The wind gently struck the windows of Lady Lusignan's chambers as she listened to the morning report.
Seated beside the fire, she kept her eyes fixed on an open letter. In front of her, an older woman stood with her hands clasped over her stomach.
"What news do you bring me today?" Lady Lusignan asked, turning her gaze toward the old man standing behind her.
"The accounting system, apparently," the man replied. "Edmund ordered the old records to be replaced with separate books for each activity: mining, smelting, transportation, and warehouses."
Lady Lusignan slowly raised her eyes.
"Separate?"
"Yes. Apparently, every expense must be recorded alongside its source. He also demands that losses, damaged tools, and the quantities delivered to each person in charge be documented."
"That is not a simple reorganization. I did not know we had the men to do that."
"Because we do not. The scribes say it now takes them twice as long to close the accounts, and they are demanding more personnel."
Lady Lusignan rose and placed the letter on the table.
"It seems my son has managed to find the corruption plaguing this city within his first month in office, Charles."
That managed to draw a smile from her.
"Then Edmund plans to reform the entire accounting system."
"He has also asked the scribes to sign every record before filing it."
Lady Lusignan placed a finger on the table.
"That is certainly new."
For years, Graymont's reports had arrived in only a few pages. Total production, main expenses, outstanding taxes, and little else. No one could know exactly how much ore was being extracted, how much was lost during transportation, or what portion of the income ended up in the hands of intermediaries.
"I believe it is so that, if a document is falsified, they can identify it immediately and verify whether any of them were involved, my lady. That way, a scribe will think twice before accepting a bribe."
Charles came from Imperial lands and had served as a tax collector in his youth, but fate had eventually brought him to Graymont.
"I see… Well done, Charles. Once again, you prove that an Imperial education is far better than anyone expects. If it had not been for Antoine, I would have sent all my children to the capital, but he wanted them to be raised with Bretonnian knowledge, following tradition."
The irritation was evident in Camille Lusignan, although she respected traditions. She knew that they did not wish to preserve what truly mattered, but only what they were capable of doing.
"Apparently, he plans to sell many of the artworks from the former lord's residence, my lady."
"Sell them?" She laughed.
"Yes. He has ordered a complete inventory to be carried out. Some pieces will be sent to merchants in the capital; others, it seems, will be offered to nobles in the region."
"I imagine he wants to finance the reforms with the proceeds, but has he specifically said what he intends to use the money for?"
"No one seems to know, my lady. The lord has been very reserved about his plans. He seems to arrive somewhere, give certain orders, and disappear toward the next place."
Camille remained silent for a few moments.
She was not surprised that Edmund wanted to sell them. Ever since he had been a child, he had shown that he felt no attachment to appearances when they interfered with his plans. She still remembered how he had abandoned his birthday party because he thought it was pompous when he was young.
But the artworks were not simple objects.
Each one represented an alliance, a debt, or part of the family's reputation. Selling them could signify weakness in the eyes of the other subordinate houses, and worse, in the eyes of the hyenas waiting for an opportunity to claim a part of Graymont.
"What pieces does he intend to sell?"
"Old portraits, tapestries, ceremonial tableware, some sculptures, and several paintings brought from the south. There is also a collection of decorative weapons that belonged to the former lord."
Camille frowned.
"The weapons as well? I thought he would be fond of them, judging by the appearance of the ones he brought home when he arrived."
At first, it had been a surprise to see her son, who was rumored to be a mage, arrive wearing steel armor. Not only that, but he also had a strange rifle on his back that no one had ever seen before, along with what appeared to be a revolver resembling those used by the military officers of the Empire—completely contrary to the image one would have of a mage, not to mention his rapier. All of them had golden details.
Although Camille had not realized it at the time, that was what confirmed the rumors she had heard about her son being a successful adventurer in Middenheim.
"He considers them useless for defense and too expensive to maintain. He also said that he would not continue keeping useless things unless his food stores were overflowing."
Camille let out a brief laugh, though it did not sound amused.
"That sounds exactly like him. Let him do as he wishes for now. He has proven efficient in managing the territory, and although he may lack sufficient political skills, he can always manage with a trusted subordinate."
Charles took a step closer.
"There are nobles who disagree."
"Who?"
"Lord Armand has sent a letter. He claims that selling the artworks could damage Graymont's dignity and diminish the family's prestige. He also says that some pieces were given as diplomatic gifts and that selling them could be interpreted as an insult."
"Anything else?"
"Lady Merienne has asked whether the pieces will be appraised by experts. Lord Veyrac demands to know who will receive the proceeds. And two minor families have implied that Edmund has no right to sell objects belonging to their ancestors."
"And what has Edmund's response to their complaints been?"
"None, my lady, except that it seems his new personal retinue has changed its usual routes and regularly patrols the residences of those nobles."
"It seems Edmund does not appreciate the importance of such things as we do, Charles. Introduce him to good merchants and appraisers. If we are going to sell this place's history, then at least we will sell it for a good price."
"Are you sure, my lady? He could lose the support of all the nobles and cause the house's reputation to collapse."
"What can we do, Charles? Neither Antoine nor I could resolve the situation, and when my Frank died at the hands of those filthy beasts, we could only place our trust in our lost lamb."
Camille interrupted herself.
"Besides, something tells me that soon we will not have to worry about the nobles' support."
At that moment, someone knocked on the door, but did not even wait for a response.
"Mother!"
The door burst open, and a young woman entered the chambers with her hair slightly disheveled and an expression of absolute determination.
Eliza Lusignan wore a simple dress, although she had clearly left her chambers in too much of a hurry to worry about the details. Her eyes were bright, and she held several papers against her chest.
Camille looked at her sternly.
"How many times have I told you that you must wait until you are given permission to enter?"
"Three times this week."
"Then it seems you still haven't learned."
"But this time it's important."
Charles discreetly stepped aside.
"Lady Eliza."
"Charles." The young woman barely paid him any attention. She walked directly to the table and placed the papers in front of her mother.
"You said we would go see the factory Edmund is building today. Let's go."
Charles did not understand what his lady meant by those words, but he would soon learn that the reason Camille had moved so many strings to ensure Edmund assumed power was not the insistence of a mother who wanted her bloodline to rule, but because there was no one in this world who knew the children of House Lusignan better than the mother who had given birth to them.