Chapter 101: Visiting The Corrupted Lands (1)
The carriage rolled smoothly along the cobblestone roads, as they arrived before the Mansion’s gates.
The Varyn Mansion, as Timothy had explained during the journey, was the closest ducal estate to the Capital City, perched at the very entrance to the Dukedom of Varyn.
Its strategic position made it a hub for trade and defense, a gateway between the Capital and the wilder territories beyond.
The journey from the Gilded Tankard had taken just under seven hours, and Timothy had kept up a polite stream of conversation during the ride, detailing the history of the Varyn family and their role in safeguarding the Dukedom.
Adrian had listened with half an ear, his mind occupied with the deal he was about to strike.
"We’ve arrived, Master Adrian," Timothy announced in a warm tone. He stepped out first, holding the door open with a practiced flourish. "I’ll inform Lord Varyn of your arrival. He has requested to meet you in his study."
Adrian nodded, adjusting his clothes as he stepped down.
The courtyard was alive with activity. Servants were bustling about, lighting up torches to ward off the encroaching dusk among other tasks.
Timothy led the way through the grand entrance, where polished marble floors gleamed under the torches.
The interior was a blend of opulence and practicality, with tapestries depicting the Varyn lineage hanging alongside racks of different collections.
After a brief wait in an antechamber, a servant appeared to escort Adrian to the study. The room was on the second floor, tucked away at the end of a long corridor lined with portraits of stern-faced ancestors.