Chapter 122
It had been several days since the funeral.
The manor had grown quieter.
The cries of grieving families had slowly faded, replaced by the constant sound of rebuilding.
Engineers continued working tirelessly to stabilize the mines.
Blacksmiths repaired damaged equipment.
Carpenters prepared new support beams.
Everyone worked.
Yet despite all the effort...
The mountain remained closed.
And every day it remained closed, the Grand Emberforge Duchy lost more money.
Duke Owen sat alone in his study.
The room was unusually silent.
Ledger after ledger lay open across his desk.
Columns of numbers.
Expenses.
Wages.
Medical supplies.
Food shipments.
Timber.
Replacement equipment.
Donations to the miners' families.
Income...
Almost none.
Owen rubbed his temples.
For the first time in many years...
He didn't know where the next month's money would come from.
A soft knock sounded.
Before he could answer, the door opened.
"Daddy?"
Aurora stepped inside.
She had just returned from the medical centre, and it showed.
Her dress bore faint stains from medicines.
Her hair had begun slipping from its ribbon.
Dark circles rested beneath her eyes.
She smiled anyway.
Owen's heart ached.
She looked far too exhausted for someone so young.
"Aurora, my dear."
His expression softened immediately.
"Come in."
He gestured to the chair opposite him.
"Come sit with me."
Aurora crossed the room and sat down.
Her eyes immediately fell upon the mountain of ledgers.
She studied her father's face for a long moment.
"You look worried."
Owen forced a small smile.
"It's nothing you need concern yourself with."
Aurora raised an eyebrow.
"If it concerns the duchy.....then it concerns me."
Owen sighed quietly.
He should have known she wouldn't let the matter go.
After a long silence, he closed the ledger in front of him.
"The duchy is running out of money."
Aurora's expression immediately became serious.
"How bad?"
Owen leaned back in his chair.
"Worse than I expected."
He opened another ledger and turned it toward her.
Aurora quickly scanned the figures.
Her smile disappeared, "The mines...They're still closed."
Owen nodded.
"The engineers estimate it will take several weeks just to make them safe. And even then..."
He shook his head, "Mining won't resume immediately."
Aurora lowered her eyes.
"So..."
"No iron."
"No gold."
"No exports."
"No income."
Owen nodded.
"Exactly....The blacksmiths have almost exhausted the iron we had in storage.... When that happens...they'll have nothing left to forge."
Aurora looked up, "The workshops?"
"They're already slowing production. We've had to close one entirely."
Her heart sank, "And the clothing stores?"
Owen sighed heavily, "We don't have enough coin to purchase more fabric. Without fabric.....the seamstresses have nothing to sew."
Silence settled between them.
Aurora slowly closed the ledger, "How long do we have?"
Owen looked out the window before answering.
"If nothing changes..." He hesitated, "...perhaps one month."
The words struck Aurora like a physical blow.
"Only a month?"
Owen nodded.
"We're already spending more than we're earning. Our savings are disappearing faster than I can replace them."
Aurora swallowed hard, "And the medical centre?"
Owen looked away, "If things continue like this.....we may have to close it."
The room fell silent.
Aurora felt as though someone had squeezed the air from her lungs.
"No..." Her voice was barely audible, "We can't."
"I know."
"There are still injured miners."
"There are children receiving treatment."
"There are mothers..."
She stopped herself.
Her hands slowly tightened into fists.
"There has to be another way."
Owen wished there was.
"I've spent every night searching these accounts."
"I've written to merchants."
"I've contacted old allies."
"I've reviewed every contract."
He smiled sadly.
"I've never hated numbers as much as I do now."
Aurora leaned forward.
"What about the neighbouring duchies?"
"Could we buy raw materials from them?"
"We don't have enough coin."
"What about loans?"
Owen slowly shook his head.
"I won't mortgage the future of Emberforge unless I have absolutely no choice."
Aurora thought quietly.
Then another idea came to her, "My jewellery."
Owen looked up.
"I still have the gowns I designed. The necklaces. The bracelets. The diamonds. We can sell them."
A faint smile appeared on Owen's face.
Not because the idea would solve anything.
But because his daughter had offered everything she owned without hesitation.
He reached across the table and gently took her hand.
"My sweet girl...it wouldn't be enough."
Aurora looked down, "It would help."
"It would." He smiled sadly, "But only for a little while."
"You've already given enough to this duchy."
She slowly shook her head.
"No. Ihaven't. If selling everything I own keeps one child fed.....then it's worth it."
Owen's throat tightened.
He had watched his daughter grow into an extraordinary young woman.
And somehow...
That made moments like this hurt even more.
He gently squeezed her hand.
"I'll never stop being proud of you."
Aurora smiled weakly, "What does His Majesty say?"
Owen released a slow breath.
"I've sent him reports every week. He knows exactly how serious the situation is."
Aurora looked hopeful.
"Will he help?"
"I'm meeting with him privately this evening."
She searched her father's face, "What do you think he'll say?"
Owen remained silent for several seconds.
Finally...He answered honestly, "During our last council meeting....many of the nobles argued that the Crown has already given enough."
Aurora's shoulders slumped, "They don't understand."
"No."
"They see numbers."
"They don't see people."
She stood and slowly began pacing the room.
"What if...", She stopped suddenly, "I start treating noble families."
Owen looked at her.
"I could charge consultation fees. House calls. Private treatment. Nobles pay well."
Owen smiled faintly, "You've already thought this through."
Aurora nodded.
"It still wouldn't be enough."
"No", She sighed, "Probably not."
Silence settled over the room once more.
Father and daughter stared at the ledgers spread across the desk.
For the first time since Aurora had returned from the East...
Neither of them had an answer.
Outside the study windows, the sounds of rebuilding continued.
Hammering.Sawing.
Voices shouting instructions.
The people of Emberforge had not given up.
Neither would they.
But for the first time...
Aurora truly understood.
Saving lives was only the beginning.
Now...
She had to find a way to save an entire duchy.
Please vote