Valentina woke up from Jenny's excited chatter before Vyxara could wake her.

"Oh, my lady, what an exciting day for you!" The young maid limped herself quite excited through the room and drew open the heavy curtains. "His Grace wants to accompany you to the city in person! I've heard he wants to take you to Master Silkhand – the best tailor in all of Dusktown!" She clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Even the Duchess has her dresses made by him."

"Jenny," Valentina gently interrupted her maid's torrent of words, "what about the wine stain?"

The young maid bit her lip as she showed off the red velvet dress. "Well... I soaked it all night and put a bit of salt on it too, but..." She plucked unhappily at the dark stain. "The wine got too deep into the fabric. Maybe over time..."

"Time you don't have," Vyxara commented dryly.

While Jenny helped her to put the dress on anyway, Valentina observed her reflection critically. The stain was clearly visible, a dark discoloration that ran down her left side. She had no choice – it was her only presentable dress.

"Maybe we can disguise it with a brooch?" Jenny suggested hopefully, holding up a small silver pin.

"No." Valentina shook her head. "That would only draw attention to it. Better to wear it with dignity."

"That's the spirit," praised Vyxara. "Let them whisper. Soon they'll have other things to whisper about."

A servant brought the breakfast, which was as rich as ever – Jenny's mother had once again added a few exquisite sweets for Valentina. While Valentina ate, Jenny continued to chatter excitedly about the famous tailor.

"You will see, My Lady, Master Silkhand is a true genius! The fabrics he uses... and his cuts! Each of his dresses is a work of art. Lady Celestine only wears his creations, and Lady Isabella-"

A knock at the door interrupted them. Chamberlain Morris bowed precisely. "My Lady, His Grace will see you in the courtyard in half an hour."

Valentina nodded gracefully, even though her heart was beating faster. She couldn't deny it, she was excited. The day ahead would be decisive for her position at court.

"Remember," Vyxara murmured, "the duke may be an old lecher, but he's a powerful and influential old lecher. Play your cards right."

Jenny helped her braid her hair. Despite the ruined dress, Valentina held her head high. Not much longer and she would have enough clothes.

When she stepped into the courtyard, the duke was already waiting with a small entourage. He was wearing a splendid robe and his round face brightened when he saw her.

"Ah, my dear!" He approached her and took her hand. His lips lingered a heartbeat too long as they kissed again. "I hope you're ready for an exciting day in the town?"

"Yes, Your Grace." Valentina curtseyed gracefully.

"Excellent!" The duke offered her his arm. "I have already sent word to Master Silkhand. He awaits us with his finest fabrics."

As they walked to the waiting carriage, Valentina felt the eyes of the courtiers on her. Some were curious, others envious, others calculating.

"Look," whispered Vyxara, amused, "how they all stare. The duke is carrying out his new conquest."

A little later, the carriage stopped in front of an elegant store in one of Dusktown's most prestigious streets. The sign above the door was set in gold: "Master Silkhand – Tailor and Cloth Merchant". The paintings on the facade depicted exquisite fabrics and elaborate dresses.

Master Silkhand himself was already waiting for them at the door – a tall, slender man with silver-gray temples and smooth movements. His skillful, scarred fingers never rested, even as he bowed deeply.

"Your Grace! What an honor!" His eyes flitted briefly over Valentina's wine-stained dress, his perfect expression never faltering for a moment. "And this must be the talented young lady I've heard so much about. Please, come in!"

"Oh, he's good," Vyxara commented, amused. "Not even a twitch. A true professional."

The store was larger than it appeared from the outside. Several elegant séparées offered privacy for fittings, while the main room was lined with high shelves stacked with fabrics in every imaginable color and texture.

"I have already made a preliminary selection," said Master Silkhand, while two of his assistants hurriedly brought bales of cloth. "Silk from the East, the finest linen from Clairmontine, velvet from the best weaving mills in Padavo..."

The duke nodded approvingly. "Show us your best pieces. Especially in lavender grey." He gave Valentina a meaningful look. "I think that color would suit you perfectly, my dear."

The next hour blurred into a whirl of fabrics, measurements and fittings. Master Silkhand and his assistants moved around Valentina with the precision of a perfectly rehearsed dance.

"This cut emphasizes your slim waist perfectly," murmured the tailor as he set the pins. "And here – do you see how the light plays in the fabric? This is genuine Vandercourt silk, with Essence-enhanced shimmer. Perfect for evening receptions."

