The next morning, I woke up with the feeling that I was finally getting back into my routine. After the mission alongside Scarlett, my mind seemed lighter. There were still countless worries involving the Demon King, but being trapped in those thoughts alone would solve nothing. I needed to keep living, strengthening my alliances, and taking care of the people who trusted me.
I went down to the main hall and found everyone gathered for breakfast. Elara was organizing some documents that had arrived during our absence. Liriel was talking with her assistant about new applications of Purification magic. Lyannis was preparing tea while Vespera calmly watched the garden through the window. Scarlett was already sitting at the table, and Rai'kanna was trying some fruits that had just arrived from the market in the capital.
"Good morning."
They all answered at the same time.
I sat beside them and began having breakfast.
"Today I intend to take care of something that has been pending since we returned."
Elara raised her eyes.
"What are you talking about?"
"I want to thank the mansion's employees."
Scarlett smiled.
"You mentioned that yesterday."
I nodded.
"And I don't like putting things like this off."
After breakfast, I asked the butler to gather all the employees in the main hall.
It didn't take long for the cooks, gardeners, cleaning staff, coachmen, private guards, and the other workers to be present.
I observed everyone for a few moments.
For more than a month, they had taken care of the mansion without a single complaint. When we returned, everything remained clean, organized, and functioning perfectly.
It was only fair to recognize that effort.
"Before anything else, I want to thank you for your work."
The butler gave a small bow.
"It was simply our duty, sir."
I shook my head.
"Perhaps."
"But doing a duty well also deserves recognition."
I asked for some boxes to be brought into the hall.
The employees looked curious.
I opened the first box.
It was filled with small leather pouches.
Each one contained gold coins.
"Every employee of this mansion will receive three thousand gold coins."
The hall became completely silent.
Some believed they had heard incorrectly.
One of the cooks covered her mouth with her hands.
"Three thousand?"
"That's right."
One of the gardeners looked emotional.
"Sir... that's a lot of money."
I smiled.
"You deserve it."
One by one, they began receiving their rewards.
Everyone expressed their deep gratitude.
Some could barely hide their happiness.
The butler was the last.
When he received the pouch, he bowed his head again.
"I will never forget your generosity."
"I only hope that you continue taking care of this house as you always have."
"Leave it to us."
When everyone left, Scarlett approached me with a smile.
"I think you just earned even more of their loyalty."
I laughed quietly.
"The intention was never to buy anyone's loyalty."
"Only to recognize their effort."
Liriel agreed.
"People work better when they know they are valued."
Her assistant nodded.
"That's true."
The rest of the morning passed peacefully.
I spent some time organizing documents related to the lands in the Dragon Kingdom. I also reviewed some notes made during the journey and checked the reports sent by the Adventurers' Guild.
Everything seemed calm.
Too calm.
In the afternoon, I decided to take a walk through the mansion's gardens.
Scarlett, Elara, Lyannis, Vespera, Rai'kanna, Liriel, and her assistant decided to accompany me.
As we walked among the trees, we talked about simple matters.
Rai'kanna commented that she missed the mountains of the Dragon Kingdom.
Liriel replied that she would also like to return soon to check on the purified lands.
Her assistant talked about how much she had learned by observing the customs of those people.
It was a light conversation.
For a few moments, I managed to completely forget about the war.
We sat near the small lake on the property.
I watched the water reflecting the afternoon sky.
"Sometimes I think about how much everything has changed."
Elara looked at me.
"In what way?"
"When I began my journey, I never imagined that I would manage lands in another kingdom."
"Nor that I would form alliances with so many nations."
Scarlett smiled.
"And much less that you would have so many women by your side."
I ended up laughing.
"That really wasn't part of my plans."
They all laughed along.
Even Vespera let out a small smile.
That simple moment made me realize how important my group had become.
Each one of them had been present at different moments of my journey.
Each carried her own story.
And now they all shared the same goal.
When the sun began to set, we returned inside the mansion.
During dinner, the atmosphere remained relaxed.
We talked about future journeys, the crops in the Dragon Kingdom, and even some different recipes that the dragons used to prepare.
After the meal, I remained alone for a few minutes on the balcony of the second floor.
I looked at the sky already filled with stars.
The tranquility of that night completely contrasted with the thoughts that still occupied my mind.
The Demon King's words remained vivid in my memory.
Sooner or later, he would make his move.
I took a deep breath.
Regardless of what happened, I needed to be prepared.
It was then that I remembered the conversation I had had with the king before traveling to the Dragon Kingdom.
The great meeting between all the nations still needed to take place.
That could no longer be postponed.
I returned inside the mansion with determination.
The next morning, my first task would be to seek out the king and definitively organize the council that would determine the next steps of the war.
With that decision made, I went up to my room, knowing that a new chapter in that long preparation was about to begin.