The guests

Unexpectedly, Elena returned home that day with a new personal maid. If her mother wanted to object, but the words did not come out of her mouth once she realized that her daughter had been alone for more than a week because she had forgotten to place a new person at her disposal, at least temporarily until Mariela came back.

“This is much better.” Elena approved of the appearance of the girl now that she’d taken a bath and changed into clean and warm cotton clothes. “Laila, go with Nancy, she will show you the kitchen, and you will ask the manager to prepare a snack for us.”

Training her to work as a personal maid in a noble family’s home would secure the girl’s future, and it was better than other strenuous labor out there. If Laila stayed by her side, Elena might even be able to teach her to read.

“Yes, my lady.”

The child had recently become an orphan when her grandmother died, and after discovering that Elena didn't have the heart to leave her on the streets. At best, she would be placed in an orphanage, but it was difficult to tell in what situation those institutions were in the county. It was embarrassing to think that way when it actually was her family’s responsibility, but Elena knew what her father’s views on the matter were.

During the fifth year of the empire, the Grand Duchy of Alba decreed that all homeless children were the responsibility of the nobles of the territory and that they should provide shelter, clothing, and food for all of them. Sacred places became orphanages and schools through the years following these orders, as Vallas started to recover from the wreckage of war.

However, the Valverde family had gotten into debt during the years the conflict lasted, and due to her father’s refusal to employ sorcerers in his farming lands like others were doing, they had not recovered ever since.

Being short of money, that law was just another uncomfortable pain in the neck for the Earl, one more reason to detest the Archduchess and her family.

It was difficult not to hate those who came to conquer the kingdom suddenly to change everything at their whim. Elena knew that, before Vallas was part of the Empire, the nobles also went to temples to worship God and the saints. But temples that were not destroyed or burned down became public institutions and academies that taught the arts of Raeden, and the saints that had been scarce during the last century were also gone. Vallas' families could only cultivate their faith within their homes.

In addition, winter barely touched the southern lands since the foundation of the kingdoms, so Vallas used to live in an eternal spring. After Raeden and Alba's family arrived, however, every year winter came with a little more force, along with all the magic and mysterious arts of the north. The townspeople (and, more discreetly, several nobles) said that this was a sign of God's displeasure with the new rulers.

In any case, if something like God's displeasure with men really existed, Elena did not believe that it was the Empire's fault. According to Mama Juana, God had abandoned the continent long before the war, and that is why the Saints had stopped appearing over the years.

Would things be really different if the Royal Palace had never fallen in the hands of the Grand Duchess and her family?

Elena did not know what kind of people her uncles were, but she could imagine that her father, being the youngest of four children, was never prepared to take over the county. He didn't have the strength of character for that either. The family would probably prosper much more if someone else were in charge, but Enmanuel Valverde had a habit of complaining a lot and putting in little effort. 

When the county needed money to rebuild their houses and to work the fields again, the immediate solution he found was to marry the Baron of Lagos' natural daughter, Viviana Lagrave. But once he was married and the Lagrave family's money secured, he soon disgraced her with his various affairs throughout the kingdom.

To have a marriage like that… Elena did not want to think about marriage or an unknown husband, and yet it couldn’t be helped. That was the future that was quickly closing on her.

As if to reinforce this fear, she heard the sound of horses and a carriage approaching the front of the house. Peeking from her window, she could distinguish a gentleman and a young lady getting out of the carriage.

Her eyes furrowed. Who were they? From that distance, it was hard to recognize them, but there was no doubt those visitors were important.

The Valverde manor would welcome many illustrious guests for Milan’s birthday party, and the rooms were being cleaned and ventilated for days now. Still, those guests shouldn’t be arriving yet.

She left the room and went to find her mother, stopping when she reached the stairs and saw her welcoming Marquis Doria and his only daughter, Veronica.

“No…” Giving some steps back, Elena hid from their view. “Father surely loses no time making his move.”

She clenched her jaw. Did he want to send her away so badly that he’d marry her to a man twice her age? Marquis Doria, forty-years-old and a widower, was looking for a bride. Everyone in Vallas knew that.

“Miss Elena?”

One of the maids caught her spying, and her sudden appearance caused Elena to jolt in shock.

“God! Nuria, don’t do that!” She hissed, clutching her chest.

Thankfully, her mother did not hear them and she wasn’t summoned to greet the two visitors until the evening.

***

‘Let’s show off our product for sale.’ Earl Valverde’s intentions couldn’t be more obvious if he tried.

The only time Elena’s parents put special attention to her appearance were occasions like these. She was dressed in her fanciest red dress, and Laila was carefully watching Nancy doing her hair so she could do it next time, and stared in awe at the young woman when the senior maid added the finishing touch, a tortoiseshell comb with spider designs to adorn her head.

“Miss, you are beautiful.”

Elena smiled at the praise, but then let out a tired sigh.

“Thank you. I guess that means it’s time for me to meet our guests.”

Everything was carefully arranged for her to be the last one to join dinner, Elena realized as soon as she stepped into the dining room and saw that everyone, including her little brother, was already gathered there. She was meant to stand out.

“Marquis, this is my dear daughter Elena.”

“Good evening. Mother, Father. Lord Doria, Miss Doria, is a pleasure to have you with us tonight.” She gritted her teeth but kept smiling because it was her duty. And because her parents were watching.

“Elena, it’s so good to see you again!” Veronica greeted her with an enthusiastic smile. She was only three years older than Elena, so the two had gotten along well the times they had coincided in social meetings in the past.

“We aren’t the most outgoing people, it’s natural we don’t run into each other often.” Elena could afford to be nice to her acquaintance. “So it’s good you are visiting this time.”

It was Verónica’s father that bothered her now.

“Miss Elena, you are a delightful sight that really surpasses all the rumors.” Raul Doria did not lose time to compliment her.

Were there any rumors? How could that be, if the last time she went to the capital was two years ago to make her debut?

“Thank you, my lord. You flatter me.” She took her seat next to Milan, and right across from Marquis Doria.

“Mother says that man is going to be your husband.” The boys whispered, confirming her suspicions.

She glanced at Doria, and tried to reconcile with the idea. Perhaps this wouldn’t be a bad match. From Veronica, she could grasp that the woman’s father was a true gentleman and an open-minded person who might treat her much better than she’d ever been treated in the Valverde house.

However…

“I don’t like it.” Milan continued. “Sister, he is too old for you.”

That was one of the rare moments when she could feel some tenderness towards Milan, when he acted like a cute younger sibling.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” She assured him although her heart was in turmoil.

The food was served.

And just when Elena braced herself for the conversations that usually took place on the dining table, a miracle happened.

The butler stormed into the room, looking pale and agitated. “My Lord!”

“What’s the meaning of this, Vega?” Elena’s father was visibly annoyed, so much that the space between his brows almost disappeared. “Can’t you see we have guests?”

“Yes… yes, I know. But my Lord, we have a visitor.”

This immediately spiked Elena’s curiosity. Whoever the person coming to their door was, he should be someone important to make Vega come at the risk of angering his master.

Earl Valverde gritted his teeth. “Who dares to come at this hour without notice?” 

“It’s the Duke of Alba, my lord.”