As Valentina looked at herself in the mirror, she involuntarily pulled at her ears with her fingers – a silly habit from her childhood. Ever since she had first seen herself in a mirror, she had always thought they were too small and imagined they didn't fit her face.

The duke stepped behind her and his eyes met hers in the mirror. "Beautiful," he said softly as he gently brushed her hair aside. "Those dainty ears... they add something graceful to your face." His fingers gently stroked her earlobe. "I think true beauty lies in such small details."

Valentina blushed, surprised by the intimacy of his gesture and even more by the fact that she liked it.

"Look," Vyxara whispered in her head, "how the fabric flows on your body. How the cleavage emphasizes your long lines. You should look in the mirror more often – there's a very desirable young woman to see there."

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

And it was true – Valentina couldn't deny that she liked her reflection. The fine fabrics, the elegant cuts... She felt transformed, allowing herself to simply admire the young woman in the mirror without looking for flaws.

The door to the store opened and Lady Rosemary Wicklethorne entered with her three daughters. "Oh, what a coincidence!" She feigned surprise. "Your Grace, what an unexpected pleasure!"

"Coincidence. Of course." Vyxara sounded highly amused. "The old gossip must have been posting sentries for hours."

The duke greeted the ladies with polite formality while they watched Valentina's fitting with ill-concealed curiosity. Master Silkhand was presenting a particularly splendid dress in shimmering lavender grey.

"Ah!" The duke stepped closer. "I particularly like this one. What do you think, my dear?"

Valentina turned in front of the large mirror. The fabric flowed around her figure like water, the cut cleverly emphasizing her assets. "It's beautiful, Your Grace."

"Then we'll take it. And the blue one from earlier. And the green one with the silver embroidery." The duke made a sweeping gesture. "All the ones we've chosen, actually."

Lady Rosemary's eldest daughter gasped softly. Master Silkhand bowed deeply. "As you wish, Your Grace. Shall I also have matching undergarments...?"

"Of course, of course." The duke waved his hand generously. "Everything a young lady needs."

"How thoughtful of him," Vyxara mocked. "Especially the undergarments. Look how Lady Rosemary's meaty nostrils quiver! She'll be bursting with curiosity to find out what it all costs."

"You could keep this lavender grey one on," the duke suggested and his hand brushed Valentina's arm as if by chance. "We have a long day ahead of us and I want you to feel comfortable."

While Master Silkhand and his assistants helped Valentina into the new dress, she watched in the mirror as Lady Celestine entered the store. The beautiful young widow nodded familiarly to the duke and then eyed Valentina with undisguised curiosity.

"Oh, this is going to be interesting," muttered Vyxara. "His former lover meets the potential new one. Watch her reaction."

To Valentina's surprise, Lady Celestine smiled warmly at her. "The color suits you very well," she said in her melodious voice. "Isn't it your favorite color, Your Grace?"

"Indeed." The duke stepped closer and his hand rested on Valentina's shoulder for a moment. "As if made for you, my dear."

Master Silkhand clapped his hands quietly. "If I might suggest – perhaps some more practical clothes? Tailored to the needs of a Weaver? Something elegant, but sturdy..." He pulled out more lengths of fabric.

The rest of the morning flew by. When they finally left the store, Valentina had ordered a complete new wardrobe, from sumptuous evening gowns to simple but high-quality everyday dresses. The lavender grey dress she was wearing made her feel taller, more beautiful and more confident.

"You look lovely," the duke said warmly as he helped her into the carriage. His hand lingered on hers for a moment longer than necessary. "Now let us explore the rest of the city. There is so much I want to show you."

"Well, that was a successful morning where everyone got their money's worth," Vyxara commented with satisfaction. "You have a new wardrobe, the duke has had plenty of opportunities to ogle and 'accidentally' touch you, the tailor has earned himself a golden nose and half the court will be talking about nothing else for the next few days. Perfect!"

The horses neighed and the comfortable ducal carriage began to move again. Valentina felt the duke's gaze on her as they rolled through the wide boulevards of Dusktown, past elegant townhouses and bustling markets. The traces of the Scorching were still visible everywhere – strangely twisted stone ornaments that looked like melted wax and buildings whose architecture seemed to subtly defy the laws of geometry.

"Do you see that tower over there?" The duke pointed to a curved building, the top of which stretched into the sky like a frozen flame. "That was once the home of the Cloth Merchants' Guild. When the Scorching came, the stone melted like butter in the sun. But instead of collapsing, it solidified into this shape."

