The last time Lyanna Vale stood before the gates of Valeborne, she had been a child clutching her father's hand — moments before the guards dragged him away.
Now, ten years later, she returned alone. No hand to hold. No name that mattered. Just alone. Desperate. And stranded
...
The iron gates stretched above her, dark and twisted with ivy, bearing the crest of the House of Valeborne: a hawk striking through a crown. A cruel reminder that this place no longer belonged to her family.
Her boots crunched on gravel as she approached the guards. The cold bit through her thin cloak, but it was pride, not winter, that made her tremble.
"State your business," one of the guards barked.
She lifted her chin. "I seek an audience with Marquess Elaric Valeborne. I am his niece. Lyanna Vale."
The name fell flat in the frostbitten air. The man squinted at her, unimpressed.
"Vale?" He spat the word like it tasted sour. "That name hasn't been spoken here in years."
She pulled a crumpled letter from inside her cloak — her father's old seal barely intact. "Please. This is urgent."
The second guard leaned in, examined it, then disappeared behind the gates without a word. Lyanna stood in silence, every heartbeat echoing the same question:
What am I doing here?
She hated this place. Hated what it stood for. But her father's fever worsened each night. His coughing fits weren't getting any better and were becoming more frequent.
His medicines and checkups seemed to cost a fortune and the physician wasn't going to evaluate without pay.
But She had no coin. No options. No one else.
And so, she had come to beg the very man who betrayed them.
---
Inside the Estate...
The Valeborne receiving hall was as grand as she remembered — vaulted ceilings, marble floors, and tapestries embroidered with the victories of men who thought themselves gods.
She barely had time to admire or despise it before the heavy doors opened.
In swept Catherine Valeborne, dressed in violet silk and pearls, every inch a duchess-in-waiting. Her beauty was almost cruel — sharp cheekbones, golden hair, a smile designed to cut.
"Cousin Lyanna," she said, voice dripping with honey and poison. "We thought you were dead."
Lyanna kept her back straight. "I'm not."
"Pity."
Then came Marquess Elaric Valeborne — silver-haired, commanding, eyes like cold steel. Time hadn't softened him.
"So. The disgraced Vale returns." He motioned lazily. "Speak."
Lyanna hesitated, then bowed.
"My father is ill. We have nothing. I came to ask for help — just enough to buy medicine. A roof to survive the winter."
....
A beat of silence.
Then laughter.
Catherine covered her mouth in mock shock. "You mean begging, don't you? You came here to beg....from us?!"
Catherine immediately burst into a fit of laughter, nearly breaking her lady like demeanor. But as usual, her dear cousin Cathy always knew her boundaries and never dared to let herself go.
Lyanna flushed, but said nothing.
"Let her beg," Elaric said flatly. "The wolves must learn humility before they are let near the fire."
From behind them, a soft voice interrupted:
"Or perhaps the wolves have something to offer."
All heads turned to Darian Valeborne — Catherine's twin brother. Dark-haired, sharp-eyed, and always too quiet. He stood at the edge of the room, arms folded.
"The Duke of Esten, your dear betrothed, still demands a bride, Catherine" he said. "Or have you forgotten ?"
Catherine snorted. This brother of hers had a way of poking her wounds. "Of course, I remember, brother. As though I could forget I am to be married to that lustful dog in a month" She continued, sarcastically, "It just has a way of sticking to me".
At the mention of the Duke of Esten, Marquess Elaric's face turned grim. He would never have thought that his precious daughter would one day marry that disgusting man.
The Duke of Esten had a reputation of being a man whore. He was one of those men who used their power to get what they wanted.
And what he wanted were beautiful women who he could spend the night with.
Elaric had always known to keep his distance from him. It wasn't until a year ago that he had no choice but to ask a favor from the infamous Duke of Esten.
And in return, the Duke wanted his daughter, his dearest Catherine. He had no choice but to agree to the request or rather, condition.
But now, it was his biggest regret.
Catherine immediately turned to her father and whined, "Daddy, why haven't you done anything?! Must I truly be sold to that ....brute forever?!"
"You're the Marquess of Valtemore! Surely, you can stop it, can't you?!"
Darian rolled his eyes. "Sometimes, I really start to question if you really are my sister. Are you forgetful or just plain dumb?" Catherine frowned.
"Father is the Marquess of Valtemore and that man is the Duke of Esten. No matter how you look at it, a Duke has more power than a Marquess, even if it's from different lands! The Duke could come to take you right now, and father wouldn't be able to do anything!"
When Catherine heard that, her forehead was suddenly covered in cold sweat. She couldn't bear to be married to that man, she just couldn't. He wasn't good enough.
The only one who was, was th Lord of Valtemore himself. No one else was worthy of Lady Catherine Valeborne, daughter of Marquess Elaric Valeborne.
Elaric frowned. "He wouldn't dare. Our agreement was clear. He would come to take Catherine within a month. Nothing more, nothing less".
Darian nodded. "Then it's a good thing he hasn't seen Catherine yet".
....