The next day, the Veyron estate woke earlier than usual. Servants moved through the corridors carrying fabrics, crates, and carefully packed decorations. In the gardens, several knights were moving furniture while others checked the estate's entrances. Kael watched the scene from the first-floor balcony. He remained silent for a few moments. — They're up early. Ethan's voice came from behind him. Kael turned around. His brother was still wearing simple clothes, far from the elegance he usually displayed during official events. — What's going on? Ethan walked over to the railing. — The preparations are starting. — Already? — Did you think we could organize an event for several hundred people in three days? Kael thought about it. — No. — Then you understand. Ethan handed him a sheet of paper. Kael took it and quickly scanned the information. — Guests… — A lot of guests. — How many is "a lot"? — Far too many. Kael looked up. Ethan smiled. — The eight-hundredth anniversary of House Veyron only happens once. Kael looked back down at the list. There were names from major noble families, several representatives of the Empire, military commanders, leaders from neighboring territories, and even a few people he didn't recognize. — I didn't think this many people would come. — It's an old House, Kael. And a respected one. — I know. — No. Ethan gently took the sheet back. — You know it as a patriarch. But you haven't truly seen it yet. Kael didn't answer. He looked out over the gardens. Workers were already setting up large structures intended to accommodate the guests. For the first time, he truly realized the scale of the event. — And are you going to explain why I wasn't informed about half of these preparations? Ethan shrugged. — Because you were busy enjoying your vacation. — That's new. — You should try it more often. Kael gave him a look. — I'm working. — You're reading in a garden. — I'm thinking. — Of course. A faint smile appeared on Kael's face. — You're becoming annoying. — I'm your brother. It's my job. They remained there for a few seconds, looking over the gardens. Below them, a group of servants was installing a long metal structure. Kael slightly frowned. — What's that? — Part of the main decoration. — It looks huge. — It will be. Ethan took the sheet back. — And this is only the beginning. Kael sighed. — I have a feeling this week is going to be long. — It hasn't even started yet. --- Downstairs, Noah was discovering another reality. — Why is there so much food? He was standing in front of a table covered with trays. A cook looked at him with an amused expression. — That's only part of the meal. Noah fell silent. — Part? Lysandra, standing behind him, covered her mouth with one hand to hide her smile. — You should stop counting. — I'm not counting. — You've been staring at the desserts for five minutes. — I'm analyzing. Adrian, sitting nearby, looked up from his book. — You're analyzing very seriously. — Thank you. — That wasn't a compliment. Noah turned around. — Why is everyone against me today? Lysandra laughed. Kael arrived at that moment. He stopped in front of them. — What are you doing? Noah immediately pointed at the tables. — I'm trying to understand how anyone could possibly need this much food. Kael looked at the trays. — It's for several hundred people. — I know. — Then? Noah thought about it. — I've changed my mind. I understand. Kael continued walking. — Good. — Wait! Noah followed him. — You don't even want to know what I was thinking? — No. — You're really cruel. Lysandra and Adrian followed them as well. They walked together through the main corridor. Noah looked into every room with growing curiosity. — So all of this is going to be used for the banquet? — Only part of it, Kael replied. — Only part? — Yes. Noah stopped. — Your family really does things on another scale. Adrian closed his book. — Eight hundred years of history, several major noble families invited, imperial representatives… It's not surprising. Noah looked at him. — You could at least pretend to be impressed. — I am. — You don't look impressed. — I'm discreet. — You're impossible. Lysandra intervened with a smile. — Are you two finished? — No. — Then continue without me. Kael let out a small laugh. — See? She already knows how to handle us. — I didn't handle anything, Lysandra replied. — Exactly. They continued walking. --- An hour later, the estate was even busier. The large doors leading into the gardens had been opened to make it easier for workers to come and go. Several carriages were already arriving with additional supplies. Kael walked down the front steps and entered the courtyard. A group of Black Raven knights bowed as he