Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

Chapter 108: Relations Between The Two Houses

The moment Eirlys Frostborne disappeared beyond the dining hall doorway alongside her four attendants, the gentle rhythm of the dining hall gradually reclaimed the silence she had left behind...

Outside, the endless snowfall continued to blanket the Frozen North beneath a veil of white.

Goldric’s gaze lingered upon the doorway for several moments before he slowly reached for his goblet. Warm berry cider steamed gently against the cold light filtering through the nearby window. He took a slow, unhurried sip before setting it back upon the polished oak table.

Only then did he look toward his son.

"I had no idea you were acquainted with the heiress of House Frostborne."

He spoke, his voice as calm as ever, though there was a trace of genuine surprise hidden beneath its composed surface.

Across from him, Maverick had already resumed cutting into another slice of roasted elk. Hearing the question, he paused briefly before giving an easy shrug.

"To be honest, I was surprised myself." He smiled faintly before continuing. "You know, it has been years since our families had any meaningful contact and had she not introduced herself, I doubt I would have recognized her immediately."

He paused thoughtfully before looking back at his father. "I mean, how long has it been now?"

"Six years," Goldric answered without the slightest hesitation.

Maverick nodded. "I thought as much..."

After that, silence settled comfortably between the duo once more until eventually, Goldric spoke again.

"You seemed to remember her rather well."

Maverick chuckled. "Not particularly. I only remembered after seeing her face. Back then she was little more than a child following Lord Aldren everywhere..."

His smile became slightly nostalgic as he spoke further.

"I distinctly remember that she rarely spoke whenever our families gathered. More often than not, she simply hid behind her grandfather while quietly observing everyone else."

Goldric nodded in agreement. "Right. She was remarkably timid, wasn’t she?"

A faint smile crossed the older lord’s face as memories resurfaced.

"The moment unfamiliar guests arrived, she would disappear behind Aldren’s cloak as though she believed nobody could see her there. I believe your mother once spent nearly an entire afternoon just trying to coax her into speaking."

Maverick smiled before remarking. "And she failed spectacularly."

The father and son shared a brief laugh. Then, Maverick cut another piece of roasted elk before speaking again.

"However, she certainly isn’t that little girl anymore."

His eyes drifted briefly toward the doorway through which Eirlys had departed. "Instead, she has become a proper young lady. And apparently... Also an Awakener."

Though his expression barely changed, there was something thoughtful hidden within his voice and Goldric noticed immediately.

His golden eyes rested upon his son for several seconds before he asked. "Are you surprised?"

Maverick looked back at him and shrugged. "A little."

Goldric smiled knowingly. "I suspected as much. Considering both of you awakened rather late compared to most noble children, I imagine you weren’t expecting someone you remembered as timid to have already reached such a stage."

Maverick nodded honestly. "You are right..."

He sighed lightly before speaking further. "I knew House Frostborne possessed remarkable talents, but hearing that she has already qualified for the Sanctum examinations caught me off guard. Then again considering whose granddaughter she is, perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised."

Goldric gave an approving nod. "Exactly. Aldren Frostborne, her grandfather, has always believed that strength is the foundation upon which everything else is built..."

The older lord’s expression became faintly nostalgic as he spoke. "I’ve known the man for decades and trust me when I say he was never one to tolerate weakness; not in himself, nor in his soldiers. And certainly not within his own family."

Goldric took another slow sip from his goblet before continuing. "Also, if Eirlys is to inherit House Frostborne one day, then becoming an Awakener was never merely an ambition. It was an expectation."

Maverick considered those words quietly. Then he rested one elbow upon the table.

"That much I understand. Actually, what surprised me wasn’t the fact that she awakened, instead, it was that she already qualifies for the Sanctums. I always believed they accepted only the most exceptional Mancers throughout the kingdom."

Goldric chuckled softly. "Maverick, It appears that you have forgotten something."

The young noble raised an eyebrow and asked. "And what would that be, father?

Goldric answered without hesitation.

