When Valentina returned to her chambers, she felt physically and mentally exhausted. The day at the hospital had taken more out of her than she had expected. But Jenny, who was already waiting for her excitedly, gave her no time to rest.

"My lady! The banquet starts in two hours!" The young maid hobbled busily around the room. "The bath is already in. With rose oil, as you like it."

"How thoughtful," Vyxara scoffed. "Almost as if someone had given instructions to the servants."

While Jenny helped her take off her gray hospital gown, she chattered away. "Oh, all the important families will be there! Lady Rosemary Wicklethorne with her three daughters, of course – she's trying to marry them off again, Mother says. And Master Ellisbrooke will be there too. His workshops make the finest jewelry."

Valentina let herself sink into the warm water and closed her eyes for a moment. "Who else is coming?"

"Lady Celestine Fouetterand will be present," Jenny continued eagerly as she washed Valentina's hair. "She's a widow, but still quite young. Very beautiful, very... well." She blushed slightly. "Rumor has it that she and His Grace were once... very close friends. And Captain Quake is in town too – he's just brought back some exotic goods from the East. His stories are always so exciting!"

"Oh, this is going to be interesting," purred Vyxara. "Especially that Lady Celestine. I can't wait to see how she reacts to you."

As Jenny helped her to dry off, Valentina's gaze fell on the red velvet dress – her only really presentable garment. A wave of unease ran through her. "Won't people notice that I wore the same dress yesterday?"

"Oh." Jenny bit her lip. "Well... I suppose so. But it's a very nice dress! And we can do your hair differently, it's distracting..."

"This is going to be a difficult evening," Vyxara commented dryly. "Nothing makes noble ladies more gleeful than seeing a young woman in the same dress several times in a row."

When Valentina entered the large banqueting hall, she immediately noticed Lady Hazel, who walked from group to group. The duke's daughter kept bending down to other noble ladies, whispering and then casting discreet glances in Valentina's direction.

"How subtle," mocked Vyxara. "The little snake makes sure that no one misses the fact that you're wearing the same dress as yesterday."

"Most people probably wouldn't even have noticed," Valentina thought bitterly.

"Oh, of course not. Most of them weren't even here yesterday, and others have better things to do than memorize what some insignificant newcomer is wearing. But thanks to our eager little friend, it will now be the talk of the evening. But don't make too much of it. The ladies may register every detail of your wardrobe. But the gentlemen... well, they register other details."

"Ah, there she is!" The duke approached them, a beaming smile on his face. "My dears, let me introduce you to Valentina of Palewood, the brilliant winner of the Greystone Competition."

Lady Rosemary Wicklethorne, a voluptuous lady in her forties with artfully mottled gray hair, scrutinized her from top to bottom. "How... charming," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "And what an... interesting dress."

"First blood," Vyxara commented dryly. "Never mind, you're prepared, don't let it upset you."

Master Ellisbrooke, the head of the guild of goldsmiths, rescued her from the embarrassing situation by taking a lively interest in her water purification technique. The short, rotund man with the well-groomed white beard wore so much jewelry that he sparkled like a walking chandelier in the light of the Essence-infused lamps.

"Tremendous!" he exclaimed. "If we could somehow apply this removal of impurities to the art of goldsmithing... the possibilities would be endless!"

A tall man with a scar on his face joined them – Sir Aldric Rickstone, as he introduced himself. He was a knight in service to the duke. His interest in her Essence Weaving seemed genuine, and his questions were precise and knowledgeable enough – at least for someone who wasn't skilled in Weaving himself.

Lorenzo appeared at her side as if from nowhere and skillfully rescued her from the boring technical discussion that was developing. "Excuse me, but I have to take Valentina away for a moment. Lady Celestine wishes to meet her."

The young widow was breathtaking in appearance. Her platinum blonde hair fell in elaborate curls over bare shoulders, her blue eyes scrutinized Valentina with undisguised curiosity.

"So you're the girl everyone's talking about," she said with a small smile. "How refreshing to meet someone who makes her way not by birth, but by talent." She sipped her wine. "Even though that can be difficult… without the right clothes. But fortunately, beautiful young women like you sometimes get on quite well without clothes." She laughed brightly and gave Valentina a not unfriendly wink.

"Oh, she's good," Vyxara purred appreciatively. "A perfectly placed little jab wrapped in a compliment."

Before Valentina could answer, they were interrupted by Guillaume Aufeaurbax, a slender man with a continental accent, who immediately became engrossed in a conversation about Essence Weaving's commercial opportunities.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

The next hour blurred into a whirl of ideas and conversation. Lady Isabella Montclair, a charming woman with copper-red hair, treated her with surprising warmth. Master Lucian popped up occasionally to subtly guide her through particularly tricky social situations.

"Look at how they're all sounding out their position to you," Vyxara commented. "The merchants smell business opportunities. The old nobility are skeptical but polite. And the up-and-coming families are trying to find out whether you could be a useful ally or a threat to their plans."

Captain Quake entertained a small group with stories of his last voyage, while Maestro Giovanni shone on the clavichord. Baron Sebastian Duskerville, a handsome man with dark eyes, invited her to one of his famous artistic salons.

The duchess received her with cool politeness. "I like your dress," she remarked with a barely perceptible smile. "Red suits you perfectly."

"Oh yes, a really beautiful dress," Hazel said in a sugar-sweet voice. She was wearing a light green silk dress that matched her eyes perfectly. "It was beautiful yesterday, too."

