Duke Richard Morningstar arrived precisely at noon, his carriage rolling through our estate gates with an escort of guards in Morningstar colors. My father and I waited in the courtyard to receive him, both dressed formally for the occasion.
Valerie stood beside me, looking every bit the noble lady in a deep blue dress that complemented her silver hair. She'd been unusually quiet this morning, and I could feel the tension radiating from her.
"Nervous?" I whispered as the Duke's carriage came to a stop.
"He's going to be difficult," she replied. "He always is when it comes to business."
"I can handle difficult."
"We'll see."
Duke Morningstar stepped out of the carriage, his imposing frame making even my father look small by comparison. His steel-gray eyes swept over the courtyard, taking in everything, before settling on us.
"Duke Morvan," he said, clasping my father's hand. "Thank you for hosting this meeting."
"The pleasure is ours, Duke Morningstar."
Then those eyes turned to me. "Lord Chase. I trust you've been taking care of my daughter."
"He has, Father," Valerie interjected before I could respond. "Very well, actually."
Something flickered in the Duke's expression—surprise, perhaps, at the defensive tone in his daughter's voice.
"Good. Then let's not waste time with pleasantries. We have business to discuss." He gestured toward the manor. "Shall we?"
---
We gathered in my father's study, documents spread across the large oak table. Duke Morningstar sat at the head, my father to his right, Valerie and I across from them. Edmund, our steward, stood nearby with additional records if needed.
"The Ashford project," Duke Morningstar began without preamble. "Twenty thousand gold initial investment from House Morvan, with my house providing trade connections, management expertise, and political leverage in the eastern territories. The expected returns should be within six months, and full profitability within two years."
He slid a detailed proposal across the table. I'd already reviewed it, but I studied it again, looking for anything I might have missed.
"The numbers are solid," I said. "But I have questions about the timeline."
Duke Morningstar's eyebrows rose slightly. "Questions?"
"Six months for initial returns seems optimistic given the current infrastructure limitations. Ashford has the warehouses, but the roads connecting it to the major trade routes need significant improvement. Moving goods efficiently will be difficult until that's addressed."
"The local lords are responsible for road maintenance," the Duke said.
"And the local lords are barely keeping up with basic repairs after the recent monster attacks. If we want this venture to succeed on schedule, we need to factor in infrastructure investment." I pulled out a map I had prepared, marking the key routes. "Here, here, and here. These three roads are most critical. If we allocate an additional five thousand gold for improvements—split between both houses—we can cut transport time by a third and hit those six-month projections."
Duke Morningstar studied the map, his expression unreadable. "That's a significant additional expense."
"It's an investment that pays for itself. Faster transport means more trade volume, which means higher profits. The math works out."
"Show me."
I pulled out my calculations, walking him through the numbers. Transport costs, time savings, projected trade volumes, profit margins. I'd spent hours on this, cross-referencing historical trade data from the family archives with current market conditions.
Duke Morningstar examined every figure, asking pointed questions, probing for weaknesses in my logic. I answered each one, backed by data and reasoning.
Beside me, I could feel Valerie watching me with something that might have been pride.
Finally, Duke Morningstar leaned back in his chair. "You've done your homework."
"This project matters to both our houses. I wanted to be thorough."
"Thorough is an understatement." He turned to my father. "Did you help him with this analysis?"
"Not a word," my father said. "This is entirely Chase's work."
The Duke's eyes returned to me, reassessing. "I was told you had changed, but I admit I was skeptical. The Chase Morvan I met at the engagement was... less impressive."
"I was a different person then."
"Clearly." He tapped the proposal. "Alright. I agree to the infrastructure investment. Five thousand split between our houses. But I have another condition."
"What condition?"
"I want you directly involved in this project. Not just as an investor, but as an active manager. You'll work with my people to oversee the development, handle logistics, coordinate with local authorities."
I hadn't expected that. "You want me managing your business operations?"
"I want someone competent managing them. Someone who understands the bigger picture and can think long-term." He glanced at Valerie. "And someone my daughter trusts. She recommended you for this role, actually."
I turned to Valerie, surprised. She met my gaze steadily.
"I told him you'd been taking estate management seriously," she said. "That you've been studying, learning, applying yourself. I also said you'd be an asset to the project."
"You vouched for me?"
"Don't make me regret it."
Duke Morningstar cleared his throat. "If you accept, you'll need to spend significant time in Ashford. At least two weeks per month for the first six months. Can you commit to that?"
Two weeks per month in Ashford. Away from the estate, from my training, from monitoring William's movements. But also two weeks building something, creating value, proving myself.
"I can commit," I said. "On one condition of my own."
"And what's that?"
"Valerie comes with me. This should be a joint effort."
Duke Morningstar looked at his daughter. "Is that acceptable to you?"
"More than acceptable," Valerie said. "I've been wanting to be more involved in the family business anyway. This is an opportunity to learn and contribute."
"Then it's settled." The Duke stood, offering his hand. "Welcome to the project, Lord Chase. Try not to disappoint me."
I shook his hand firmly. "I won't."
---
After the formal agreements were signed and Duke Morningstar departed, Valerie pulled me aside in the hallway.
"You didn't have to insist on me joining you," she said.
"Yes, I did. We're partners, remember? And you're far more capable than I am. I'd be an idiot not to want you involved."
"You're really serious about this partnership thing."
