บท 35: Desparate Gamble

The Elstrand manor was shrouded in a heavy silence, its grand hall dimly lit by flickering torches as the family gathered to discuss the unthinkable.

At the head of the long wooden table sat Baron Alric Elstrand, his weary face twisted in anger.

His knuckles were white as he gripped the arms of his chair, his frustration palpable.

Across from him stood his eldest son, Rendrick, a tall and broad-shouldered man whose arrogance mirrored his father's, though it was tinged with frustration.

Beside him was Lady Serina, Alric's wife, her expression cold and calculating, though worry lingered in her sharp eyes.

At the far end of the table, their youngest daughter, Lenora, sat quietly, her wide eyes darting between her family members as the heated discussion unfolded.

"This is an outrage!" Alric thundered, slamming his fist onto the table.