CHAPTER 164: THE STRONGHOLD OF TRADE

Tristan’s POV

"Tristan, where are you heading to with a travel bag?" Damon asked with an eyebrow arched at me.

"Duty calls, family duty."

Just as we were speaking, Aven walked in. "Where to Tristan?" he asked, looking alarmed.

"Nothing much, just stronghold and family duty," I answered with a slow smile, watching the expression on their faces.

"You know tomorrow is the talent show, right? And Damon would be performing," Aven asked, with a look of concern etched on his face.

"I would love to be there, but this is urgent, Damon. I need to attend to it."

"Well, I understand. Safe journey, Stan," Damon said.

I walked past Aven and out of the apartment. When I was out, I sighed, but it wasn’t a sigh of relief; it was a sigh of anxiety.

I didn’t look back at the academy gates when I left it. There was no point. If I did, I might change my mind, and I couldn’t afford that kind of weakness tonight.

Duty first. Always duty first.

It’s what Father drilled into me from the moment I could walk through the trade halls of our stronghold.

Emotion clouds reason, and reason drives legacy. That’s what he would say whenever I’d get distracted, whether it was over a failed deal or a careless mistake during negotiations.

To him, sentiment was a weakness, a crack in the armor of power. I was a successor who would wield so much power someday, and I wasn’t expected to show any sign of weakness.

I got into the car that my father had sent to pick me from the school gates. I could still hear a little chatter from the kissing booth area; it seemed the show was about to end. Aria was a beauty to behold tonight, and how she handled Allison was exceptional.

I had thought they were rivals, but the moment she defended her in the cafeteria, I was shocked. And then again, Aria was the first to come to Allison’s rescue. Aria has a broad heart. I admire her.

I had to leave before I did something stupid. Before I became one of those fools. Because of the way I felt, I could be walking towards Aria’s apartment instead, but I had to lock off my emotions.

When I arrived at the border of the stronghold of trade, the guards bowed low. My family crest, the golden anvil and flame, shimmered under the torchlight. The gates opened without question, and the car drove in.

All I thought of was the duty that awaits me, because home symbolizes it these days, especially this urgent need to be home.

The stronghold was nothing like Ashwood. Where the academy was filled with laughter, arrogance, endless rivalry and gossip, the stronghold was duty and seriousness, a place that doesn’t need your heart but your head. "Your father doesn’t tolerate weaknesses, remember," my mom’s voice echoed in my ears, "Therefore, try not to show it."

These were the last words my mom told me before she died. I missed her, and some days when I thought about her, I wished I could cry, but then again, it was considered a sign of weakness.

My father, Alpha Thalen of the stronghold of trade, didn’t believe in rest. Every second had to count.

When I got out of the car, an attendant immediately appeared. "The council awaits you in the main hall, my lord," he said, bowing.

Of course they did. No greetings, no pleasantries. Just duty. Some days, I hoped Dad or anyone would look at me like a son, which made me miss Mom even more.

I stepped into the building, heading straight to the council hall to sort out this emergency that had made me miss Damon’s show.

In the council hall, my father was already at the head of the table. His presence filled the room as usual, stern, calculating, everything an Alpha of Trade was supposed to be. Beside him sat his advisor —or would I say his Beta personal assistant?

"Tristan," Father said, his tone clipped. "I’m surprised you came. It seems you are learning to become a true Alpha of this stronghold. I thought Ashwood would keep you busy with, you know... social distractions."

There it was, that subtle jab, his way of saying he had heard about the booth, and probably some other things like me having a mate.

I met his gaze evenly. "Ashwood is a place for training, not indulgence. I came because rogue merchants are blocking the eastern shipping lanes. You sent for me."

His expression didn’t change. "Efficient, as always. Sit."

I obeyed, because that’s what was expected.

He launched into a breakdown of numbers, trade agreements, and the growing tension between our stronghold and the northern guilds, who were threatening to cut off iron supply.

"Your cousin Eryk mishandled negotiations," Father said, rubbing his temple. "We can’t afford weakness. The guilds will smell it. And not just that, you have to convince them that we aren’t under the attack of any vampires and therefore nothing could affect the business either."

"So you want me to fix it," I said.

He gave a thin smile. "You always do."

There it was again, that weight —the weight of expectation and trust. The only way he manipulates everyone to do his bidding. I’d been raised to solve problems, not feel them. To act before doubt could set in.

I scribbled notes, discussed terms, and played the perfect successor, but my mind kept drifting to Ashwood and Aria. The look of disappointment on her face when Aven accused her wrongly.

She didn’t say much; she just walked away and solved the problem—such power hidden in her. I wonder where she found the sorcerer. I’ve been in Ashwood longer than she has been, yet I don’t know any sorcerer.

The council meeting was dispersed, and I headed to my room. Shortly after, there was a knock on my door.

"Come in," I called out. Maddy came in. Maddy has been here since after my mom’s death. She was the only one who actually cared for me. She tried to fill in the gaps for my mom, but she can’t; she is not Mom.

"You look troubled," she said softly.

"I’m fine."

"Tristan," she said, and her voice dropped to that tone that always managed to cut through my walls. "I know that look. It’s not fine. Do you have a female in your life already?"

I froze. How could she be so accurate and direct?

"She’s your mate, isn’t she?"

I looked away, jaw tightening. "It doesn’t matter. I can’t afford distractions. Not now."

Maddy smiled faintly, like she knew something I didn’t. "It always matters, Tristan. No matter how much you try to convince yourself otherwise."

"I have responsibilities now, maybe some other time."

"And your heart?" she asked quietly. "Does it answer to responsibility, too?"

I didn’t answer. Because she was right and I hated that she was right. I’ve avoided being so close to Aria of late because I have been thinking about responsibilities, and I just can’t balance the two.

"You are silent, Tristan. If you forgo your heart because of responsibility, you would be miserable like your father," she said.

I turned my gaze swiftly to her, "What do you mean, miserable like my father? Is my father miserable?"

"You don’t know, but your dad loved your mom so much that her picture hangs in his room, remember? He often looks at the picture with a sad face. And sometimes when I come to drop breakfast off, he is still staring at her picture. He grieves, and he uses duty as a distraction. Remember, your dad hasn’t always been as emotionally distant as he has been since the death of your mom."

"I see, never knew dad missed mom until now."

"Well, now you know. Eat up, kid, you have a lot on your table tomorrow," she said, a smile tugging at her lips.

I started eating my food slowly, and she sat beside me as always, watching me eat. "You know that I’m no longer baby Tristan, right?"

"Oh, that? You were never a baby when I met you; I think you were already twelve. But to me, you remain my kiddo. So enjoy it, while it lasts," she replied, making a funny face at me.

"You never told me her name," she said, arching her eyebrow at me.

"She is Aria Wolfsburn," I replied.

"Aria, such a beautiful name. Anyway, I’ll leave you now. I’ll send one of the servants to pick up your plate. Welcome once again," she said, bowing her head.

I lay down on my bed as soon as I was done eating, the weight of tomorrow’s duty drifting me to sleep.

***************************************

A knock on my door woke me up from sleep. No one had come to get the plate from last night, or probably they came, but I was too exhausted to wake up.

Maddy walks in. "You have to get dressed, the car taking you to the northern guild is ready."

She grabs my plate and walks out of my room.