House of Ash and Gold
Power wears many faces. Magic is just one of them.
When a sickly noble heir stumbles upon a strange gift — the ability to see through the veil of power. He sets out to rebuild his crumbling house, not with sword or spell… but with silver, strategy, and secrets.
But in a Kingdom where strength is currency and weakness gets buried, Cael Varissen must learn fast: wealth is fragile, war is inevitable, and magic? It’s far older and hungrier than anyone cares to admit.
What if the most dangerous magic wasn’t in spells, but in shrewd business deals... and dangerous alliances of the heart? In a world where political ambition, economic strategy, and forbidden desires hold as much sway as any ancient power, every alliance comes with a price. This is the heart of House of Ash and Gold.
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What to expect:
Slow-burn political fantasy with teeth
Layered worldbuilding
A subtle, mysterious magic system
Romance threaded through ambition
What NOT to Expect:
Instant overpowered MC
Fast-food pacing
Harem or shallow romance
One-note villains
Endless exposition dumps
Release schedule hasn’t been decided, but tentatively 5 chapters per week.
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Chapter: Chapter 19: First Steps and Tournament StakesThe pouch in his sleeve weighed more than the coin inside. It felt more like acknowledgement, a sort of test, and a warning all in one.Don't disgrace yourself in the tournament.His father's voice was still clear in his head.In the Southern Duchy, tournaments were no idle sport. Every two years, the Duke of Leth hosted the Tournament of Rethmar — part spectacle, part proving ground. To the crowd it was entertainment, but to the noble houses it was reputation, money, and power decided in the open.Victors earned prestige, favors, and sometimes direct offers from wealthier houses. Defeat brought mockery, and repeated defeat carved deep wounds in a house's reputation.For House Varissen, once spoken of for its fighting strength, the tournament was more than a spectacle, it was a chance to prove they were still dangerous.The last time they had competed, they'd been eliminated on the first day. A second embarrassment would brand them as weak beyond recovery, while a strong showing could
Last Updated: 2025-08-17
Chapter: Chapter 18: Lessons at the HearthCael hesitated outside the door. The faint smell of smoke drifted under the wood, mingling with something else — wine, most probably. From within came faint scratching of a quill and the soft rustle of parchment. He straightened his sleeve and then knocked."Enter," Edric called, his voice low and unhurried.The desk was covered in neatly stacked ledgers, ink pots, and seals. Behind it, his father glanced up briefly before returning to the page in front of him."So," he murmured, almost to himself, "the old man finally got you worked up enough to come knocking." Edric's tone was mild, almost bemused.Cael blinked at that. He stepped inside and let the door latch click shut behind him. He hadn't expected his father to sound… almost amused. He swallowed the first reply that came to mind."I thought it was time I spoke with you," Cael said.Edric's eyes flicked up again, eyes narrowing slightly. Not angry but more like sizing him up. His mouth curved faintly, and he leaned back in his ch
Last Updated: 2025-08-07
Chapter: Chapter 17: The Weight of the YardThe morning was clear but cold, the kind of cold that seeped through even a padded jacket and lingered in the joints.Cael stood just inside the archway of the training yard for a long moment before stepping out, breathing in the damp air and the faint smell of dust and sweat.The yard was already alive. Squires striking at posts. Guards crossing blades. Servants carrying buckets to and fro between the barracks and the well.He folded his hands behind his back and took his usual place near the fence. Nobody noticed him which worked better according to his ideas.Her words still lingered.Your bloodline is cursed. It clings to things best left buried... Magic, isn't it?He exhaled slowly, watching two guards sparring in the sand. The word magic burned in his mind.Coming to think of it, what did she see? What did he see?The Veil shimmered faintly at the edge of his sight, threads stretching like spiderwebs across the yard, impossible to shut out completely.He blinked and they dimmed.
Last Updated: 2025-08-07
Chapter: Chapter 16: The Heir and the ThornThe Varissen banners hung limp in the courtyard, their colors dulled by dust and too many summers.Cael stood to one side of the gathered household, hands clasped behind his back, watching the gate.They'd spent the morning polishing the flagstones and brushing down the horses outside. Inside, the maids had cleaned the sconces and scattered fresh straw on the floor. But nothing could hide how worn the place looked, especially today.A hush settled as the gates opened and the Drevane banners moved into view, vivid against the weathered walls.Three carriages, lacquered deep and edged in brass, rolled forward in perfect sequence. Behind them rode six guards in matching cloaks, their horses well-groomed with tack glinting in the late sun.The first carriage stopped. A rider swung down, barked an order and as if rehearsed, the servants rushed forward to open doors and lower steps.The woman who emerged first didn't rush.Her gown was a muted gold that caught light in subtle flashes as she
Last Updated: 2025-08-07
Chapter: Chapter 15: The Business of WheatThe scent of parchment and ink always clung to the scribe's tower.Cael was beginning to like it.He climbed the narrow stair two at a time, the quiet murmur of voices drifting down toward him. Just short of the landing, he stopped, pressing his palm on the wall to listen.Two men. Not the scribes, their voices were rougher and sounded like merchants."…told you the crop would fail," one said, sharp with irritation. "Frost came too early and the rain too late. They say it's worse in Dorvale, whole fields blackened before harvest.""And?" the second replied, calmer. "That's why we raise the price. Supply dwindles, price rises. Common sense."Cael narrowed his eyes."Common sense?" the first scoffed. "You say that now, but the merchants' guild is already sniffing around. Two of their men were in Alne last week, promising cheap foreign grain. If they manage to undercut us once, we're finished."The second man exhaled through his nose before speaking. "If they do bring in foreign grain, w
Last Updated: 2025-08-07
Chapter: Chapter 14: The Starlet’s SparkFrost still clung to the stones when Cael woke before dawn.His body ached, not the raw ache of overuse but something more dull and satisfying. He dressed quietly, pulling his heavier tunic over his head and lacing his boots.The Veil still hovered at the edge of his mind, as it had every night since showing him the shimmer in the yard. No longer just a curiosity, it was part of him now. But this morning, he didn't go to the yard.Instead, he cut through the narrow servants' walk, past the kitchens where the scent of baking bread hung thick in the air. His boots scraped faintly against the flagstones as he passed under the arch toward the stables.Jorlan would still be asleep. Good.Better to keep his brother from noticing where he spent these odd morning hours.The stable smelled of hay, dung, and damp leather. Horses shuffled in their stalls, snorting clouds into the cold.And there he was.The boy.Thin, all narrow shoulders and awkward limbs, hair the color of dirty straw. He was
Last Updated: 2025-08-07
