Lukas sat up straight in his chair as the servant placed a heaping plate of eggs, bacon, and spiced potatoes in front of him at the dining table. The plate was so large that it could feed three people, and there were several slices of fresh bread on a side plate. This had become a common occurrence over the past few days, with the servants bringing massive meals whenever Lukas ate to aid his recovery. Lukas had only complained about the first meal after being politely informed that it had been ordered from his Uncle. Honestly, it had helped him recover, as he felt almost back to normal.

  Digging into the delicious food, Lukas noticed Marie enter, taking the seat on his left. Lord Sulli took his usual seat at the head of the table.

  “Good morning, Lukas,” Marie said, turning to the servant who rushed over to take her order. “The usual, please, and a cup of coffee.”

  “Good morning, Marie, Uncle,” Lukas responded.

  Marie appeared fully recovered from the party and smiled while turning a page of the book she had brought with her. She read while waiting for her order. While Lukas had enjoyed the party, it had taken a significant toll on him. He spent the entire next day in bed, and the healer returned for another round of healing.

  Lord Sulli nodded, his mind focused on the papers he had brought with him. He held his cup of coffee in one hand and the other occupied, diligently going through each paper and taking notes as he worked. Lukas genuinely didn’t envy the constant workload his uncle had; there hadn’t been a meal in days, and he wasn’t doing any work either. Lukas almost dreaded the day it would become his life, but perhaps he could find a way to lighten the load.

  Lukas continued eating, eating his fill before Marie’s coffee arrived.

  “How are you feeling? Are you ready for the play in a few days?” she asked, sipping her coffee. There was genuine concern in her voice, and Lukas frowned. Maybe he didn’t look as good as he felt.

  He hadn’t looked in the mirror this morning, nor had his manservant, William, mentioned anything. Besides Marie, Lord Sulli, and William, he hadn’t seen many people. Marie had informed him that Lord Sulli had ordered everyone to stay away until he had recovered more.

  Sulli placed the paper he was reading on the table. “What’s this, Marie?” he asked in a gruff voice, his eyes fixed on both of them.

  “We were planning to go to the play next Friday,” Marie answered nervously.

  “Sorry, Uncle, I meant to inform you. I invited Marius Reza and his sisters to the play. They were planning to go, and since everything he did for me, I offered to take them.” Lukas added, trying to reassure Marie and prevent his stomach from churning. But glancing over at her, she gave him a reassuring smile. Lukas knew this would become a regular occurrence, and he needed to overcome his nervousness when discussing it with his uncle. Trying to calm himself, he waited for his uncle’s response.

  “Well, this certainly creates a dilemma. I had promised Lady Sulli that we would attend the play that night. How many seats did you promise?” His tone remained neutral.

  A bead of sweat formed between Lukas’s shoulder blades as he realized he might have over-promised. Unfortunately, he was unsure of the number of seats Lord Sulli had reserved in his private box. “Three, so it would be five of us, including Marie,” Lukas answered with as much confidence as he could muster, his nerves trying to overwhelm him. Marie nodded in agreement.

  “We only promised seats for them, and they’re all unmarried. Tavia and Cassia were wonderful and interesting. You’ll like them,” she glanced at Lukas when she mentioned both names and smiled knowingly.

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  Lukas had been aware that everyone knew about their relationship, thanks to Reza’s warning. However, Marie hadn’t commented on the topic except when they returned from the party, where she mentioned enjoy talking with the Rezas. Echoes be damned, she would probably give him no end of ridicule.

  “Uncle, you have eight seats. Unless you asked Aunt Sulli to invite someone, we have the seats,” Marie tried to convince Lord Sulli.

  Lukas felt a sense of relief after her words, he hadn’t overpromised. Withdrawing the offer would have been rude, and he would regret having to do so to new friends. He had been eagerly looking forward to seeing them all again.

  They waited, servants coming to refill their drinks as Lord Sulli silently pondered.

  “I’ll make the arrangements,” Sulli finally said. “I found Marius to be a solid man when he was here. I respected his honor in how he handled the situation.”

  Lukas let out a sigh of relief that he hadn’t realized he was holding. Marie squeezed his hand, giving him a small smile before walking over to Lord Sulli to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  “Thank you. I’ll go discuss what Lady Sulli’s plans to wear for the play,” Marie said, leaving without another word.

  Lord Sulli nodded, neatly stacking his papers before turning his attention to Lukas. “We must discuss something before I depart for my meetings today,” he said.

  Lukas pushed his food aside, his gaze fixed on his uncle. “Do you need my assistance with something?”

  In his brief tenure as heir, he had only been required to recover and attend the Reza party. Did his Uncle expect him to participate in the meetings, or was there something else he would be obligated to do? Lukas patiently awaited the revelation.

  “I believe you are aware that the contest to replace Marcellus commences tomorrow. Her church has invited us to occupy the main box,” Lord Sulli explained, his voice devoid of emotion.

  “Oh,” Lukas was at a loss for words. It had been a week, yet it felt strange how he had already begun to move on. He had to ensure that Marcellus’ memory lived on. He had saved his life; he couldn’t be forgotten. “I suppose we must, for his memory.”

  “Well said. But yes, I have already accepted,” Lord Sulli replied, maintaining his expressionless demeanor. Lukas struggled to decipher his uncle’s thoughts. “However, the primary reason I brought it up was I believed it could be an effective method to identify a teacher for you.”

  A teacher? It took Lukas longer than expected to comprehend what his uncle meant—a teacher to teach him how to control and harness his wraith. Lukas had suspected he would receive a teacher after Marcellus’ death, but this was not how he had envisioned such a person would be found.

  “Wouldn’t you or someone in the family be more suitable for that?” Lukas inquired.

  Lord Sulli, caught off guard by Lukas’s question, chuckled. “Oh, no, I’m far too busy for such a thing. And no, there aren’t many accomplished users from our family in the city. Tiberius and Acis would have been great candidates, but unfortunately, they’re with the Naval Legion and will be away for at least two more months. So, we’ll have to look outside the family to start your education.”

  Lukas felt a measure of excitement at the prospect of getting a teacher. He desperately needed to comprehend his wraith to overcome his powerlessness and inability to defend himself. Before beginning his training, he would follow Reza’s advice and try to decipher his wraith’s name.

  “I was wondering if I could visit the library,” Lukas suggested. “Reza mentioned that I might find information about my wraith in the logs there.”

  Lord Sulli’s expression hardened. “The library? Not now. I want you rested for the games tomorrow. You’ll need the rest today, given how much energy that party drained from you.”

  "Ok, I guess you might be right. I would like the chance, though, before the play." Lukas was determined to get some information before his uncle selected a candidate for him.

  “See how tomorrow unfolds, and perhaps William can accompany you the following day. However, I must get going, or I risk being late.” He rose, gathering his papers. Servants were already tidying up the table after breakfast. “Rest now. William has ordered new clothes; be sure you try them on.”

  Lukas walked to his room before returning to bed.

  Tomorrow would be a sad day. Lukas knew that when he sat in that box, it would not be with excitement or eagerness but with mourning and sadness. Tomorrow would be the funeral Marcellus never got. The contest, commencing tomorrow, would serve as a solemn service to honor the fallen Archon, demonstrating the cities love for Marcellus, and seeking his replacement to find who Sorana would bestow with such power and authority upon.

  Lukas, holding the book Marie had lent him, started reading, but his attention was only half-hearted. His mind drifted away, preoccupied with thoughts of tomorrow and his wraith.