The steady rattle of the carriage wheels filled the silence, broken only by the occasional creak of wood as it shifted over uneven ground. Noel sat with his arms loosely crossed, his gaze fixed on the blur of trees and hills beyond the window. Across from him, Albrecht Thorne remained as he always did—upright and unshaken.

Minutes stretched before the patriarch finally spoke. His voice was low, even, carrying the weight of command without needing to rise.

"You've grown."

Noel shifted his gaze back toward him, meeting those piercing eyes.

Albrecht continued, his expression unreadable. "Not just taller. Stronger. Your presence is different. It will serve the family well."

Noel held his stare, his own voice calm. "I didn't grow for the family. I did it to survive."

For the first time, something flickered across Albrecht's face—not amusement, but a faint glimmer of approval, quickly hidden beneath his iron mask.

"Survival and strength are the same thing," Albrecht said. "And strength belongs to the house that raised you. Whether you acknowledge it or not, your progress reflects on all of us."

Noel leaned back slightly, suppressing the urge to scoff. 'So that's how he sees it. No matter what I do, it's theirs, not mine.'

Still, he kept his tone neutral. "If that's how you want to see it."

Albrecht's gaze narrowed slightly, but he didn't push further. Instead, he rested a hand on the polished wood of his cane, the faintest tap echoing in the confined space.

"This year," he said at last, "I expect you to prove just how much you've grown. Last year was a disgrace," he said plainly. "The Thorne name was dragged through the mud. We didn't just lose—we ended at the bottom."

Noel's eyes narrowed slightly, though he kept his gaze on the window.

Albrecht's fingers tightened on his cane. "Damon and Kael thought they were clever. They tampered with the trial, drugged a beast, and in doing so brought ruin upon all of us. Their arrogance cost the family dearly. For the first time in generations, we finished last."

Noel's jaw clenched. He remembered hearing of the incident, the whispers that had spread even through the academy.

Albrecht leaned forward now, his gray eyes burning with a quiet intensity. "This year will not be the same. This year, the Hunt will be different. And I expect different results. We cannot afford another failure."

Noel finally turned his head, meeting his father's stare. His voice was calm, controlled. "And you think I'll be the one to change that?"

"I don't think," Albrecht replied without hesitation. "I know. You've shown strength Damon lacks, and discipline Kael refuses to learn. You've survived where others would have broken." His gaze bore down like a hammer striking iron. "This is your chance to prove it—to prove yourself worthy of carrying the Thorne name."

Noel held his father's stare for a long moment. Then, slowly, he looked away again, his reflection faint in the glass of the window. 'Worthy, huh? That's what this always comes down to.'

Still, he gave a short nod. "I understand what's at stake."

Albrecht sat back, satisfied with the answer but not smiling. "Good. Because this year, failure is not an option. Also this year, it won't be Kael and Damon at your side.""

Noel turned his head, brow furrowed. "What?"

Albrecht's gaze didn't waver. "The participants will be Damon, Sylvette… and you."

For a moment, Noel simply blinked. Then the words sank in. "Sylvette?"

A faint arch of Albrecht's brow. "Yes. Your sister."

Noel leaned forward slightly, disbelief etched on his face. "Why her? She's never—"

Albrecht cut him off, his tone steady and absolute. "Kael has no place in this year's Hunt. His recklessness nearly destroyed us all. He will not have the chance to repeat it."

Noel's thoughts swirled. 'So Kael's been pushed aside. And Sylvette… she's really going to step into this?'

Albrecht continued, his voice calm but edged with iron. "Sylvette has shown promise. She may not be as brash as her brothers, but she's sharp. I've decided her potential deserves to be tested."

Noel's jaw tightened. "And Damon?"

Albrecht's expression darkened briefly. "Damon remains because his failure last year must be corrected. He needs to prove he can rise above it."

Noel let out a slow breath, leaning back against the seat. "So it's Damon, Sylvette, and me."

"Correct." Albrecht's gray eyes fixed on him again, unyielding. "The three of you will carry the family's name into this Hunt. And from what I see, one of you will carry it beyond."

Noel's gaze dropped to his hands, resting loosely on his lap. 'Sylvette in the Hunt… I never imagined it. And Kael cast aside. Really surprising honestly.'

The carriage rattled as it left the smoother cobblestones of the city and pressed deeper into the countryside. For a while, only the sound of hooves and creaking wood filled the air. Noel thought Albrecht had said all he intended to—until his father spoke again, his tone quieter but carrying more weight.

"This Hunt will not be like the others."

Noel's eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

Albrecht's gaze remained steady, unblinking. "For most families, the Hunt is about prestige, about showing strength to allies and rivals alike. For us, this year, it is more. It will be the crucible that decides the future of House Thorne."

Noel's chest tightened. "The future…?"

Albrecht leaned forward, resting one hand lightly on his cane. "Between you, Damon, and Sylvette, I will decide who inherits my seat. One of you three will become the heir of this house."

The words landed with the force of a hammer.

Noel sat back slowly, his jaw clenched. 'So that's what this is really about. Not just the Hunt. Not just survival. He wants to use it as a measure, to choose the one who'll carry everything after him. Could that be what the mission to save House Thorne is referring to?'

Frederick, silent until now, gave a slow nod from his corner seat. His aged eyes flicked to Noel, as if to confirm the gravity of the words.

Noel looked away, the passing blur of trees reflected in the glass of the window. His thoughts burned. 'He wants me to fight for the title I never asked for. To prove myself to a family I swore I didn't want to belong to. This system is keeping me close to them for a reason…'

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