An icy silence fell over the table. The duke gave his daughter a scathing look, while the duchess drew in a sharp breath.

"Hazel!" The duchess's voice was cutting. "This is absolutely unacceptable."

Valentina could feel her cheeks burning, but she forced herself to remain calm and not lower her gaze.

"Oh, the little beast has claws," Vyxara commented with amusement. "But she's too direct, too clumsy. She still has a lot to learn. Her mother would know how to hurt gracefully. Just don't say anything."

Lorenzo stared at his sister, stunned. "Hazel, what's gotten into you?"

"What?" Hazel shrugged her shoulders with feigned innocence. "I'm just saying what everyone thinks anyway. Or does anyone here seriously believe-"

"ENOUGH!" The duke struck the table with the flat of his hand. The wine glasses clinked. "You forget yourself, daughter."

"I'm forgetting myself?" Hazel laughed bitterly. "I'm not the one who-"

"Lady Hazel." Master Lucian's soft voice cut through her words like a knife through butter. "I think you should collect yourselves for a moment."

Hazel fell silent abruptly. Something in Lucian's calm gaze seemed to frighten her.

Master Bloomfield cleared his throat exaggeratedly loud. "That reminds me of a story! Do you remember, Cosimo, that one boar back then? He had made himself so comfortable in his nest of old leaves that we literally fell over him as we walked through the forest and flushed him out..."

The story, recited with exaggerated gesticulation, managed to lighten the mood noticeably. Even the duchess smiled thinly when Bloomfield described how the boar had chased them through the forest for hours.

Hazel took the moment to stand up. "If you'll excuse me," she pressed out between clenched teeth. "I suddenly feel... uncomfortable."

"A wise decision," commented Vyxara. "Still, we must not underestimate her. Offended pride makes people dangerous. And she clearly sees herself as her mother's protector and will also resent you for her own faux pas just now."

The rest of the dinner passed in a forcedly cheerful atmosphere. As the servants cleared the last glasses, the duke rose.

"Allow me to accompany you to your chambers," he said to Valentina. Chamberlain Morris followed them at a discreet distance.

"I am truly sorry," said the duke as they walked through the dim corridors. His hand rested on her back. "Hazel is sometimes... well, she's still very young. Not a mature young lady like you. We'll have to choose a stern and assertive husband for her one day."

"I certainly understand her fears, Your Grace," Valentina replied cautiously. "It must be difficult..."

"No, no." The duke shook his head. "There is no excuse for such unseemly behavior. You are my guest and a talented young Essence Weaver. You have more than earned your place at my table."

They reached Valentina's door. The duke took her hand and breathed a kiss on it, his lips lingering as always a heartbeat too long.

"I hope you like the little something I had the servants bring to your chambers," he said with a warm smile. "Good night, my dear."

Valentina curtseyed. "Good night, Your Grace."

As she closed the door behind her, she took a deep breath. What an evening. Then she saw the delighted Jenny and a mountain of parcels. The young maid stood in the middle of a mountain of parcels and boxes elegantly tied with silk ribbons and squealed excitedly.

"Oh, My Lady!" Jenny hopped excitedly as good as her limp allowed her. "His Grace has sent presents! So many presents!"

"How generous of him," purred Vyxara. "And how calculating."

Valentina stepped closer and carefully touched one of the boxes. The paper felt expensive, almost like silk.

"May I?" Jenny asked eagerly. "I mean... Shall I help you unpack?"

Valentina nodded, still slightly dazed from the wine and the evening's events. Jenny immediately set to work with nimble fingers.

The first box contained a necklace made of silver and rubies, accompanied by matching earrings. Jenny gasped in awe. "That must have cost a fortune!"

"More than your family earns in a year," Vyxara commented dryly.

The next box contained several books bound in the finest leather. "The Martyr and the Threefold Coercion of Hell," Valentina read the title of the top one. "Foundations of Spiralic Weaving". "Healing Applications of Essence". Her heart leapt. These books were extremely rare and correspondingly valuable.

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Another package contained a set of professional Essence Weaving instruments in a polished wooden box. Valentina stroked the perfectly balanced tools in awe. The silver Essence Absorber in the center alone must have cost several hundred marks.

"And here!" Jenny carefully lifted up a crystal vial. "Are these... are these vials of Distilled Essence? I've heard they're incredibly valuable."

Valentina nodded and gently took the vial from her hand. The Essence in it shimmered in perfect concentration, impeccably pure.

"Twelve vials," Vyxara commented approvingly. "And each one of the highest quality. Our good Duke knows how to impress an Essence Weaver."

"Yes, that's Distilled Essence," she confirmed to Jenny. "And of very high quality."

Jenny looked at the vial in awe. "Mother says a single one of these costs more than I earn in a year."

Other boxes contained fine silk ribbons for the hair, perfumed oils, well-crafted shoes and – Valentina's cheeks reddened slightly – several silk underdresses and nightdresses.

