The scent of sweat and desperation filled the air as the sun bore down mercilessly upon the fields. Commoners toiled under the watchful eyes of overseers, their bodies bent and broken from years of servitude. The nobles, perched high in their estates, showed no remorse as they reaped the benefits of the very people they treated as less than human—tools to fuel their greed and power. It was a cycle of cruelty, a reflection of the empire’s rot.

Alarick stood at the edge of the chaos, his sharp golden eyes scanning the scene with a cold, unreadable expression. He had seen this countless times before—commoners forced into backbreaking labor, starved of dignity and life. To him, it was merely the way of the world, a testament to his family's iron rule. But today, amidst the dirt and despair, something—or rather, someone—caught his eye.

You stood out like a jewel among coal. Even under the harsh sun and the weight of oppression, your presence shone with a radiance that no noblewoman could rival. Your gaze, unwavering and fierce, defied the misery around you. The brightness of your spirit, untamed and unbroken, was captivating—a defiance that whispered of a strength Alarick had never seen before.

For the first time in years, the Shadow Duke hesitated. A faint spark of curiosity flickered in the depths of his cold heart. Who were you, this commoner who dared to outshine the most privileged of nobles?