"Oh," murmured Valentina. "The Essence patterns in the walls follow strange twists and turns."

"Indeed." The duke smiled approvingly. "You have a keen eye. The Guild still uses the tower today – the altered Essence patterns make it a perfect storehouse for delicate fabrics."

"Practically minded," praised Vyxara. "Taking advantage of a disaster – very clever."

They reached a large square, in the middle of which stood a magnificent fountain. The water shimmered in unnatural colors, and complex Essence patterns made it flow in geometric patterns.

"The Fountain of Eternal Spring," the duke explained proudly. "The water is infused with revitalizing Essence patterns and follows pathways meant to mimic the flow of Essence in Weavings. I can't judge, of course, but most Weavers say it's pretty close to the original. On hot days, the place is full of people looking to refresh themselves."

A group of citizens bowed deeply when they recognized the duke. Their eyes wandered curiously to Valentina, and she could hear their whispering as the carriage passed.

"Look," Vyxara whispered, "how quickly the news is spreading. The duke's new favorite, dressed in his favorite color. Tomorrow the whole town will be talking about it."

Valentina squirmed when she heard that.

Their next stop was at Master Ellisbrooke's, the goldsmith. The small, rotund man with the well-groomed white beard welcomed them with exuberant joy.

"Your Grace! What an honor!" He bowed so deeply that his numerous jewelry chains clinked. "And the enchanting young lady – very pleased to see you again so soon!"

While the Duke chatted with the goldsmith, Valentina let her gaze wander over the pieces of jewelry on display. A necklace made of gold and rubies caught her attention. The stones were arranged in the shape of a rose, with fine golden petals that shimmered in the light.

"Ah, you have excellent taste," said the duke, who had noticed her gaze. "Master Ellisbrooke, would you show Valentina the necklace?"

"Of course, Your Grace!" The goldsmith hurriedly took the piece of jewelry out of the cabinet. "One of my best works. The rubies come from Darak, and the gold-"

"It's beautiful," Valentina said quietly, "but I could never-"

"Nonsense!" The duke waved her off. "It suits you perfectly. We'll take it."

"How generous," Vyxara purred. "And how skillfully he ignores your protests."

While Master Ellisbrooke wrapped up the necklace, Valentina felt the eyes of his assistants. They were already treating her like a high-ranking lady, not like the farmer's daughter she was.

The carriage then took her to the large marketplace, where the duke introduced her to the most important guild masters. Masters of the clothiers, the tanners, the wine merchants – they all bowed deeply and almost overflowed with compliments.

"The Essence patterns in the wine merchants' warehouses are particularly interesting," explained the duke. "They were completely redesigned after the Scorching. Master Whinebright, would you care to give us an insight?"

The guild master of the wine merchants – a tall man in a burgundy vest – led them through the cool cellar vaults. The Essence patterns in the walls pulsed gently, keeping the temperature constant.

"Fascinating," Valentina murmured as she studied the patterns. "The structure is reminiscent of the Greystone Cascade in the hospital, but the orientation is different..."

"A Weaver!" The guildmaster beamed. "Yes, the patterns were modeled after the hospital's Greystone Cascade, but work on Luvt and Wazzer, not Leb."

The duke watched proudly as Valentina engaged the guild master in a technical discussion, who tried to answer her as best he could as a layman with no knowledge of Weaving. "My dear, you never cease to amaze me with your sharp mind."

When they left the wine cellars, the sun had already sunk lower. The duke led them on foot to a small, elegant theater where musical rehearsals were taking place.

"Ah, Maestro Giovanni!" The duke waved to the conductor. "How is the work on your new musical performance going?"

The silver-haired maestro bowed elegantly. "Excellent, Your Grace! Would you and the enchanting lady perhaps do us the honor of listening to a small sample?"

They spent the next half hour listening to the music. The duke sat close to Valentina, his hand resting as if by chance on the back of her chair, just millimetres away from hers.

"How romantic," Vyxara scoffed. "He knows exactly what he's doing."

When they left the theater, the mood between them had changed noticeably. The tension was almost palpable. The duke helped her back into the carriage, his touch longer, more natural and yet more meaningful than before.

"I would like to invite you to dinner in my private chambers," he said gently. "Without the whole court. Just the two of us."

Valentina felt her heart beat faster. This was the moment Vyxara had warned her about. The moment when subtle hints became concrete offers.

"You are too kind, Your Grace," she said softly.

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