passed. — Patriarch Veyron. Kael gave them a slight nod. — Continue. He didn't need to say anything more. The knights immediately returned to work. Noah, walking behind him, watched the scene. — You do that naturally now. Kael turned his head. — Do what? — The greetings. The orders. The knights standing at attention whenever you arrive. Kael shrugged slightly. — It's normal. Adrian looked at the knights. — For them, yes. Kael looked at him. Adrian continued: — They know you're the patriarch. But they also know you're their Supreme Commander. — Exactly. Noah crossed his arms. — So if I ask you to do something right now, you can order me to do it? Kael stared at him. — No. — Why? — Because you're not a knight. Noah seemed to think about it. — Too bad. Lysandra lightly nudged him with her elbow. — You'd make a terrible knight. — I could be excellent. Adrian raised an eyebrow. — You got lost in the garden yesterday. — That was intentional. — You asked a servant where the hall was. Noah pointed a finger at him. — Traitor. Kael continued walking in silence, a faint smile at the corner of his lips. --- That afternoon, Kael was dragged into a meeting with Ethan, Lucian, Aldren, and Darius. A large table had been set up in a room near the main hall. Plans of the estate were spread across it. Kael sat down. — I thought this meeting was about the preparations. — It is, Ethan replied. — Why is Darius here? Darius raised an eyebrow. — Because I'm responsible for security. Aldren spoke up: — And because if I leave him alone with the knights, he'll make them check the same corridors four times. Darius turned toward him. — Three times. — Four. — Three. Lucian sighed. — Are we really going to spend an hour arguing about this? Kael pinched the bridge of his nose. — I already regret coming. Ethan smiled. — Too late. The meeting truly began. The most important guests would arrive the day before the banquet. The others would be welcomed on the day itself. Additional rooms had been prepared. The Black Raven knights would handle the outer security while Imperial guards would accompany certain official representatives. Kael listened carefully. Darius explained the different entrances to the estate. — The main gate will be reserved for guests. — And access? — Controlled by two teams. — The inner courtyard? — Constant surveillance. Aldren added: — The knights will also be positioned throughout the gardens. We don't want the estate to look like a fortress. Darius nodded. — I've planned discreet patrols. Lucian smiled. — You really can't do anything simply. — It's my job. — I know. Ethan picked up another sheet. — We still have a few changes to the seating arrangements. Kael looked at the plan. — I'm sitting here? — Yes. — Why? — Because you're the patriarch. — I could sit somewhere else. Ethan looked at him. — No. — Why? — Because the entire room needs to be able to see the patriarch of House Veyron. Kael sighed. — I should have stayed at the Academy. Darius smiled slightly. — Too late. Aldren burst out laughing. — See? Even your own second-in-command is against you. — I'm starting to understand why you two get along so well. --- Then Aldren placed a finger on the map. — This part of the estate will have to remain closed. Kael looked at the indicated area. — Why? — Old unused wings. — Are they dangerous? — Not particularly. Aldren hesitated. — But there's no reason for the guests to have access to them. Kael studied the map for a few seconds. He knew this part of the estate. Or at least, he thought he did. — That's where the old north wing is? — Yes. Darius looked at the map as well. — It's barely used anymore. — How long has it been like that? Kael asked. Aldren thought for a moment. — Several decades. Lucian, who had remained silent until then, studied the map more carefully. — That part of the estate was already rarely used when your parents were young. Kael looked up. — You remember it? — A little. Lucian didn't elaborate. Kael could have asked another question. He didn't. Not this time. There were still many things he didn't know about this house, but he didn't want to turn every little detail into a mystery. Not today. Ethan slightly folded the map. — Either way, no one will go there. Aldren nodded. — Exactly. The discussion continued. --- After the meeting, Kael found Noah, Lysandra, and Adrian in a gallery overlooking the gardens. Noah was holding a small piece of paper. — Kael. — What? — I have a very important question. — I'm listening. Noah handed him the paper. — Do I have to wear formal clothes? Kael looked at the paper. Then at Noah. — Yes. — What kind? — Something appropriate. — That doesn't help. Adrian looked over his shoulder at the