Lord Ruben Dawnsire was a public figure in Mistralis. Rich, charming, and heir to the Dawnsire family, he had first met his wife Pauline as a teenager, and they had loved each other ever since. Together they helped expand the Dawnsire company across the nation, their food distribution network eventually stretching beyond Mistralis into Lumeria and even Korrath. While Ruben handled most of the communication and public relations, Pauline oversaw the logistics that kept the entire enterprise running. Those who knew the couple well said that Ruben won the rooms, but Pauline moved the world behind them.

  Both had already been part of the previous royal family’s circle, making their nomination feel like a natural continuation for all classes in Mistralis.

  At thirty-two years old, Ruben Dawnsire had become King of Mistralis.

  The week following the banquet, the Dawnsires were presented to all royal institutions across Nuword Bay by the former Queen Eugenie. Speeches were delivered, ceremonies observed, and the transition of power was made to appear effortless.

  Once the formalities were complete, the conversations grew more discreet. Queen Eugenie began to explain how power was truly exercised in Mistralis when necessary. Dawnsire insisted that Pauline remain present for the discussion as he intended for them to rule together.

  The guiding principle of Mistralian politics, the old Queen explained, had always been simple: “Fortune rewards the bold.” But rules still existed, at least in appearance. One could bend them, even break them, provided one was never caught doing so. Behind the crown existed a quieter system. In every region, a network of agents served Mistralis through less visible means: sabotage, forgery, and influence. Nuword Bay was a special case, as their best agent insisted on remaining independent.

  The last matter Eugenie considered essential concerned foreign affairs. During the Queen’s Challenge, a coup had taken place in Lumeria. The King of Lumeria had vanished and was now being protected in a village near Riveri, close to the Lumerian border.

  Two weeks later, Queen Eugenie would formally retire from politics, choosing to spend what time remained to her among art, patronage, and the quieter ways she could still serve Mistralis.

  First contacts with Yamileth kor Agara went smoothly, as they had already spoken during the banquet. She acted as the link between Korrath and the other nations.

  Relations with Lumeria, on the other hand, continued to deteriorate. Although Mistralis remained officially on good terms with the kingdom, no new projects were able to move forward. Little by little, Lumerian scholars teaching magic in Mistralis were recalled and did not return.

  Within the country, King Dawnsire began a tour of Mistralis to meet his people. It also allowed him to observe how his information network operated across the regions. Pauline, now pregnant, remained in Nuword Bay and handled most of the logistics during his absence. The tour lasted two months, strengthening the young king’s presence even in the most remote areas of the realm. Back from his tour, the Dawnsires were introduced to Maverick by former Queen Eugenie.

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  The Dawnsires also used their royal authority to stabilize their company and expand its role across the country, consolidating their control over much of the goods distribution network.

  A full year had passed since King Dawnsire’s coronation. Now the young father of twin girls, he had become firmly established, using his charm to impose his system onto the court.

  News arrived from Korrath as he was preparing to attend the wedding of Yamileth kor Agara and Barrok kor Mosine. The ceremony had been postponed after mysterious beasts escaped from the mines of Dorak, a crisis that required Yamileth’s full attention. With mining operations temporarily halted, Dorakstone prices skyrocketed. Dawnsire understood the stakes. If Dorakstone extraction remained halted for long, half the continent’s magical infrastructure would begin to falter.

  A week later, Yamileth asked for help, as their first expedition into the mines had failed to locate the source of the creatures. The creatures were drawn to mana, targeting infrastructures containing Dorakstone.

  Dawnsire sent several profiles he had personally selected. Yamileth chose three of them and decided to lead the expedition herself. Although cooperation was necessary, the situation remained a matter of national security.

  Among the selected specialists was June, presented as a structural engineer.

  The combined expedition finally departed for the mines of Dorak, though confusing reports soon suggested that the Mistralian specialists had never arrived.

  Dawnsire sent an envoy to investigate. The man returned with stranger news still: the expedition was already underway, and messages were reaching the surface through magic using June’s ability to relay them. Dawnsire quickly understood what had happened, remembering how concerned Maverick had been about the possibility of mana beasts reaching Mistralis.

  Barrok kor Mosine, who had replaced Yamileth as supervisor of Dorak, was unlikely to share much information with foreigners. The expedition had planned provisions for two weeks. If anything lay beneath the mines, Dawnsire was confident Maverick would find it.

  With Yamileth absent and the mines closed, Dorak had become vulnerable. Preserving her authority there was now in Mistralis’ interest as well. Dawnsire sensed the opportunity and could rely on his wife to orchestrate the logistics.

  Dawnsire could not intervene in Korrath’s politics. Commerce, however, followed different rules. He needed to stall the situation in Korrath for two weeks.

  Food caravans bearing the Dawnsire crest began moving toward Dorak. This time they travelled under heavy escort, mercenaries recruited from across Korrath itself. With all eyes on the Dorakstone crisis, no clan leader could miss the unusual concentration of armed men gathering around the city.

  Dawnsire made no effort to hide their origins. The companies marched under their own banners, a confusing mix of clans and regions that suggested more than it explained. Uncertainty spread quickly. No one could tell whether Dorak was being reinforced, baiting an attack, or preparing something else entirely.

  That hesitation was enough. It bought Barrok the time he needed to contain the mana beasts and kept Dorak effectively protected until Yamileth’s return.

  Ten days later, the expedition team emerged from the mines. Yamileth declared the mission a success, and mining operations would soon resume.

  As expected, Maverick had infiltrated the expedition. Another name on the report surprised Dawnsire, however: Adrian had been there as well. The rest of the report, though, was disappointing, hardly what one would expect from such high-profile individuals after a mission declared successful.

  With mining operations resuming, Yamileth thanked Mistralis for its assistance during the expedition. In return, Dawnsire managed to secure Dorakstone for his country at its pre–mana beast prices. Even though the threat had only been contained rather than eliminated, the negotiation had felt almost too easy.

  Dawnsire was certain something significant had happened in the mines during the expedition. If no one was willing to speak about it, then it was likely a secret worth protecting, and worth maintaining a close relationship with Dorak’s ruler, Yamileth.