For what felt like an eternity, Elysia walked through a dense forest of towering conifers, the trees stretching endlessly without so much as a carriage road cutting through them.

When she finally emerged from the woods, she saw it in the distance—a mansion so vast and magnificent that no one could mistake its grandeur.

By the time she reached the enormous front gate, sweat was pouring down her face.

As she glanced around uncertainly, one of the guards stationed nearby approached her.

"Um, hello! I've come to see His Grace, the Grand Duke."

"Do you have a prior appointment with His Grace?"

"...Ah, no."

Perhaps someone of his stature required letters of introduction or an official exchange of correspondence beforehand.

Flustered but honest, Elysia answered truthfully.

"Please wait a moment."

The guard gestured to another sentry, who seemed to understand immediately and gave a nod.

Fortunately, the gates opened, allowing her inside.

"Wow... the garden's as big as the town square."

Her eyes darted from one sight to another in amazement.

Following the guard farther in, she eventually arrived at an entrance hall every bit as imposing as the front gate itself. A short while later, a man stepped out to greet her.

He was impeccably dressed, wearing spectacles, his hair neatly tied back.

"Assistant Hylmayton."

The guard approached him and whispered something in his ear. Listening carefully, Hylmayton glanced toward Elysia.

Noticing his gaze, she gave an awkward little bow.

"I am Hylmayton, steward and assistant in charge of managing this estate. I hear you've come to see His Grace."

"Y-yes. My name is Elysia. Um... my father used to serve in the Grand Duke's knight order. His name was Galfon."

Hylmayton looked her up and down.

"So you have not arranged this visit with His Grace beforehand?"

"No..."

"And what brings you here today?"

"I have something important I need to discuss with him."

Elysia clasped her trembling hands tightly together.

Hylmayton nodded pleasantly.

"His Grace is currently out on business. Please wait inside until he returns."

"Thank you."

She bowed deeply in gratitude.

Seeing her offer such an earnest greeting without hesitation, Hylmayton smiled.

The interior of the mansion was even more extravagant than the exterior.

An enormous crystal chandelier hung overhead. The floors gleamed with expensive materials, and a grand staircase rose elegantly to the upper floors.

...How much would all of this cost?

Lost in such thoughts, Elysia hurried after Hylmayton, afraid of losing sight of him.

Once they reached the second floor, he led her to a reception room reserved for guests.

"His Grace should return shortly, so please wait here for a little while."

With that brief explanation, Hylmayton left.

Alone in the room, Elysia looked around.

Even if it was merely a guest room, everything inside radiated luxury.

After hesitating for a moment, she lowered herself onto the sofa.

It was so soft that it seemed perfect for lying down and drifting off to sleep.

"What does it feel like to live in a house like this?"

Leaning back against the plush cushions, she finally allowed herself to relax.

"It's been three years since I last saw him... I wonder if I'll be able to say everything properly."

She had to ask for work—any work at all.

Surely serving at the Grand Duke's estate would offer a better life than laboring in the marketplace.

"Still..."

As she sank deeper into the sofa, the tension slowly drained from her body, her vision growing hazy.

Just sitting there made all her exhaustion catch up to her.

"Is he coming back late? My eyes keep closing..."

Elysia didn't even realize her voice had grown quieter with each word.

How much time had passed?

"What is this now?"

A cool voice broke the silence.

But Elysia never heard it.

Fast asleep on the sofa, she remained oblivious to the two men standing over her.

One was Assistant Hylmayton.

The other stood beside him.

He was tall enough to command attention immediately, with broad shoulders and a powerful build.

His immaculate uniform fit him perfectly, and his dark hair was swept neatly back.

Narrow amber eyes stared intently at the sleeping girl.

Hylmayton gave an awkward smile.

"This is Lady Elysia, daughter of Sir Galfon."

"I'm asking why Galfon's daughter is sprawled out asleep here."

Scratching between his brows, Hylmayton replied,

"...Perhaps she's exhausted?"

Yulias frowned.

"Shall I wake her?"

"Leave her."

As Hylmayton carefully gauged his mood, Yulias sat down across from the sleeping girl with an exasperated expression.

With a familiar gesture, he signaled for the urgent documents awaiting his review after returning home.

Even as Hylmayton brought over the stack of papers, Elysia showed no sign of waking.

"Another bowl, please..."

Not only was she talking in her sleep, but she had curled up like a cat, smacking her lips contentedly.

Yulias let out a quiet, incredulous chuckle before turning his attention to the documents.