paper. — He's asking if he has to wear black. — Why does everyone think I'm going to wear black? Kael answered calmly: — Because you're at House Veyron. — Ah. Noah thought about it. — That makes sense. Lysandra intervened. — You could ask Ethan. — He'll make fun of me. — Probably. — Then I'll ask Kael. Kael looked at him. — Bad idea. Noah sighed. — You're all useless. Adrian returned to his book. — You'll find an outfit. — Thanks for the support. — Always. --- By evening, the preparations had reached an entirely different scale. The gardens were illuminated by small magical lanterns. Workers were installing arches covered with flowers from the greenhouse. Kael stopped in front of one of them. A midnight-blue flower stood among the others. He looked at it for a few seconds. — She would have liked this. Darius, standing beside him, followed his gaze. — Your mother? Kael nodded. — Yes. Darius smiled. — Then she'll be here in a way. Kael gently moved his fingers near one of the flowers without touching it. — I suppose. A little farther away, Noah was admiring the decorations with Lysandra. — It's starting to look like a real event. — It already was one, Adrian replied. — Yes, but now it looks like one. Lysandra looked toward Kael. — He seems pretty calm. Adrian followed her gaze. — He's used to responsibility. Noah smiled. — I think he just hasn't realized yet that he'll have to greet hundreds of people. Kael, who had heard them despite the distance, turned around. — Noah. — Yes? — I heard you. — I know. Kael shook his head. Darius burst out laughing. Noah raised his hands. — I was just telling the truth. — You talk too much. — It's a quality. — Not always. Lysandra smiled. — At least the evening will be lively. Kael looked over the gardens. The lights were beginning to reflect against the estate's windows. For the first time, he was beginning to understand what this celebration truly represented. It wasn't simply a party. It was a moment when several centuries of House Veyron's history would be gathered together in a single evening. Families who had known his ancestors. People who had fought alongside his parents. Long-standing allies. People who had probably never met Kael before. And they would all come to see the new patriarch. That thought made him frown slightly. Darius noticed. — You're thinking too much. — Maybe. — Are you nervous? Kael looked at him. — No. Darius smiled. — You just spent almost a minute thinking before answering. — I was thinking about the question. — Of course. Kael lightly bumped his shoulder against Darius's. Darius laughed. --- Later that evening, after everyone had returned to their rooms, Kael went back to the great hall alone. The lights had been turned off. The manor was silent. He slowly approached a massive portrait depicting an ancient Veyron patriarch. The painting was so old that some of its colors had faded slightly. A date was written beneath the portrait. Kael read it. Then another. And another. Generations. Centuries. Entire lives had passed through these walls. He raised his eyes toward the ceiling. In a few days, hundreds of people would gather here to celebrate eight hundred years of history. Kael remained still. He wondered how many things this house had witnessed. Births. Marriages. Departures. Losses. Victories. Arguments. Secrets. That last thought brought a faint smile to his face. — Stop thinking so much. He turned around. Ethan was standing in the doorway. — What are you doing here? — I could ask you the same thing. Kael shrugged. Ethan walked closer. For a few seconds, the two brothers looked at the portrait. — Do you realize that in a few days, the entire estate will be filled with people? — Yes. — It's going to be noisy. — Very. — Noah will probably talk throughout the entire evening. — Certainly. Ethan smiled. — And you'll have to endure all of it with your serious patriarch face. Kael gave him a look. — I could leave. — No. — Why? — Because you're the patriarch. Kael sighed. Then, after a few seconds: — Will you stay near me? Ethan looked at him. His smile softened. — Of course. Kael simply nodded. The two brothers remained there in silence for a little while longer. Then Ethan placed a hand on his shoulder. — Come on. Go to bed. — Are you giving me orders now? — When you act like a child, yes. Kael gave him a cold look. Ethan burst out laughing and walked down the corridor. Kael remained alone for a few seconds before following him. The great hall became silent once again. The preparations would continue the next day. And soon, House Veyron would open its doors to hundreds of guests. To celebrate eight centuries of history. For one evening, at least, all

The Preparations