Jenny sighed ecstatically. "How beautiful they are! His Grace must really appreciate you."

"Oh yes," Vyxara scoffed, "especially your potential horizontal cooperation."

"Jenny," Valentina said gently, "it's late. You should go to sleep."

The maid curtseyed. "Of course, my lady. Would you like me to help you change?"

"No, I can manage that on my own. Good night, Jenny."

After Jenny had left, Valentina stepped out onto her balcony. The night air was cool and clear. The gardens of the palace stretched out below her, bathed in silvery moonlight. The scent of roses wafted up to her.

"Well?" asked Vyxara after a while. "What do you think of your first day at the duke's court?"

"It's... overwhelming," Valentina confessed. "All this luxury, but..." She thought of the duke, his hungry glances, his subtle hints. Of the cool Duchess and her warning words about decorum. Of Hazel's open hostility.

"You're doing well," the demon said approvingly. "Better than most farmer's daughters would. But the real test is yet to come."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on." Vyxara's voice dripped with sarcasm. "The duke wants you in his bed, that's obvious. The only question is how long you'll keep him squirming. The duchess will tolerate it as long as you're discreet – she's a pragmatic woman. But his daughter..." The demon chuckled. "That little snake will make your life difficult."

"Maybe I don't want to..." Valentina began, but broke off.

"What, become his mistress?" Vyxara laughed softly. "Of course you don't want that. But you want power. You want influence. You want to learn and grow and protect your family. And for that..." The demon let the sentence hang meaningfully in the air.

"There is another way," Valentina said firmly. "I could just work hard, prove myself in the hospital..."

"Of course you could. But be honest – do you really believe that talent and hard work alone are enough? In this world? Look at these gifts." Vyxara's voice became gentle, almost motherly. "The duke could open doors for you that would otherwise remain closed forever. Just think of the library! The rare books, the Distilled Essence... Resources you could barely afford in Bridgewater."

Valentina was silent for a long time. The moon was high in the sky, casting long shadows over the gardens that just smelled so wonderful.

"Besides," Vyxara added, "he's not so bad. Charming, generous, a little portly perhaps, but not unsightly for his age. There are worse arrangements."

"Like Professor Horne," murmured Valentina.

"Exactly. And did that kill you? No. You actually came to like it, if I remember correctly."

Valentina blushed. "That was different."

"Was it, though?" The demon sounded amused. "Or are you lying to yourself? You're not the innocent girl from Palewood anymore, Valentina. You learned long ago that a little flexibility can go a long way."

A cool breeze made Valentina shiver. "What do you think I should do?" she asked quietly.

"Don't be hasty," Vyxara advised. "Let him languish a little. Enjoy his gifts. Concentrate on the hospital. But... keep your options open. And above all – don't underestimate anyone. Not the duke, not the duchess, not even little Hazel. They're all playing their own game."

Valentina nodded slowly. Then she straightened her shoulders and went back to her chambers. The presents were still spread out, looking temptingly at her. While Valentina got ready for the night, she thought about the people she had met today.

"What do you think of Master Bloomfield?" she asked Vyxara in her thoughts as she brushed her hair.

"An interesting character," the demon replied. "He plays the jovial drunkard and old hunting buddy, but he seems to me to be much more cunning than he looks. Like I said, you don't become a duke's closest confidant for decades just because you're good at telling stories."

"And Master Lucian?"

"Dangerous. I like him, but he is very dangerous. Keep him close to you, but never trust him."

Valentina put down the brush, hesitated for a moment and then reached for one of the new nightgowns made of cream-colored silk. The fabric felt cool and smooth as she slipped it on.

"Mmmh," Vyxara purred pleasurably. "Like a caress on the skin, isn't it? Almost like the gentle hands of a lover."

"You're impossible," Valentina murmured, but she couldn't deny how pleasant the silk felt. "Lorenzo seems... nice."

"Oh?" Vyxara sounded amused. "And handsome, isn't he? Those green eyes, that dark hair..."

"Well, yes, he's handsome," Valentina replied, unimpressed by Vyxara's teasing. "That's a simple observation."

"True," the demon admitted in surprise, "and he's clever too. But unfortunately..." Vyxara sighed theatrically, "he still lacks his father's influence and fortune. But of course, that will change one day."

Valentina extinguished all but one of the candles and crawled under the silken comforter. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing specific. Just that a bright young man with the right connections... Well, let's just say he could be interesting to keep an eye on."

The large four-poster bed was incredibly soft. Valentina sank deep into the pillows. "You really only ever think about power, influence and sex, don't you?"

"Of course." Vyxara's voice became soft, almost sleepy. "Those are the three great pleasures of life, my dear. Power gives you the means, sex gives you the pleasure, and influence..." The demon chuckled softly. "Influence gives you the opportunity to have both. That's why we're so successful together. You have the talent, I have the experience – in all three areas."

Valentina blushed slightly, but she smiled as she closed her eyes.

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