A Manor Divided

Standing before the weathered steps, Oriana smiled warmly. "Tobias." She approached the elderly servant, long accustomed to his labored, halting speech since his throat injury years ago. "Today is the official day I return to visit my family. Because His Grace remains unconscious, it simply wasn't convenient for him to accompany me."

Tobias nodded slowly. "Understand... understand..."

"I'll head