Lianna wiped the sweat from her forehead with the edge of her sleeve. After spending hours hunched over fabric and needlework, she slowly straightened her stiff neck and aching back and let out a quiet breath.

She carefully folded each finished dress and placed them neatly into a large basket. Cradling the basket in both arms, she prepared to leave the house, but not before checking on her younger brother.

As she approached the shabby bed where the young boy was curled up under a thin blanket, he coughed weakly and painfully.

“Cough….”

She carefully spread the blanket properly and pulled it up to Joel’s chest.

“Joel, your sister’s heading out.”

The boy’s pale face gave only the faintest nod, drained of all strength. After a few more painful coughs, he slowly closed his eyes again.

Lianna felt a sharp pain tighten around her chest, but forced a smile.

Before illness stole his strength, Joel had been such a bright, cheerful child.

Now, she could barely remember the last time she had seen him smile.

Lianna quietly closed the creaking wooden door behind her and stepped outside.

The cold wind cut harshly across her face.

Mr Fred, who had prepared Joel’s medicine whenever he needed it, had once told her that there might still be hope if they could bring Joel to a renowned physician in the capital.

This doctor was said to possess extraordinary skill — so much so that even a single consultation cost a fortune.

Given their current circumstances, meeting someone like that was nothing more than an impossible dream.

And yet, Lianna still could not bring herself to let go of hope.

Their parents died in the war when they were children. Joel was the only family Lianna had left.

She could not lose him too.

But how was she supposed to raise such a large sum of money?

Perhaps if she asked the Countess for more work, she might be able to earn it.

She was already sacrificing sleep to sew late into the night, but she believed that if she pushed herself just that little bit harder, she might find a way.

After passing through the crowded marketplace with its street vendors and weathered stalls, the Count’s castle finally came into view in the distance.

The guard at the entrance recognized her immediately and let her in without question.

Within the castle courtyard, knights with swords hanging from their waists wandered about casually.

Several of them turned to look at Lianna as she passed.

Hearing their low laughter and whispered remarks, she continued walking, a faint tension settling across her face.

“My, miss. Isn’t that heavy? Shall I carry it for you?”

A knight suddenly spoke to her.

A friendly smile rested on the young knight’s face. He truly seemed to want to help and did not appear to have any ulterior motive, but Lianna still lowered her head politely and answered,

“Thank you, but it’s alright. I can carry it myself.”

“As you can see, strength’s the one thing I have too much of.”

The knight lightly patted his arm, solid as a block of wood, as he once again offered to help.

Lianna’s eyes shifted awkwardly.

“N-No, I’m really alright.”

After giving a quick bow, Lianna hurried away. Watching her practically flee like a startled rabbit, the knight scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

As she hurried across the courtyard, Lianna tightened her arms around the basket of folded fabric and let out a sharp breath.

Perhaps she had seemed rude, but she simply wasn’t used to receiving kindness from strangers — especially after what had happened before….

Lianna quickly shook her head, trying to drive away the resurfacing memory.

After taking a steadying breath, she raised her hand and knocked on the Countess’s door.

The Countess, who had been seated at a finely polished wooden desk reviewing documents, slowly lifted her head.

The sharpness in her stern gaze softened ever so slightly when Lianna greeted her respectfully.

“Countess. I’ve brought the work you entrusted to me before.”

Lianna carefully put down the basket containing the dresses she had finished sewing.

As always, the Countess inspected each piece meticulously.

She was unforgiving when it came to her servants’ duties, being stingy with praise and unwilling to overlook even the slightest flaw.

Lianna stood quietly before her, still visibly tense as she waited for the inspection to end.

Only once the Countess had finished examining the garments did Lianna cautiously open her mouth to speak.

“Um… Countess.”

The Countess raised her head.

Quick to notice such things, she immediately read the hesitation in Lianna’s expression.

“Is there something you wish to ask of me?”

“Well… would it perhaps be possible to give me more work?”

Lianna carefully watched the Countess’s reaction.

For a brief moment, the Countess fell into thought. She lightly tapped the table once or twice with her fingers before finally speaking.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think that will be possible.”

Lianna tried hard not to let her disappointment show.

After all, had she not already expected this much?

“It’s just that the Count has never been particularly pleased about me giving you work.”

The Countess pressed her fingers against her temple as she spoke.

Her husband did not trust Lianna’s skills. He worried she might accidentally damage one of the valuable dresses.

‘As if it would matter that much if a few outdated dresses got ruined. What a petty man.’

The Countess clicked her tongue inwardly.

“It’s not that I don’t understand your circumstances, but there is little I can do myself.”

“No, it’s alright. I was the one asking for too much.”

The guilt etched into the Countess’s face was clear for all to see.

She was also aware that there had been no improvement in Joel’s condition for a long time.

The moment she stepped out of the Countess’s room, Lianna sighed.

Obtaining such a large sum of money still felt impossibly far away.

***

Count Chester swept his gaze across the women standing before him, his brows deeply furrowed.

They all wore heavy makeup, and the room was filled with the thick scent of perfume.

A middle-aged man with a protruding belly nervously rubbed his hands together as he carefully observed the count’s expression.

“These are the most popular girls in our establishment, my lord. What do you think?”

The Count clicked his tongue and stroked his beard.

The women that the pimp had presented with such pride fell far short of his standards.

Their dresses were outdated, and their makeup was caked on too heavily.

Compared to the capital’s sophisticated courtesans, they were woefully inadequate.

‘At this rate, how am I supposed to win the Grand Duke’s favor?’

Following his defeat of the barbarians who had terrorized the kingdom for so long, Grand Duke Einbert’s popularity soared to unimaginable heights.

Even the nobles who had once scorned him for being the son of a concubine now sought his favor.

