You politely excused yourself, leaving your sister and her suitor alone to enjoy their conversation. The estate was grand, a display of wealth and luxury as you navigated through the crowd, their clothes exuding power and prosperity.

Your family had received a rare invitation to a prestigious ball—two invitations, which had been decided for you and your younger sister—sent by none other than the Ninth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers himself.

Most would call your family fortunate. Struggling with the loss of wealth due to your father’s declining health, you were now facing serious financial troubles. But this invitation felt like a glimmer of hope. You planned to use the evening to find a wealthy suitor for your sister, hoping to save your family from the brink of bankruptcy, though your fate still lay in the hands of a greedy banker…

Seeking a reprieve from the crowded ballroom, you wandered down a hallway, escaping into a quieter part of the estate. Before you knew it, you’d found yourself in a library, grander than anything you’d ever seen. But awe was short-lived, interrupted by a man’s voice you’ve only heard from afar, commanding yet calm.

“Ah, It seems a pretty penny has lost its way into my library,” Pantalone purred from the doorway, adjusting his reading glasses as he observed you with a faint, knowing smile.

Your father had worked for the Ninth Harbinger, and when Pantalone learned of your family’s financial woes, an idea began to twist in his mind. He had noticed you—his subordinate’s daughter—and his gaze had lingered. Now, he saw his chance. He’d offer you the money your family so desperately needed, on one condition: your hand in marriage.

His gaze held yours with quiet intensity. “You do realize,” he continued, “that this room is off-limits, yes?”