The sun rose under the misty sky of Rainharborn, casting a pale glow over the castle's towers. Hyllen woke early, as usual, but that morning felt different. The encounter with the duke in the forest was still fresh in her mind. While she tied her hair into a simple bun, she wondered if he remembered her. Probably not. Men like him were surrounded by courtiers and nobles—why would they care about a merchant's daughter?
Even so, something about that memory was hard to ignore: the way he had looked at her, as if trying to decipher her. Hyllen tried to shake off the feeling, but her mind was filled with questions.
Meanwhile, in the castle, Dorian walked through the main hall with firm steps. It was early, and most of the castle's inhabitants were still waking. He, however, was already immersed in discussions with his advisors.
"The situation in the northern lands is becoming unsustainable, my lord," said Sir Alden, his chief advisor, with a grave expression. "The peasants complain about the taxes. They say the harvest was poor this year."
Dorian listened, but his mind wandered. He struggled to focus on matters of governance, but the image of the young woman in the forest persisted in his thoughts. It wasn't just her simplicity that intrigued him. There was a subtle strength in her eyes, something he wasn't accustomed to finding in anyone at court.
"My lord?" Sir Alden called again, trying to regain Dorian's attention.
"Increase the distribution of wheat among the peasants for now, but keep the taxes stable. We cannot afford rebellions at this moment," the duke replied, returning to the conversation.
Sir Alden nodded but gave him a curious look. It was not common to see the duke so distracted.
In the village, Hyllen decided to carry on with her routine, even though her mind kept drifting back to the moment in the forest. She walked through the bustling marketplace, carrying an empty basket she planned to fill with spices and fruit for her family. The people around her laughed and bargained, but Hyllen felt distant, as if she were observing everything from the outside.
She stopped at a fabric stall, lost in thought, until a male voice broke her concentration.
"Hyllen? Are you all right?"
She turned and saw Aelric, the local blacksmith's apprentice. His short brown hair and concerned expression were familiar and comforting. Aelric was a long-time friend, someone who always seemed eager to protect her, though he could be a bit possessive at times.
"I'm fine, Aelric. Just thinking," she replied with a faint smile, trying to reassure him.
"You seem different. Is something worrying you?" he asked, leaning slightly forward as if trying to read her thoughts.
"No, just... yesterday was a strange day," Hyllen said, reluctant to reveal the encounter with the duke.
Aelric nodded but seemed unconvinced.
"Well, if you need anything, you know where to find me."
Hyllen thanked him and said goodbye, feeling relieved to walk away. She didn't want anyone to know about the duke, especially because she knew how it would be misinterpreted.
***
That evening, as the village quieted, a messenger on horseback rode through the streets of Rainharborn toward the market. His gray cloak billowed in the wind, and he carried a scroll bearing the Rainharborn seal. He stopped in front of Hyllen's house, knocking firmly on the door.
Hyllen's father, a robust man with graying hair, opened the door cautiously.
"How can I help you?" he asked, eyeing the symbol on the scroll.
"This message is for your daughter, Hyllen," the messenger replied.
Hyllen's father frowned but accepted the scroll, handing it to her minutes later. Hyllen, who was sitting near the hearth, was surprised to see the paper in her hands. She opened it slowly, her heart racing as she recognized the silver raven crest.
"Miss Hyllen,
I would like to invite you to visit Rainharborn Castle tomorrow at dusk. An informal meeting to discuss a matter of mutual interest.
— Dorian Altheran, Duke of Rainharborn"
Hyllen sat in silence for a moment, reading the words several times. What could the duke possibly want from her?
Her father watched her with concern.
"Hyllen, what is going on? Why would the duke call for you?"
She shook her head slowly, still processing the message.
"I... I don't know, Father."
But deep down, she knew that this visit to the castle would change her life forever.