"House Frostborne are among the oldest noble houses in the Frozen North and they have cultivated practitioners of Icy Aether for generations beyond counting. In fact, I believe that there is scarcely another house within Valoria whose affinity with elemental cultivation rivals theirs. So frankly speaking, had Eirlys awakened as anything other than a Mancer, I would have been the one surprised."

Realization gradually dawned across Maverick’s face. "When you put it that way, I suppose it makes sense..."

For another few moments, the conversation gave way to the pleasant sounds of dining.

Eventually, Maverick spoke again.

"Still, I must admit something." He stated.

Goldric looked up. " And what would that be?"

"I never imagined that timid little girl would someday stand among those preparing for the Sanctum examinations." Maverick said with a smile that carried genuine admiration.

"The transformation is quite remarkable."

Hearing that, Goldric’s own expression softened. "That, my son, is simply what time does..."

He looked thoughtfully into the dancing flames within the great hearth. "It reminds us that children do not remain children forever..."

His gaze slowly returned to Maverick before a teasing smile appeared on his face.

"You yourself are proof enough of that. I still remember carrying you on my shoulders through the training grounds. And before that, I distinctly remember changing your swaddling cloth because your mother refused to let the servants do it."

Maverick froze.

"...Father." The young noble shouted with an undertone of embarrassment in his voice.

But Goldric continued as though he hadn’t heard him.

"You cried louder than any infant I had ever met and whenever your bottle was even a moment late, the entire manor would know that you were hungry."

Several nearby patrons glanced toward them as Maverick buried his face in one hand.

"Please,must you tell that story here?"

Goldric looked genuinely puzzled. "I was merely speaking the truth. Is there something wrong with what I said?"

"I would greatly appreciate it if the truth remained within the walls of our estate and not outside." Maverick said with a sigh.

The older lord’s lips curled upward. "Oh, I see. You are embarrassed, aren’t you?"

"Of course, I am. Have you forgotten that I’m a grown-up already?"

"Exactly..." Goldric nodded solemnly. "At this stage, you should already be old enough to survive a little embarrassment."

Maverick sighed dramatically before shaking his head. "You saying that suddenly makes me feel much older than twenty."

"You should be..." Goldric replied with a perfectly straight face. "Because for a moment, I actually thought you were about to start complaining about back pain."

Maverick stared at him.

"...Father."

The older lord held his expression for only another heartbeat before finally breaking into quiet laughter and unable to help himself, Maverick laughed as well...

After some seconds, the laughter between father and son gradually subsided, giving way to another comfortable silence. Outside, snow continued to descend in slow, graceful curtains, swallowing the world beyond the frosted windows in an endless sea of white.

Maverick absentmindedly swirled the berry cider in his goblet before speaking again.

"Speaking of House Frostborne, you know I still find it rather unfortunate. Our families were once among the closest allies in the Frozen North. Whenever people spoke of House Valehart, House Frostborne was never far behind. There was even a time when many believed the two houses would eventually become one through marriage."

A faint smile crossed his lips.

"Looking back now, it almost feels strange how distant we’ve become."

Goldric remained silent for a few moments before giving a slow nod.

"It wasn’t merely idle speculation."

Maverick looked up.

"It wasn’t?"

"No."

The older lord rested both forearms upon the table. "There truly were discussions between our two families..."

His voice remained calm, though there was a trace of nostalgia hidden beneath it.

"Your mother and I, together with Lord Aldren and several elders of House Frostborne, once explored the possibility of strengthening our alliance through marriage."

Maverick’s brows rose noticeably.

"I had no idea matters progressed that far."

"They did." Goldric nodded. "For a time, it seemed almost inevitable..."

His gaze drifted toward the dancing flames within the hearth as he continued. "But before anything could come of those discussions, circumstances changed."

The subtle shift in his father’s expression did not escape Maverick.

Years of living under the same roof had taught him to recognize even the smallest changes in Goldric’s demeanor. There was no bitterness in his voice, nor resentment, only the quiet melancholy that accompanied memories too old to alter and rather than reopening wounds long since buried, Maverick steered the conversation elsewhere.

