Inês watched the rain trickling down the window of the elegant ballroom, her mind drifting between painful memories and a present that seemed so far removed from happiness. Carcel’s death had left a void she never imagined filling again. Yet here she was, with a marriage contract ready to be signed, a reality imposed by the pressure from the Valeztena family. The door to the ballroom creaked open, and a young Duke, with a determined gaze and confident posture, entered. He embodied everything expected of a noble: elegant, courteous, but with a gleam in his eyes that suggested a deep understanding of the situation. Inês felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension as he approached. “Your Grace... It is a pleasure to meet you in person.” She lifted her gaze, meeting his. For a brief moment, the weight of expectations and the looming future seemed to lift, replaced by a spark of hope she hadn’t expected to find.