"Completely. Whatever we do, we do together." I took her hand. "Besides, two weeks per month in Ashford alone with you? That doesn't sound terrible."
She blushed slightly. "We'll be working, Chase. This is business."
"We can work and enjoy each other's company. I'm excellent at multitasking."
"You're impossible."
"But you love me anyway."
"Unfortunately, yes." She leaned up and kissed me softly. "Thank you. For including me and for treating me like an equal instead of just your wife."
"You are my equal. In every way that matters, you're better than me. I'm just smart enough to recognize that."
"Such Flattery."
"It's just the truth."
She smiled, then grew more serious. "My father was impressed. That doesn't happen easily."
"Good. Because I need him to trust me for what's coming."
"What do you mean, what's coming?"
'The capital political games. The threats I know are approaching but can't explain.'
"Just that the Ashford project is the beginning," I said carefully. "There are going to be more opportunities, more challenges. I want to be ready for them."
"You're always thinking ahead," she observed. "Sometimes I wonder how far ahead you're really planning."
"Far enough to keep us safe."
She studied my face, and I could see her trying to puzzle out what I wasn't saying. But she didn't push.
"Come on," she said instead. "We're celebrating tonight. My father's cook sent over ingredients for a proper Morningstar feast. And I'm told there's excellent wine involved."
"Celebrating what? Us getting more work?"
"Celebrating you impressing my father. That's worth commemorating." She pulled me toward the dining hall. "Plus, I want to see you try to stay coherent after two glasses of Morningstar red. It's stronger than you think."
---
The celebration dinner was intimate—just Valerie, myself, and my father. The food was indeed excellent, rich dishes from the eastern territories that I'd never tried before. And the wine was exactly as potent as Valerie warned.
"To the Ashford project," my father said, raising his glass. "And to new partnerships."
"To not screwing this up," I added, earning a laugh from Valerie.
We ate and talked late into the evening. My father shared stories about his own early ventures, the mistakes he'd made, the lessons he'd learned. Valerie talked about growing up watching her father build his trade empire, the business principles he'd instilled in her.
"He used to take me to negotiations when I was twelve," she said. "He made me sit quietly and observe. And said I'd learn more from watching than from any book."
"Did you?"
"I learned that most nobles are terrible at negotiating. They let pride get in the way of profit." She sipped her wine. "And I learned that the person asking questions controls the conversation."
"Is that what you're doing now?" I asked. "Controlling the conversation?"
"Always." But she was smiling. "Though with you, I'm finding it harder to maintain control."
"Good. I'd hate to be predictable."
"Oh, you're definitely not that."
As the evening wore on and my father retired, Valerie and I remained at the table, finishing the last of the wine.
"You know what I realized today?" she said, her words slightly slurred from the alcohol.
"What?"
"I'm happy. Actually, genuinely happy." She looked at me, her crimson eyes bright. "I can't remember the last time I felt this way. Like the future is something to look forward to instead of just endure."
"I'm glad."
"It's your fault, you know. You and your stupid determination to change. Your ridiculous declarations of love. Your annoying habit of making me believe in things." She leaned against me. "I was perfectly fine being cold and distant before you came along."
"Were you though?"
"No," she admitted quietly. "I was lonely. And scared. And convinced that was just how life was supposed to be."
I wrapped an arm around her. "And now?"
"Now I'm terrified for completely different reasons. Because I have something to lose. Someone to lose." She turned to look up at me. "Promise me something, Chase."
"Anything."
"Promise me that no matter what happens—at the capital, with the Ashford project, with whatever threats you're preparing for—you won't sacrifice yourself. You won't throw yourself at dragons or take stupid risks just to protect me."
"Valerie—"
"I know you want to keep me safe. But I need you alive more than I need you to be a hero. Understand?"
I thought about the future I knew was coming. There were some moments where I might need to make impossible choices.
"I promise to try," I said. "But if it comes down to you or me—"
"Then we figure out a third option. Together." She gripped my hand tightly. "We're partners, remember? That means neither of us gets to play martyr."
"Deal."
"Good." She stood, swaying slightly. "Now help me to bed before I fall over. That wine was stronger than I remembered."
I laughed and steadied her, leading her upstairs to our chambers. She leaned heavily on me, mumbling about Morningstar family recipes and how her father always made the wine too strong on purpose.
By the time we reached our room, she was barely awake. I helped her out of her formal dress and into her nightclothes, trying to ignore how beautiful she looked even half-drunk and exhausted.
"Chase?" she murmured as I tucked her into bed.
"Yes?"
"I love you. Even when you're annoying. Especially when you're annoying."
"I love you too."
"Good. Don't forget it." Her eyes were already closing. "And don't stay up late planning things. Come to bed."
"I will. Just need to put out the candles."
But when I turned back from extinguishing the last candle, she was already asleep, her breathing soft and even. I climbed into bed beside her, and she immediately curled against me, seeking warmth even in sleep.
As I lay there in the darkness, I thought about everything that had happened. The Duke's test, the Ashford project, Valerie's trust in me growing stronger every day.
And for the first time since gaining these memories, I felt like maybe—just maybe—we had a real chance of changing our fates.
The novel's ending felt like a distant nightmare, fading further with each passing day.
I just had to keep moving forward. Keep building. Keep loving the woman in my arms.
The rest would follow.
It had to.
----
Yes the novel may be cringe once in a while :)