Chapter 1
There once stood a vast kingdom called Vasputa, whose war completely decimated the land until nothing more remained. As to how such a glorious kingdom fell into such ruins, that’s what the story will tell.
Cecilia Mangrove walked the manor halls in her silky white lacey dress. Although she fit the title of being Duke Mangrove’s one and only daughter with her flawless porcelain skin, long shiny sandy blonde hair, ever-so memorizing icy blue eyes, and her figure as thin as a stick.
She always remained poised no matter the situation she found herself in, but no one would ever view her as a high-standing young lady of noble stature.
As Cecilia continued her quiet walk down the halls, a maid rounded the corner. Just like usual, the maid paid no mind to her. Normally, a servant of such a lavish household would show respect and greet the lady of the house, but none of the maids or any of the servants ever showed any respect towards the poor girl.
They made no eye contact as they began to pass each other. It was a quick encounter, nothing out of the usual until the maid twisted her foot and tripped Cecilia. Just as the maid intended, Cecilia fell to the floor.
The maid grinned as she continued walking away leaving her lady on the hardwood floor.
Cecilia didn’t bother to look in the direction of the servant as she slowly lifted herself off the floor.
“Cil!” cried her cousin, Caleb Dyke, as he hurried over to help her. He was baffled by what he had just witnessed. “Are you okay?”
Cecilia took his outstretched hand and he pulled her up.
After briefly scanning her over with his dark forest green eyes, he pushed his caramel hair back and sighed. “That maid,” he grumbled, “I should go chase her down and give her the what for.”
“No,” Cecilia quietly responded in her delicate voice. “It’s okay, I’m used to it.”
“Don’t say that, Cil. The servants here need to be educated on how to properly treat their lady.” He looked around the desolate hall. “Where’s your father? Surely he will finally decide to do something about his arrogant staff.”
“He’s in his office,” Cecilia answered briefly, “but don’t say anything. Even if you do, nothing will be done about it.” She pushed a strand of her hair back. “I’ll probably end up being the one who gets punished rather than the servants.”
Caleb grimaced; he hated how Cecilia was treated in her own home and even more so that her father refused to do a thing about it.
“Please don’t say anything.”
Caleb sighed, he was a pushover whenever it came to Cecilia. “I won’t say anything if you truly don’t want me to.”
Cecilia nodded and turned her head in the direction where he was headed. “Are you heading to see my father?”
“That is where I was going, but perhaps I won’t go visit him at all. I can’t see him having any sense to do his job if he can’t even properly cherish the daughter right in front of him.”
Cecilia gave a forced smile at his words, she knew the only love she would ever receive would be from the man in front of her.
“No, I think you should go see him. It must be important if he called for you.”
“I know it is, but I’m afraid I can’t discuss such matters with you.”
“Oh.”
Cecilia seemed disappointed, so Caleb smiled and gave her a wink. “I wouldn’t want you to find out about our top secret war plans.”
Cecilia smiled back at his joke. “Of course not, I might be a secret spy sent here to destroy you all.”
“Oh, the horror! My dear cousin is a spy?”
The two shared a laugh as they parted ways. Caleb was quick to get to Duke Mangrove’s office. The sooner he could go in and discuss the king’s latest plans, the sooner he could leave.
He opened the door to see the head of the household sitting at his desk.
“Uncle,” called Caleb.
“Caleb,” replied Duke Mangrove coldly, “mind your way of speaking while in my house. The servants might pick up on your lack of respect.”
A callous laugh almost left Caleb. “I think that poison has already been spread throughout your house, Duke Mangrove.”
The duke sat up straighter. He leaned back in his chair, which caused it to squeak loudly, and gave a spiritless sigh. “One day, you’ll learn to watch that sharp tongue of yours around me.” With a quick motion, he snatched up the documents lying on his desk and said, “Now, let’s get on to business.”
Caleb did not say a word as he walked over to the chair sitting adjacent to the duke. “What are we going to be discussing today?” he asked, “Statistics?”
“The king really does believe in our plan,” retorted the duke who took Caleb’s tone to be mocking. “But for today, the topic will be about the food shortages we’ve been having lately.”
“Because there have been issues with our imports?”
Duke Mangrove nodded. “They’re trying to hit us where it hurts the most.”
“And that would be our food.”
“Now, we must figure out how to deal with the situation.”
Caleb shook his head and grumbled as he leaned back in his seat. “It’s always us who have to deal with this.”
Caleb felt burdened with his status as count, a title he had only been granted due to the recent health decline of his father. Having no other siblings, Caleb himself had to step up and bear the burden of power.
“Well, the king has his other associates working on a plan, but we’re his most reliable source.”
Caleb crossed his arms and sat with his head raised high as he responded, “Yes, I know that.”
“If you know that, then stop acting like it’s a burden.”
“I’m only acting this way because that’s exactly what it is.”
Caleb glanced over at his uncle. It was time to try his luck again. “You know, you don’t always need to call for me to discuss plans. There’s someone else who is just as qualified as I am. Your future successor, your daughter, Cecilia.”
“Don’t call her that.”
Caleb frowned at his uncle’s immediate cold response.
“You really hate her, don’t you?”
“I neither love nor hate that thing.”
Anger that replaced frustration quickly coursed through Caleb’s veins. “Must you be so cold to her, Duke? Who else could resemble you so much? Who else could bear the title of your one and only daughter?” Caleb raised his hand. “Anyone can tell just by looking at her whose house she’s from.” His eyes narrowed as he finished, “Does it really bother you that much?”
“Enough, Nephew.” Duke Mangrove rubbed his temple. “The more I talk to you, the more I realize that you’re trying to send me to an early grave.”
