Chapter 10 - The Legacy of Love
Five years later.
The grand ballroom of the Varric estate was filled with music, light, and the warm sound of laughter.
It was Nico’s sixth birthday party. Children from all over Valecroft—not just the offspring of high society, but children from the orphanages and local schools funded by the Varric Foundation—were running through the halls, playing games, and eating slices of a massive three-tiered chocolate cake.
Liana stood near the glass doors leading out to the terrace, holding the hand of her four-year-old daughter, Isabella. The little girl had her father’s dark, commanding eyes, but her mother’s sweet, gentle smile.
Marcus, now retired from active field duty and serving as the estate’s chief administrator, walked over, wearing a sharp suit and holding a small wrapped gift.
"Happy birthday to the young prince," Marcus said with a rare, genuine smile, handing the gift to Nico, who had just run over with cake frosting on his nose.
"Thank you, Uncle Marcus!" Nico cheered, tearing open the paper to reveal a beautifully carved wooden ship.
"Go show your sister," Liana encouraged gently, patting Nico’s shoulder as the boy ran off to play with Isabella near the fireplace.
Matteo stepped up behind Liana, wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder as they watched their children play.
"Everything is peaceful," Matteo murmured into her ear. "The city is quiet. The foundation is thriving. Our children are safe."
"You built a good life for us, Matteo," Liana said, turning in his arms to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"No," Matteo corrected softly, looking down at her with a warmth that burned brighter than any sun. "You saved me, Liana. You brought light into a house that was built on shadows. You took a cold empire and turned it into a family."
Outside, the evening sun set over Valecroft, painting the sky in breathtaking strokes of gold, violet, and crimson. The dark rain that had once washed away Liana’s hope was a distant memory.
May you like
Nico’s laughter echoed through the high-arched halls of the mansion—a sound that was no longer a secret, but a promise of a bright, peaceful future that would endure for generations to come.
Matteo leaned down, pressing his lips to Liana’s in a soft, passionate kiss, as the music played on into the warm, everlasting night.