Even so, every few moments, his gaze drifted back to her over the tops of the pages.

One document became two.

Then three.

By the time he had finished reading around five of them—

"Mmm... huh?"

Elysia jerked awake.

As soon as she regained her senses, she shot upright and looked around frantically.

Then she saw him sitting directly across from her.

"Sleep well?"

"...Excuse me?"

"I certainly hope so. Judging by how you were sleeping with your legs thrown up in front of a man."

Had three years really changed him this much?

The youthful face she remembered had long since disappeared.

Staring blankly at him for a moment, Elysia sprang to her feet.

"M-my apologies, Your Grace!"

Unlike Elysia, who nervously watched his reaction, Yulias remained silent.

Standing beside him, Hylmayton explained,

"She came to request an audience with Your Grace."

Yulias's gaze slowly swept over her.

Elysia hastily rubbed her sleepy face with both hands.

Her eyes shone brightly now that she was fully awake, but his expression remained unchanged.

"I'm sorry for arriving so suddenly. I... I truly wished to speak with you."

"Hylmayton."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Prepare some tea. Bring refreshments as well."

"At once."

Without responding to her greeting, Yulias simply issued instructions to his assistant.

He ignored me completely?

Elysia felt as though she had utterly ruined her first impression.

Still, she refused to give up.

If she were going to lose heart so easily, she would never have come here in the first place.

"What are you standing there for?"

"Pardon?"

Yulias looked at her, still frozen in place.

His voice sharpened slightly.

"You came all this way unannounced. Wasn't your business urgent?"

"It is."

"Sit."

He gestured toward the sofa opposite him.

Without hesitation, Elysia sat down.

With a weary sigh, Yulias loosened his tie.

Only then did she notice the bloodstains scattered across his shirt, as though he had just returned from battle.

"Your business."

Pressing his fingers against his temple, Yulias waited.

Snapping back to attention, Elysia spoke.

"I want to work for the Grand Duke's household."

"Here?"

The unexpected request made him raise an eyebrow.

"Why?"

Of course he wouldn't simply agree immediately.

He was asking why he should hire her.

"After my father passed away, my mother raised my younger sibling and me on her own. But recently... we've lost all contact with her."

"Did she run away?"

"...No."

Her expression darkened instantly.

At that moment, Yulias remembered the woman he had seen three years earlier at Galfon's funeral.

Though she had lost her husband, she had hidden her grief and faced him calmly.

Behind her had stood Elysia and her younger sibling, both still children.

Yulias showed no reaction.

No sigh of sympathy.

No pity.

"...There was a shipwreck. They never even found her body."

Forcing herself to remain composed, Elysia continued.

Crossing his arms, Yulias silently motioned for her to go on.

"I have to take care of my sibling, but... I haven't been able to find stable work."

"Do you know how people usually enter a noble household as servants?"

"You need a recommendation letter, or some degree of status..."

"That's right. At the very least, minor nobility. Galfon was an exceptional swordsman, but he was only a member of the knight order—not its commander or deputy commander."

"..."

Elysia fell silent.

Yulias let out a deep sigh.

She seemed to understand what he meant.

Judging by the look on her face, he didn't need to ask how disappointed she felt.

At that moment, a knock came at the door.

The head maid entered carrying tea and refreshments.

"Herbal tea and cookies."

Even after the tea was set down, an awkward silence lingered.

"When you've finished, I'll have a carriage take you home."

"No, that's all right. You seem busy, Your Grace. I'll be leaving now."

As Yulias rose to his feet, Elysia quickly stood and bowed.

"...Your Grace."

"What is it?"

"If it isn't too rude to ask..."

Her gaze shifted toward the table between the sofas.

The untouched herbal tea still sent wisps of steam into the air.

The cookies on the plate were studded with almonds.

Noticing the sheet of food parchment beneath them, Elysia pointed toward it.

"May I take these refreshments with me?"

"Do as you please."

"Thank you. It's an honor."

While expressing her gratitude, her hands busily wrapped the cookies in the parchment paper.

"Do you like sweets?"

"It's not that I do... my younger sibling loves them. I can't buy treats very often, so whenever I get a chance, I try to bring some home."

"Most people would be embarrassed to ask. I suppose that means you're strong-willed."

"...When you're struggling to survive, worrying about what other people think doesn't put food on the table."

Elysia gave a bitter smile.

Watching her expression, Yulias said nothing.

Soon after, she left the room without lingering and without looking back even once.

"...No. Worrying about appearances doesn't feed you."

A quiet laugh escaped him as Yulias stared at the closed door.