Indeed, it seemed that the king favored the Grand Duke over the crown prince.

Count Chester had no intention of wasting his life in a remote territory that was little better than the countryside.

For years, his greatest ambition had been to enter the world of central politics.

To make this dream a reality, he needed to forge a connection with the Grand Duke.

‘No matter how great the Grand Duke may be, a man is still a man.’

Since ancient times, there had been no tool more effective for melting a man’s heart than a woman.

If it meant securing ties with Grand Duke Einbert, Count Chester was fully prepared to use any means necessary.

“Are there no other women?”

“My goodness… do these girls not suit your tastes, my lord?”

“They all feel too similar. Isn’t there anything a bit more… fresh?”

The vague demand left the pimp sweating inwardly.

He had brought the prettiest girls in the establishment, only to be dismissed with such ridiculous criticism.

“There are still many girls I haven’t shown you yet, so please don’t worry.”

The pimp continued to flatter him, smiling ingratiatingly and rubbing his hands together eagerly. However, the Count still could not trust him.

He lacked the patience to sit back and accept empty assurances — more importantly, he simply could not afford to waste time.

As a mere provincial noble, he would likely never again have the chance to meet the Grand Duke at such close range.

Even if they happened to cross paths within the capital’s social circles, he would undoubtedly be pushed aside by nobles of a far higher rank, unable to exchange more than a few insignificant words with the Grand Duke.

He had to seize this opportunity while the Grand Duke was still here.

To do so, he needed a woman beautiful enough to capture the Grand Duke’s attention at first sight.

Count Chester anxiously bit down on his lip as countless thoughts raced through his mind.

Just then, the door to the Countess’s room swung open and a woman emerged.

The moment their eyes met, the Count’s gaze widened slightly.

The woman’s appearance was utterly pitiful.

The sleeves and hem of her dress were badly frayed, and the faded fabric had lost so much color that it was impossible to tell what color it had originally been.

And yet, he could not take his eyes off her.

Because of her beauty.

Her silver hair shimmered softly in the light, as if brushed by moonlight itself.

Her amethyst-colored eyes gazed back at him, mysterious and deep, and strangely enchanting.

Her skin was so pale and translucent that it resembled finely carved marble.

The longer he looked at her, the more breathtaking she became, like a masterpiece sculpted into human form.

Beauty like this was rare even among the noblewomen of the capital’s high society, let alone in such a remote territory.

Judging by her appearance, she seemed to be a servant working in the castle. Yet, for some reason, her face was unfamiliar to him.

As Count Chester pondered this, his gaze suddenly fell upon the basket in her arms.

It was filled with fabric.

So Kathleen had indeed been giving sewing work to a commoner girl.

He had always disliked the idea of entrusting expensive dresses to an unskilled peasant girl, no matter how deft her fingers might be.

But to think she possessed such beauty…

Count Chester’s narrow eyes sharpened instantly, like a hawk locking onto its prey.

***

“You… want me to attend to the Grand Duke’s drinks?”

Lianna had been summoned by Count Chester, who presented her with an outrageous proposal the moment she arrived.

Confusion flickered across her violet eyes.

She was naturally bewildered by the sudden instruction to pour drinks for the Grand Duke, as she was neither a tavern girl nor a maid serving in this castle.

“Why make it sound so difficult? All you need to do is stay by his side, pour his wine, listen attentively to what the Grand Duke says, and provide conversation.”

“But if I make some kind of mistake while serving someone as high-born as the Grand Duke…”

Not only had she never served drinks to anyone before, but the man in question was none other than Grand Duke Einbert himself!

What if she had offended him unwittingly through some small act of disrespect and incurred his wrath?

A man of his status could end a commoner’s life as easily as crushing an ant beneath his shoe.

Who would dare to punish royalty?

And if something like that happened by terrible misfortune, what would become of Joel?

As Lianna explained her circumstances and pleaded desperately for understanding, the Count listened in unexpected silence.

Given his usual temperament, it would not have been surprising for him to explode in anger.

Instead, he merely stroked his chin and looked down at Lianna with an expression that almost resembled pity.

“So, you’re worried because of your sick younger brother.”

“Yes, Count. So please…”

“In that case, shouldn’t you accept my proposal all the more?”

“…Pardon?”

“You said that your brother has been suffering from tuberculosis for quite some time and needs treatment from a renowned physician in the capital if he is to be cured. Such physicians demand considerable sums of money. Do you have that kind of wealth?”

“That…”

Lihanna lowered her head slightly and trailed off.

Of course she hadn’t.

To amass such a large sum, someone of her station would have to live for years without eating properly or buying decent clothes.

No matter how hard she worked, money never came easily.

“If you handle this matter well, I shall reward you generously.”

When Lianna hesitated, Count Chester spoke as though soothing her.

“I will not only arrange for your brother to be seen by a physician in the capital, but I will cover the entire cost as well.”

“……”

Lianna quietly clenched the hem of her skirt.

Joel could receive treatment from a renowned physician in the capital.

She wouldn’t need to worry about the cost.

Despite her efforts, she had been unable to increase her workload, and all the while, Joel’s illness was getting worse day by day.

“There is no way to cure this child’s illness here. I have done all I can, but… truthfully, it is beyond my ability. You should seek a physician who can provide better treatment as soon as possible.”

The doctor’s words from not long ago continued to echo endlessly in her mind.

He had told her that there wasn’t much time left, and that it wouldn’t be surprising if Joel’s condition suddenly deteriorated.

Lianna understood all too well what those words truly meant.

Although she hid her fears from Joel, her terror at the prospect of losing her last remaining family member grew with each passing day.

Slowly, Lianna lifted her head.

Her lips trembled slightly as she parted them several times before finally forcing the words out.

“…If I do this, I only need to serve the Grand Duke this one time, correct?”