Evelyn arrived at the Valcrest Mansion carrying a basket filled with fresh pastries and sweets. Ruby welcomed her warmly, surprised by the unexpected visit.
"It has been a long time, Evelyn," Ruby said with a smile as they settled into the sitting room. "Please, make yourself comfortable."
After exchanging pleasantries over tea, Evelyn finally gathered the courage to speak.
"You know... my daughter isn't getting any younger."
Ruby nodded. "Yes, I know."
"Maya has loved Duncan since they were children. I was hoping... perhaps it is time they got married."
Ruby nearly choked on her tea before setting the cup down.
"I understand your concern," she replied gently, "but I cannot choose a wife for my son. Duncan is old enough to decide whom he wishes to marry."
Evelyn forced a smile despite her disappointment.
"I expected that answer. Still... if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."
After saying their goodbyes, Evelyn quietly left the mansion.
Several weeks passed after the King's birthday, and life gradually returned to normal.
At first, Irene relaxed after noticing Duncan never visited the bakery again. "Perhaps I worried over nothing," she murmured to herself.
But peace never lasted long.
One morning, while Alora and Irene worked, familiar whispers began spreading through the bakery once again.
"I heard Alora threw herself at Lord Duncan."
Another worker laughed.
"If Mr. Benjamin hadn't shown mercy, both mother and daughter would've been thrown out already. No respectable person will ever employ them now."
The women spoke loudly enough for Alora and Irene to hear. Alora lowered her head and continued kneading the dough, pretending not to notice.
Irene's hands tightened into fists, she wanted to argue, she wanted to scream.
Instead, she remained silent. When work finally ended, mother and daughter walked home without saying a word.
The moment they entered the house, Irene slammed her hand against the wooden wall.
"We're leaving that bakery," she declared.
"I can't endure this anymore."
Alora immediately grabbed her mother's hand. "Mother, you'll hurt yourself."
"For how long should we keep pretending we're fine?" Irene cried as she sat heavily on the mat.
"No matter how strong we are, we're still human. Their words hurt."
Alora slowly sat beside her.
"I know... If leaving is what you truly want...I'll leave."
Irene looked at her daughter with tear-filled eyes before nodding, "Thank you."
Their conversation was interrupted when William suddenly burst through the door. His clothes were dirty, his lip was bleeding, one side of his face had already begun to swell.
"William!" Irene gasped, rushing toward him.
"What happened?"
"They called me..." William struggled to speak. "They called me the brother of a whore, I told them to stop... They wouldn't... So we fought."
Unable to hold back any longer, he broke into tears.
Alora covered her mouth as tears rolled down her own cheeks. "This is all because of me..."
William quickly shook his head.
"No, Sister, It's not your fault, but I don't think any place will hire us anymore, if we leave the bakery..."
"What will we do?"
Silence filled the tiny house.
Irene gently cleaned William's wounds while all three of them silently prayed that one day the rumours would finally disappear.
Palace
Later that afternoon, an urgent council meeting was held inside the palace.
A village chief had been accused of treason against the Crown and had disappeared before his arrest. Reports suggested he might be hiding somewhere within the commoners' district.
King Alexander ordered Lords Duncan, Matthew, and William to investigate.
"I believe we should send soldiers into the town," Lord William suggested while taking a drink. "We'll search every house until we find him."
Lord Matthew immediately disagreed.
"That will only frighten innocent people. If the chief is truly hiding there, he'll simply escape before we arrive."
William scoffed.
"They're commoners, a little fear won't hurt them."
Duncan calmly placed his cup on the table.
"I disagree."
Both men turned toward him.
"We should disguise ourselves. The commoners don't know our faces very well. If we blend in, we'll have a better chance of finding the chief without causing panic."
Matthew nodded almost immediately.
"I like that plan, It protects innocent people while increasing our chances of catching the traitor."
William frowned. "So my opinion doesn't matter?"
Neither Duncan nor Matthew responded. Feeling ignored, William stood abruptly and stormed out of the room.
Matthew watched him leave. "What's gotten into him lately?"
Duncan sighed, "I honestly don't know, but we can't let his temper distract us."
Matthew smiled. "Agreed."
The two men continued discussing their investigation long into the evening, deep down, Duncan couldn't deny another reason he supported the plan. If they entered the commoners' district...
There was a chance... he might see Alora again.
Ashbourne Mansion
Back at the Ashbourne estate, Evelyn informed Maya about her visit to Ruby.
"I asked," she admitted softly, "But Ruby refused to interfere."
Maya clenched her fists.
"So that's it?"
"You still have time to choose another path,"
Evelyn said gently.
"Duncan may never marry you." Without waiting for a reply, she quietly left the room.
Maya spent the rest of the afternoon staring out of her window.
Later that day, she met Clara in town.
"So..."
"What will you do now?" Clara asked.
Maya's lips slowly curled into a smile.
"I already have a plan."
Clara frowned, "What kind of plan?"
Maya's eyes darkened.
"A plan that will leave Duncan with only one choice... to marry me."
Clara felt an uneasy chill run down her spine. She wasn't sure what Maya was planning, but one thing was certain—
Whatever it was...
It had already begun.