CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY NINE - A Storm Within

The confines of Noble Mansion, once a sanctuary, now felt more like a prison. The constant proximity and lack of privacy wore on everyone's nerves, bringing long-buried tensions to the surface. One particularly stifling afternoon, the simmering frustrations finally boiled over. It began innocuously enough, with Cassius, Mara, and Clarissa gathered in the study, ostensibly to discuss the dwindling supplies. "We need to be more careful with our rationing," Cassius said, poring over the inventory list. "At this rate, we'll be out of essentials within a month." Mara nodded, her brow furrowed. "I've been trying to stretch our meals as much as possible, but there's only so much we can do." Clarissa, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly spoke up. "Maybe if you hadn't insisted on keeping such a large staff, we wouldn't be in this situation." Cassius looked up sharply. "What's that supposed to mean?" "It means," Clarissa said, her voice rising, "that your stubbornness is putt