scowl on his face smoothed out into a thoughtful, composed expression.

His little brothers were entirely right.

Despite their youth and their penchant for childish antics when off-duty, Mauri and Jauri were true sons of the Paureen bloodline.

In the grand hierarchy of the Eastern Continent, the Paureens were a complete anomaly.

They were not an ancient noble household, nor did they possess a long lineage of landed titles or high-born crests.

Yet, within the span of a single decade, the Paureen Family had accomplished the impossible: they had completely dominated the eastern merchant industry, amassing a staggering, unfathomable fortune that rivaled ancient kingdoms.

They had seized control over a massive fraction of the Eastern Continent’s economic pulse, bending trade guilds and regional lords to their financial willpower.

They had achieved all of this through one supreme asset: absolute, terrifying intelligence.

It was precisely because of their unmatched business acumen, strategic brilliance, and vast distribution networks that even the mighty Golden Duke had personally chosen to bypass traditional diplomatic channels and conduct business directly with the Paureen Family.

To throw away such an unprecedented, historic partnership over a week of bruised pride would be the ultimate act of foolishness.

"You two have grown sharper," Austin murmured softly, a faint, rare smile breaking through his stern demeanor as he looked at the twins. "Forgive me. I allowed my frustration to blind my judgment."

"We are Paureens, after all," Jauri grinned, swapping a proud glance with his twin. "We leave blind rage to the warlords. We prefer gold."

Just as the atmosphere within the pavilion settled into a calm, harmonious quiet, the heavy rustle of footsteps echoed from the gravel pathway leading out of the castle’s rear courtyard.

A young household maid, dressed in the crisp, elegant uniform of the estate’s staff, came rushing down the garden path.

Her breathing was slightly hurried, but her posture remained impeccably disciplined as she reached the edge of the emerald pavilion.

She lowered herself into a deep, graceful bow, her hands folded neatly over her apron.

"Esteemed Lords of the Paureen Family," the maid announced, her voice clear and respectful. "I bring immediate word from the front gates."

Austin straightened his posture, stepping to the edge of the pavilion steps as his twin brothers stood up from the stone bench beside him.

"Speak," Austin commanded calmly, his voice completely devoid of the rage that had consumed him moments prior.

The maid raised her head slightly, her eyes bright as she delivered the long-awaited news.

"Her Grace, Lady Alyse von Veraxes, has just arrived at the main estate carriage porch. She requests an immediate audience with Master Austin Paureen."