Sara kept talking happily as they walked along the quiet path. “And you’ll love the yard, there’s even a little garden spot in the back where you can grow herbs, Miss Era. And the roof is solid bricks made!"

  Mira stayed glued to Lys’s side, swinging their linked arms a little. Era walked quietly beside Sara, giving small nods as most of what she was saying got over her head.

  Sara suddenly stopped and pointed ahead with a big smile. “There it is! Look, you can see it from here.”

  Lys squinted his eyes to see it. As the sun was going down, it was a little hard to see the house from this far. But he could make out its shape little by little as he got closer with each step towards it.

  The house sat on a small rise just outside the vilge edge on the south side. It looked much bigger than he had imagined, two full stories, real wooden walls instead of mud and straw, and a wide yard with a proper gate. His eyes widened with awe.

  “Whoa… it’s huge,” he said under his breath.

  Mira gasped. “Lys, it’s so pretty! Look at those windows!”

  Era’s mouth opened a little in surprise, but she stayed quiet, just staring.

  As they got closer, they saw a man by the yard gate. He looked about forty, tall, and well-dressed in a simple but expensive-looking coat. When he saw Sara, he gave a small, polite bow.

  Sara returned it with a graceful curtsy. “Lord Varen, thank you for waiting.”

  Lys, Era, and Mira just stood there watching the little exchange. They had never seen nobles greet each other like that before.

  Sara turned to them with a warm smile. “This is Lysander Veyne and his family, his mother, Miss Era, and his sister Mira. They’re the ones who will be living here.”

  Lord Varen gave them a kind nod. “It’s good to meet you all, gentlemen and dies. I’m Varen, second son of Baron Vector. This house has served me well while I was… handling some troubles in the area. But I’m heading home now, so it’s time to pass it on.”

  Lys leaned close to Sara’s ear and whispered, “A baron’s son is really selling his own house? I thought nobles never do something like that…”

  Varen heard him anyway. He didn’t look offended. Instead, he gave a tired smile and answered gently.

  “My family isn’t what it once was, Mister Lysander,” he said with heavy regret in his voice. “We still have rge nds, but almost no one lives there anymore. Our vassals and retainers have left over the years. And… well, we haven’t been able to produce any heirs. Not me, not my elder brother. I have over a hundred women in my harem back home, yet… nothing.”

  He looked down for a moment, shoulders heavy. “It seems the great Vector line might end with us. So you can guess from that how well off we are, I suppose.”

  Lys studied the man. He looked strong and healthy for forty, but the emptiness in his eyes was real. Lys felt a strange mix of pity and also jealousy twist in his stomach. ‘Over a hundred women… and still no kids? What a joke this world shows me sometimes, huh.’

  Lys cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to hear that, Lord Varen. So, where will you go after selling the house?”

  Varen lifted his head again. “Of course, back to our main estate in Dora. It’s straight south from here, about two hundred miles. The roads are decent this time of year.”

  Sara gave Lys a small, encouraging nod, like she was proud he had asked.

  Mira, still holding Lys’s arm tightly, whispered to him, “Two hundred miles? That’s really far…”

  Era finally spoke up softly, looking at Varen with gentle eyes. “Thank you for letting us have this pce. It means a lot to our family.”

  Varen smiled at her. “I’m gd it will go to good people. Shall we go inside? I’ll show you everything before the papers are signed.”

  Lys nodded, heart beating faster with excitement and a little nervousness. “Yeah… let’s see our new home.”

  Sara cpped her hands once, eyes sparkling again. “Ohhh, This is going to be wonderful!”

  Mira squeezed Lys’s arm tighter and grinned up at him. “Our new house, Lys. lets try that thing again tonight in our own room…”

  Lys coughed, his cheeks warming up, while Era shot Mira a quick, embarrassed look. Sara didn’t hear, thankfully, and kept walking ahead cheerfully.

  The group followed Varen through the gate, stepping into the wide yard of their new house.

  Visioner10