CHAPTER 5: The Lord’s Quiet Thoughts

Lord Kestrel sat in his study, the glow of a single lantern casting long shadows across the wooden desk. Outside, the distant sound of Crofton’s bustling evening reached his ears merchants celebrating smoother travel, farmers talking excitedly about faster wagon trips.

He leaned back in his chair, swirling a cup of dark wine thoughtfully.

“The road,” he muttered to himself. “I never ordered its repair.”

Yet the quality of the work was undeniable. When he’d inspected it earlier, he saw no signs of hasty patching or crude tools. The surface was flat, the drainage perfect better than the roads near the capital.

Too precise to be random laborers, he thought.

He set down his cup and steepled his fingers.

If someone had done this without his knowledge, they were either incredibly skilled or incredibly foolish. But the villagers were content. Believing it was his doing had only strengthened their trust in him.

He allowed himself a faint smile. “Sometimes, letting a mystery be is wiser than chasing it.”

Still… curiosity gnawed at him.

His Observations

He recalled details

‘No wheel marks from work crews.’

‘No leftover tools or soil piles.’

‘The repairs appeared overnight.’

“Magic?” he wondered aloud. But no, there were no lingering traces of mana.

If not magic, then what?

Kestrel stood, walking to the window. His estate overlooked Crofton, lanterns flickering like stars scattered across the village.

“Whoever did it,” he murmured, “wants no attention.”

And that intrigued him even more.

He chuckled softly. “If they wish to remain hidden, I’ll let them. For now.”

Finishing his wine, he returned to his desk and penned a short note to his steward

‘If such works appear again, observe quietly. Do not interfere. Whoever improves my lands is no enemy.’

He sealed it with wax and leaned back once more, smirking faintly.

“Whether it’s a craftsman or a spirit,” he said, “if they wish to fix my roads, I’ll not stop them.”

Outside, thunder rumbled faintly in the distance a storm on the horizon. Lord Kestrel’s gaze lingered on it.

“Let’s see how long this quiet mystery lasts.”