* * *

The small countryside barony was unusually noisy.

The head steward rushed about, frantically pushing everyone to prepare, claiming an important guest was coming to visit the baron’s estate after a long time.

The servants pouted and muttered their complaints, but they knew the baroness’s scolding was far scarier, so they obediently cleaned and prepared the mansion.

Dusty old curtains were taken down, washed, and hung back up, or replaced with new ones.

The gardener, overwhelmed with tasks, even enlisted his family to help manage the grounds.

No one had any information on who this important guest was or where they were coming from, so the staff could only speculate.

“Who could it be? Who’s so important that they’re making such a fuss?”

“Well, if the baron himself is concerned… could it be His Imperial Majesty?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Why would someone that noble set foot in a remote barony like this?”

One of the servants—a young man—paid no attention to the murmuring gossip around him and focused on scrubbing the dusty floors.

The rough bristles of the brush scraped against the ground, slowly revealing the floor’s original color as blackened water trickled away.

His forehead and back were drenched in sweat, and his arms ached, but he had no time to rest.

He needed to do the work of two people so his sickly sister could rest in peace.

The damp and heavy air of the rainy season left her coughing incessantly.

His frail sister had little strength, and getting her some rest required begging the baron for permission.

Though he wanted to provide medicine to ease her condition, his meager wages made it impossible.

All he could do was ensure she stayed in bed.

The guilt of being unable to do more gnawed at him, but it only fueled his determination to work harder.

Using the towel slung around his neck, he wiped the sweat off his face.

Once the hallway was clean, he needed to wipe the window frames next.

The day felt far too short.

Fortunately, the bright sun today would help dry the wet window frames quickly, sparing him the need to wipe them again.

“Nael, take a break.”

Hearing his name, Nael turned toward the voice.

His golden hair, damp with sweat, clung to his forehead. His flushed cheeks glistened from exertion.

Blinking his clear green eyes, Nael let out a soft sigh.

“Me?”

The steward, nodding as if to say, “Who else would I be talking to?” handed him a few blueberries.

They were leftovers from the baron’s table, but in a barony as impoverished as this, even such scraps were a rare luxury.

“Take these to Lily.”

“Thank you.”

Nael’s heart swelled with gratitude for the steward’s quiet kindness.

Though gruff by nature, the man occasionally slipped him fruit or leftover treats.

With a radiant smile, Nael carefully wrapped the blueberries in a handkerchief and slipped them into his pocket, taking care not to crush them.

The thought of feeding them to his sister later brought a small smile to his lips.

For Nael, his sickly sister was always the priority.

After their mother’s death, Nael and his sister were moved to a secluded hut, far from the mansion.

They had no one to rely on but each other.

His sister’s chronic illness had brought her to death’s door more than once, leaving Nael constantly on edge.

A slight fever had him changing cold towels all night, and a worsening cough would send him into a panic.

Though visiting a physician could improve her condition, Nael’s wages were barely enough to keep them fed.

“If Lily recovers, you’ll be able to settle down and start your own family.”

“I’m fine for now.”

“Twenty is more than old enough. Everyone has their time—”

A thunderous voice from upstairs cut the conversation short.

It was the baroness, her wrath clearly directed at someone who had failed to clean to her standards.

Startled, Nael quickly returned to his scrubbing.

The steward clapped his hands, urging the staff to pick up the pace.

The important guest was set to arrive that very evening.

By the time the all-day cleaning was complete and the sun was setting, Nael was utterly exhausted.

His arms trembled from overuse, and his back and legs ached from crouching all day.

As he tidied up for the last time, his body felt like it might collapse at any moment.

“They’re here!”

The announcement caused a stir.

The baron, baroness, and several others rushed to the entrance to greet the guest.

Quietly, Nael gathered the cleaning supplies and slipped out the back door to avoid drawing attention.

---

The hut Nael lived in wasn’t far from the mansion.

Dragging his weary body home, he arrived just as dusk turned to night.

Raindrops that had started as a light drizzle quickly intensified, drenching him by the time he reached the door.

“Lily, I’m back!”

Nael called out in a deliberately cheerful voice.

The small hut was pitch dark, not a single candle lit.

Stepping inside, he could see his breath in the chilly air.

The creaky wooden floor groaned under his feet, no matter how softly he tried to tread.

The only warmth came from the dim embers of the fireplace.

Removing his soaked shoes, he hung them up to dry before turning his attention to himself.

From head to toe, he was drenched, looking like someone who had been caught in a storm.

“Lily?”

There was no response. The absence of her usual coughing filled him with dread.

Heart pounding, he threw open the door to her room.

At that moment, a flash of lightning illuminated the scene, and his heart dropped.

Lily lay in bed with an eerily peaceful expression.

Trembling, Nael approached her and placed his fingers under her nose.

A faint breath brushed against his hand.

Relief washed over him, and he collapsed to the floor.

“Mm… Nael?”

Lily’s soft voice stirred him from his daze.

Taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart, he smiled weakly.

He had been terrified for a moment.

“Were you sleeping, Lily?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not coughing today.”

“Father came earlier and left some medicine.”

“Father?”

Nael’s expression shifted. Glancing around the room, he looked unsettled.

The baron had forbidden them from calling him “Father.”

The memory of being struck for that mistake still haunted Nael.

“Don’t call him that. It’s Baron.”

He reached out to brush her hair from her face, but his wet hands made it worse.

Smiling sheepishly, he pulled back.

“We should get ready. The baron said we have to greet his guest.”

“They’ve already arrived. The baron went to meet them, so you don’t need to go.”

“Lily…”

“He gave me medicine, Nael. Maybe he’s trying to help cure me.”

Lily hesitated, biting her lip.

She wanted to tell Nael the truth but couldn’t bring herself to ruin his bright expression.

“Nael, that’s not—”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A loud, forceful knock at the door interrupted her.

Startled, Nael jumped to his feet.

At this hour, no one ever visited the hut.

Warily, he approached and opened the door.

The wooden door creaked loudly as it swung open.

* * *