At that moment, everything happened very quickly. Hazel made a seemingly clumsy movement and her wine glass tipped over. The dark red wine poured down Valentina's dress.

"Oh, how clumsy of me!" Hazel exclaimed with feigned dismay. "I'm so terribly sorry about that!"

"Stay calm," Vyxara whispered in Valentina's head. "That's exactly what she wants – for you to lose your cool."

Valentina fought the feeling of humiliation and forced herself to smile politely. "Don't worry, Lady Hazel. Mishaps like this happen."

A servant had already rushed over with a cloth, but the damage had been done. The wine had left a large stain on the red velvet.

"How good that your dress is already red," Hazel remarked with a fake smile. "The stain is hardly noticeable. Although..." She tilted her head. "Not that it would make much difference to the rest of your wardrobe."

An awkward silence spread through the small group. Lady Rosemary Wicklethorne hid her mischievous grin behind her fan, while Captain Quake and Baron Duskerville looked down at the ground.

"Hazel!" Lorenzo stepped between his sister and Valentina. "This is completely unnecessary."

"Oh?" Hazel's eyes flashed dangerously. "Are you defending her? How sweet. But be careful, brother – I don't know what hopes you might have, but Father won't let – "

"I believe that true nobility is shown in deeds, not words," interrupted a cool voice. The duchess had approached silently. Her eyes rested disapprovingly on her daughter. "Or in the way you treat others."

Hazel turned pale. "Mother, I – "

"I think you should retire for the day," the duchess said firmly. "You seem exhausted."

With a bright red head and quivering lips, Hazel stormed off. The surrounding courtiers did their best to pretend they hadn't noticed.

At that moment, the duke, who had been talking at the other end of the hall, appeared. His face darkened briefly when he saw the wine stain on Valentina's dress.

"Ah, my dear!" he exclaimed in his usual jovial voice. "What a pity about the beautiful dress, but in a way we've had another stroke of luck. I wanted to take you into town tomorrow anyway – the best tailor in Dusktown is already waiting for us."

The duke smiled warmly and the surrounding courtiers visibly relaxed. The duke had elegantly defused the situation and at the same time made it clear that Valentina was under his personal protection.

Later that evening, as she was discussing Master Wilford's theories with Lorenzo, Valentina noticed the duke and duchess talking to each other in an alcove. The duchess gestured urgently. Valentina carefully activated her Essence Listening ability.

" – completely thoughtless of you," she heard the duchess say quietly but sharply. "You can't just bring a girl to court and then throw her to the harpies like that. The poor girl has hardly anything to wear and all you can think about is getting her into your bed. Don't just think about your pleasure for once – the poor child urgently needs a proper outfit, otherwise they'll tear her to pieces."

"My dear-" the duke began placatingly.

"No, Cosimo, no excuses. Take care of it. Tomorrow. And not just one or two dresses – she needs a full wardrobe."

To Valentina's surprise, she felt tears welling up in her eyes. A wave of gratitude rose up inside her. The cool, controlled duchess stood up for her – in her own pragmatic way.

"What a lioness this woman is," Vyxara commented approvingly.

"I'm really sorry," Lorenzo said quietly, misinterpreting the tears in Valentina's eyes. "Hazel isn't usually like this... well, she's temperamental, but..."

"You don't have to apologize for your sister," Valentina interrupted him gently.

"Yes, I do." He ran his fingers nervously through his hair. "She's... well, she's very protective of our mother. And sometimes she sees things as a threat that..." He broke off and a slight blush crossed his cheeks.

"Oh, how sweet," Vyxara giggled. "He's so keen to explain that his sister is freaking out because his father wants to hide his ducal sausage in you, but he can't say it. Quite the noble young man."

"I understand," said Valentina, who was also uncomfortable with the situation. "Lady Hazel is worried about her family. That's... understandable."

Lorenzo looked at her for a moment, his green eyes full of suppressed emotion. "Sometimes I wish things were..." He fell silent again.

"...different?" Vyxara added mockingly in Valentina's thoughts. "Easier? So that he could woo you himself without having to think about his father having you first? Humans and their complicated morals..."

"Things are as they are," Valentina said with a forced smile. She could hardly bear to look at him.

"Yes," Lorenzo said tonelessly. "I suppose they are." He bowed stiffly. "If you'll excuse me..."

"That was heartbreaking," Vyxara commented with amusement as Lorenzo moved away. "Poor boy. I think he really likes you – and that only makes it worse for him. Look how elegantly he escapes."

But Valentina was in no mood for Vyxara's mockery. After all, the rest of the evening passed without further incident. When Valentina finally returned to her chambers, she was exhausted but strangely content.

"An eventful day," commented Vyxara with amusement. "First you impress the old curmudgeon in the hospital, then you survive your first courtly attack with flying colors. Not bad for a farmer's daughter."

"The duchess surprised me," thought Valentina as Jenny helped her take off the ruined dress, babbling on about how to remove the stain.

"Oh, she's a clever woman," purred the demon. "She knows full well that her husband wants you in his bed. But instead of making a scandal, she makes sure it's at least discreet and dignified. And she also demonstrates a certain amount of care towards you. It makes my non-existent heart beat faster to see that there are such sensible humans out there."

Valentina lay down in bed, her head full of impressions from this long day. The hospital, Lorenzo, the intrigues at court... what an exciting world. But she began to find her way around it.

"Sleep now," said Vyxara gently. "Tomorrow the duke will dress you in new clothes. After that, you won't have to worry about your wardrobe."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.