"So what exactly happened? As far as I remember, our families were inseparable when I was younger. We hunted together, celebrated festivals together and I even remember Lord Aldren visiting our estate every winter. What caused all of that to simply... Stop?"

Goldric released a quiet sigh. "Actually, it isn’t anything serious. You see, most people assume alliances end because someone draws a sword first or because of dramatic betrayals and bloody disputes..."

He slowly shook his head.

"But reality is rarely that theatrical. What happened between House Valehart and House Frostborne was far more ordinary."

Maverick listened attentively.

"It was politics."

The single word lingered between them.

"Politics?"

Goldric nodded.

"The Frozen North has always been different. Unlike the southern provinces, the northern territories have never been entirely comfortable beneath the Crown’s direct influence. The people here value independence and to survive here, every lord must think not only of loyalty, but also of the prosperity of his own people."

His voice remained steady as he continued.

"As trade routes shifted, so too did alliances. Military obligations changed and new responsibilities emerged. Some houses found themselves guarding the western passes while others turned their attention toward the eastern trade roads. Our own house became increasingly occupied securing the northern frontier, you know, during the Tide seasons. House Frostborne also faced similar burdens and because of all these, the relationship between our two houses simply became distant."

Maverick nodded thoughtfully.

"So both families simply became... occupied."

"Exactly." Goldric replied. "Letters became fewer, visits were less frequent, one missed gathering became two, two became five... And before either family truly realized what had happened, years had slipped away."

He looked out through the frost-covered window. "You see, it is remarkable how quietly distance can grow between people."

Maverick frowned slightly.

"So you’re saying our friendship simply faded? Not because anyone wished it to but because nobody made the effort to preserve it?"

Goldric smiled, a very sad one.

"My son, that is often how relationships end. They are rarely shattered in a single day, instead, they simply wither. A friendship neglected year after year eventually begins to resemble one that never existed."

He took another sip of his cider before continuing. "You see, time has a cruel habit of widening even the smallest cracks."

Maverick remained silent for several moments. Then he spoke once more.

"I suppose that explains why Lady Eirlys seemed just as surprised to see me as I was to see her."

"It does." Goldric agreed. "But today’s meeting told me something encouraging."

Maverick looked up. "And what is that?"

"That there is no resentment nor lingering hostility between the two families. If anything the courtesy she showed us tells me that House Frostborne still remembers our family with respect."

"I believe so as well." Maverick agreed. "The way she carried herself, it never felt forced. Instead, it felt genuine."

Goldric’s gaze drifted once more toward the doorway through which Eirlys had departed.

"Right. Actually, the Frostbornes have always been honorable people. I’ve fought beside Aldren, negotiated with him, and shared countless feasts beneath his roof. The old man might be stubborn beyond reason but when he gives his word, he keeps it."

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"And judging from what I’ve seen today, his granddaughter appears to have inherited the very best of him."

Maverick smiled in agreement.

"I thought the same."

He lifted his goblet thoughtfully. "She was polite, composed, confident without being arrogant, and surprisingly easy to speak with."

Goldric slowly turned his head toward him.

"Is that all you noticed about her?"

Maverick nearly inhaled his drink. The young noble coughed several times before setting the goblet down rather abruptly.

"...Father."

Goldric maintained a perfectly innocent expression. "What?"

"You know exactly what."

The older lord chuckled. " Okay, okay. I would stop teasing you."

Maverick sighed. "Thank you."

Goldric leaned back comfortably. Then with a teasing smile on his face, he spoke further. "But really, do you want to deny not thinking about anything else when you saw her?"

"No, I did not." Maverick replied, almost shouting.

"I don’t think so..." Goldric said.

Then, the older lord laughed quietly, clearly enjoying himself far more than his son appreciated.

But after a moment, even Maverick surrendered with an amused shake of his head.

"Sometimes, I wonder how you are able to behave like this considering your status?"

Goldric raised a brow before replying. "Oh? Trust me, when you get to where I am, you would have to develop thick skin for these types of things..."

Outside, the snow continued to blanket the Frozen North beneath an endless veil of white. But inside the inn, warmth, laughter, and quiet conversation filled the air as father and son resumed their meal...