Silva Duchy Capital...

Dane Territory...

That was how powerful and important the Dane family was; 'Residence' was not enough to capture the essence of how large it was.

Spanning a territory of land that was larger than the Estates, Manor, and territories of the four Great families put together, the Dane territory was a picture of elegance and prestige.

And most importantly, power.

There is much to be spoken of in regards to this place the Dane family call home, however, we shall not discuss it for now and move on into the main residence.

The part of the territory the Patriarch and immediate Dane family members reside and in itself was an amalgam of buildings that made it quite fit to be a palace.

In one of the residence's drawing rooms sat two men opposite one another. They shared similar features like their light gold eyes and high defined and elegant cheekbones.

While they also deferred in certain features as well, with one being dark-haired while the other was brown-haired.

Also, the dark-haired one had a longer nose compared to his brown-haired brother.

Both were, however, undeniably handsome and regal.

The two were arguably the most powerful men in the Dane family with the Brown-haired man being Patriarch and his dark-haired brother was his advisor and closest to him.

The brothers were enjoying a game of chess at which the Dark-haired one was with the most pieces however, his brother had him in a check at that moment,

"So Devon, any news?" Asked the Brown-haired Patriarch.

Devon frowned lightly,

"Damien, how many times do I have to tell you? Be clear about your questions as I am not a mind reader. What are you talking about?" He asked and moved his king away from the check.

Damien paused to move his rook in position to check his brother's king once again before he replied,

"I'm talking about the envoys. Any news?" He clarified.

Devon frowned lightly,

"You sent them out, they should be reporting to you right?" He said and moved his king to escape the check again.

Now Damien was two moves away from checkmate.

"Well, I used to think so too. But apparently, they fear your reputation so much that they were ready to find a loophole in my orders which was that I had never actually ordered them to report to me first.

All you needed to do was ask and now they are to contact you in case of any development."

Devon shrugged, clearly no longer interested in playing dumb,

"So what? Are you upset?" He asked while awaiting Damien's move on the chessboard.

Damien moved his piece back and no longer pressed for a checkmate. He gave Devon some breathing room.

"That could cost you" Devon gestured at the board.

Now it was Damien's turn to shrug,

"I make concessions when it comes to you brother. Both in the game and life.

I am not upset.

However, it did make me wonder if you had not been truthful all these years. I always asked you if you were satisfied with my decision and if I should order Melinda's return but you said you were satisfied and that I should not.

Was that all a lie?" He asked.

Devon moved his knight into position to check Damien's king,

"You worry too much. If this continues, how the hell will you lead the Dane family to greater heights.

You should never make concessions.

Besides, Melinda's punishment was merited. I could not have her thinking her actions were right.

Self-defense or not, some sort of punishment is merited"

Damien's lips twitched,

"Is that why you beat Cirk an inch from death the moment she was gone?" He asked.

He was probably the only one aside from their mother who knew how much of a softie the 'Dane Monster' truly was. But the soft side were usually only seen in cases relating to Damien, their mother, and his daughter Melinda.

Devon chuckled,

"You banished my daughter and I beat up your son. I think that makes us even. Besides, they are both alive aren't they?"

"So what's the news?" Damien asked to prevent them from straying off-topic again.

In response, Devon flicked his wrist and retrieved a Communication talisman which he placed on the table and injected cosmic energy into it to activate its words,

"I'm sorry my lord but Lady Melinda did not wish to return with us. She said she'd return on her own terms. *clears throat* also, the lady is at the Early stage of the Cosmic Phenomenon Realm and we had a duel which I lost after she *Clears throat again* slashed my chest open with her sword..."

Devon deactivated it right after.

Damien's eyes were widened in surprise,

"The Cosmic Phenomenon realm in just five years? That's... Impossible. Also, she attacked my Envoy?"

Devon frowned,

"It was a duel. This means your envoy agreed to it and also, I told you she and I will not be held accountable for what happens to your Envoy.

To which you said and I quote 'Don't worry, I'll make sure the envoy is capable'.

Well, your envy wasn't." He said in an irate voice.

It was true that Damien had said so and it was why he had sent a Mid-stage Cosmic Phenomenon realm expert and not one but two. Speaking of two, where was Evelyn while her brother was been slashed?

The sound of unhurried footsteps sounded and the two turned to see an extremely beautiful woman walk into the Drawing room in a Beautiful green gown that while not very tight-fitting could still not hide her curvy shape or the swell of her ample breasts.

The woman's brown hair was hip length and there was a hint of regal haughtiness in her light gold eyes as she surveyed the room and when her eyes stopped on the brothers, the look shifted to one of mild anger.

The two were already on their feet because if they were arguably the most powerful men in the Dane family, then this woman was undeniably the most powerful.

Her cultivation realm was such that the brothers, despite their talent could not dream of having. At least not for now.

This woman was...

"Greetings, Mother" the two brothers bowed deeply.

... Isabella Dane, the Patroness of the Dane Family.

She had spent the most part of Melinda's banishment in cultivation seclusion because she did not wish to see the brothers who had banished her.

"Idiots" she said at the two.

The brothers shared a look and rushed over to grab Isabella's arms,

"Mother, she's already coming back home. Please don't be mad anymore. After all, you're not the only one who misses her" Devon said while stroking his mother's arm affectionately.

"Don't touch me" Isabella said and the two dropped her arms, well aware that she was still upset with them and compliance with her wishes was much better and less painful.

On the day Melinda had been banished, Isabella had attempted to use her role as patroness to keep her in the capital or at least stop Devon from suppressing her Bloodline but the brothers reminded her of her vow not to overrule their ruling.

Usually, they deferred to her a lot as she was the family's cornerstone but the two deliberately mentioned the vow on that day to tie her hands, knowing she would not go against it in front of the witnesses present.

It was a matter of reputation which was something the patroness cared a lot about.

She ignored them for years after that and only just left seclusion once she heard an Envoy would be visiting Melinda to audit her.

That was her breaking point and she ordered the two to call her back.

"You had better hope there is not one hair out of place on her head or else Cirk will pay for it" she said in a menacing tone despite her voice being so mellifluous.

"But Cirk is your grandchild as well..." Damien said as Isabella turned around to walk out the door but not before saying,

"So what? Melinda is your niece as well, is she not? Pray she makes it here safely or I will make good on my promise"