“You won’t die so easily,” rebutted Caleb, “just as you will never take my words to heart.”
The duke smirked and shook his head. “You’re always so obsessed with that girl.”
“Someone ought to be,” retorted Caleb, “I grow more concerned for my dear cousin with every visit.”
“Well, be concerned about the state of our country instead.”
Duke Mangrove pushed the documents towards his nephew. “What do you propose we do?”
In that moment, Caleb knew to play his cards wisely. His uncle already had a plan, he just wanted to see if Caleb could match his brains. In other words, it was nothing more than a test to check Caleb’s competency.
After looking over the documents, Caleb came to an answer. He pushed the documents back towards his uncle and answered, “Naturally, we change our routes. We cannot keep using the same passages on sea and land. We need to change, otherwise, our men and boats will be attacked again.”
“And where do you propose we go instead?”
Another test, but Caleb was ready. “We use our underground tunnels, the catacombs.”
Duke Mangrove immediately became sore at his plan. “Caleb, do you understand that’s-”
“It’s unorthodox, I know, but the king has the maps that show the passages through the catacombs and yes, it’s a dire solution but we are in a dire situation. I’d say it’s plenty reason to go ahead and try to utilize them.”
The duke still did not seem satisfied with Caleb’s plan.
“However, we should have a private selection for those who have the knowledge to get through the vast tunnels. Choosing a different route on sea isn’t that big a deal, but we can’t have just anyone be allowed the knowledge of our catacombs. If we have spies, they’ll definitely find other means to use this information. It could easily lead to our doom, so make sure the king knows that he needs to pick his most trustworthy men to have this knowledge.”
Once he finished explaining everything, Caleb sat back and silently waited for his uncle’s response. He was the same as Cecilia in the manner of wanting approval from the man.
“How is my plan, Duke?” he asked once he thought he had given him enough time to process it.
“Fine,” he answered, “It sounds like a good plan. Perhaps you are worthy enough after all.”
However, unlike Cecilia, Caleb could occasionally earn praise.
“Caleb, how would you like to present this plan to the king himself?”
“What?” Caleb found himself with such an opportunity that he never thought it possible to receive. “You would have me meet with the king?”
Duke Mangrove nodded again as he shuffled the documents back in order. “It is high time you met His Majesty. I would even go as far as to say that it’s long overdue. You are the one who is going to take over your house.”
Caleb was starstruck as he asked, “When shall we go?” He knew going to the palace was no simple feat. There were protocols that they would have to follow. One could not just show up and request a meeting with the king whenever they feel like it.
“I’ll send out a request,” answered Duke Mangrove, “But since His Majesty has been wanting to solve this issue as soon as possible, I’d assume in the next day or two, we’ll be going to the palace.”
After quickly writing a formal letter, the duke sealed the envelope and called for his most trusted advisor: Nickolas Simmons.
Nickolas Simmons was a capable man only a few years younger than the old duke. He was always able to perform his tasks quickly and efficiently without any trouble whatsoever. He was a shadow in the quaint manor.
“You called for me?” asked Nickolas as he opened the door to the study.
With his auburn hair pulled back in a low ponytail, his well-groomed mustache, and a fancy golden monocle, he was held in high regard with the maids for his looks.
“Yes,” the stoic duke answered. “Have this letter delivered to the palace and make sure no one but the king himself reads it.”
“Of course,” answered Nickolas, “I have never failed you.”
“No, not yet, you haven’t.”
Even after solving one issue, Duke Mangrove looked perplexed with another.
“Any news on Count Ferguson, yet?”
Nickolas looked grieved to answer that he had found nothing on the notorious man.
If Nickolas was like a shadow, then, Count Ferguson was like the mist. He was capable of creating such complex strategies and plans that caused far more damage to their little kingdom than anything else. While everyone was aware that if they wanted to have a chance at winning the war, they would need to take down the count, no one was able to pinpoint his exact location. To add to the struggle, no one knew what he looked like. He fabricated many rumors about himself and no one knew what to believe.
Count Ferguson was proving to be a bigger threat than before, since even the duke’s most capable man was unable to locate him.
Caleb watched the quick exchange and waited until the man left to give his thoughts to the duke. “You shouldn’t put too much faith in a servant.”
“Nickolas is not a servant,” Duke Mangrove replied sharply, “He’s been my assistant far longer than you have been alive and this war has been raging.”
“I’m just saying, Uncle, you shouldn’t let anyone get too close.” Caleb dared to add that he should be letting one person in question get closer to him. “The man you mentioned before seems capable of anything and with no one knowing what he looks like, he could be here in this kingdom right now, or at the very least, he could have spies placed all around-”
“Your concern ends here.”
Caleb shut his mouth and furrowed his brows.
“Your part in this war is done for now. You don’t need to worry about things that are already being handled.”
“But are they really?”
“Caleb.”
The young man could not give any more rebuttals. “I understand, Uncle.” But he didn’t.
“Good.”
They both got up from their chairs.
“Now, in order to salvage this tense reunion, that you keep seeming to spoil, I will honor you by showing you out.”
“I would be much obliged, Uncle.”
Duke Mangrove opened the door and began leading the way down the hallway. Despite having been told not to concern himself with the elusive count anymore, Caleb couldn’t take his mind off of him. Especially, if he posed a threat to his kingdom and the people he loved.
As his mind was elsewhere, his eyes saw the brief sight of Cecilia. He knew that he wasn’t the only one who had seen her, but he was the only one who would acknowledge her. Though, even he ignored her as he focused on the bigger picture.
He couldn’t speak anymore to his uncle neither in words of the count nor Cecilia but next time he would.
There would always be a next time.
