Chapter 39:"You are no longer a slave."

The next morning, Vahaemorys was enjoying his early morning tea, patiently waiting for breakfast to be served. Aranel, his loyal companion, stood nearby with a troubled expression. Vahaemorys noticed her unease and could guess the thoughts racing through her mind. Aranel had been with him most of the time recently, except for the previous night during the banquet. As a woman, she might be curious about the events of the banquet and what she had missed.

Vahaemorys, engrossed in reviewing records detailing the progress of the construction and current expenses, finally addressed Aranel. "Aranel, if something is troubling you, don't hesitate to speak," he said.

She initially responded, "No, my Liege," but Vahaemorys wasn't convinced. "You shouldn't lie to your Liege," he reminded her gently.

Aranel finally opened up, her voice calm. "Forgive me, my Liege. It's just that I learned about what happened during the banquet."

Vahaemorys raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue. "And?" he asked.

With a hint of hesitation, Aranel confessed, "Forgive me, my Liege, but I found your actions to be inappropriate."

Vahaemorys put down the records and fixed his gaze on her, inquiring further. "Well, did you find my actions inappropriate?"

Aranel spoke in a hushed tone, "Yes, my Liege. You should have given them a second chance."

Vahaemorys considered her words and then shared his perspective. "They were traitors, Aranel, in every sense. This wasn't their first act of treachery; they had betrayed me before, when my father passed away."

He got up and walked over to the window, gazing outside. "An enemy you can see is dangerous, but a traitor you cannot see is even more so," Vahaemorys mused. "It's better to have an open enemy than a false friend."

Turning back to Aranel, he continued, "If I had let them go, they would have had more reason to betray me. They would have continued to undermine me in the shadows."

Aranel then posed another question to Vahaemorys, her curiosity driving her to seek more knowledge. "What about the other Lord who is imprisoned?" she inquired.

Vahaemorys couldn't help but chuckle at her thirst for information. He looked at her warmly and said, "You are quite the curious one, Aranel."

While gazing out the window once more, Vahaemorys continued, "You are fortunate to be serving me. If it were my father you served, well, that would be a different matter."

Aranel appeared slightly embarrassed by the comment and quickly apologized, "Forgive me, my Liege."

Vahaemorys responded with a smile and reassured her, "No need for apologies. Your curiosity is a valuable trait."

Then he addressed her question. "As for him, it would be a significant loss to simply end his life. He didn't amass his wealth through inheritance, but rather through his extensive knowledge of trade and the sea, surpassing even some dragon lords in riches. The only thing that sets him apart from becoming a dragon lord himself is the absence of a dragon. We won't be granting him one either, as we have no desire for another potential rival. So I plan to utilize him strategically to strengthen our trade connections, making our city's wealth soar. We can't always rely solely on Valyria, after all."

At that moment, Athenna appeared at the door and respectfully called, "My Lord?" Vahaemorys warmly replied, "Come in," and she entered carrying a tray laden with breakfast. Carefully placing the food on the table, she did her best to ensure it was neatly arranged. Vahaemorys gestured for Aranel to leave the room, and she departed after bowing to him.

Now alone with Athenna, Vahaemorys sat at the table for breakfast and playfully remarked, "This breakfast seems rather generous for one person, don't you think?" Athenna responded with a humble tone, "Forgive me, my Lord. I can return the items you don't want." Vahaemorys, still smiling, reassured her, "There's no need for that. Please, have a seat."

However, Athenna hesitated, expressing, "No, my Lord, I am not allowed." Vahaemorys insisted, "But I allow you. Come on, you seem quite skinny for your age."

She remained hesitant, so Vahaemorys pushed the food tray closer to her, urging her to eat. "Don't worry about the utensils. You can use your hands," he assured her. Athenna cautiously took a bite of the white bread, her eyes moistening a little. Vahaemorys understood her emotions and pushed the vegetable stew toward her, suggesting, "Try this one; it's really delicious."

Athenna replied, "My Lord, I'm a slave. I wouldn't dare." However, Vahaemorys suddenly snapped his fingers, causing her black collar to unravel and fall to the ground. She looked shocked.

With a smile, Vahaemorys declared, "You are no longer a slave." He stood up, approached her, and spoke affectionately, "I've been a terrible son. I hope you'll be a wonderful daughter to my mother." Tears welled up in Athenna's eyes, and Vahaemorys lovingly rubbed her head.