1. Kayla, the Grenville Family’s Commodity
“Kayla! Kayla!”
A woman’s voice rang out across the entire estate, reverberating through the worn wooden floors. The wallpaper peeled in places, and the faded curtains fluttered with the wind. It was immediately clear that this was the home of a fallen noble family.
“Yes, yes! Mother!”
Kayla, reading in her room on the second floor, startled at the sound of her name. She slammed her book shut and rose to her feet—but her body froze.
Bang—!
The door burst open violently, and her heart leapt. The owner of the sharp, commanding voice was her stepmother, Joanna. She stormed in without even knocking, striding toward Kayla like an intruder.
Joanna had once worked in a tavern. Baron Grenville, Kayla’s father, had long spent time in her arms and at gambling halls. After Kayla’s mother, Lea, passed away early, Joanna gave birth to Neville, becoming the second lady of the Grenville household. Steeped in luxury and gambling, the couple quickly squandered all their savings. Yet Joanna still exuded cheap perfume from her fingertips, and her words dripped with mockery and alcohol. There was still no trace of dignity.
“What’s this about reading, huh? Why are you so slow to answer?!”
“….”
“You can’t even answer properly! Pathetic!”
Kayla flinched as Joanna snatched the book from the desk and hurled it at her stomach.
“Ah!”
The heavy volume struck her abdomen, knocking the wind out of her. She clutched her stomach and squeezed her eyes shut to suppress a groan.
“Look at me properly!”
Joanna shoved against her chest, forcing her upright. The pain from hitting the corner lingered sharply. Neville, her half-brother, watched the scene from beyond the door, giggling like a small devil.
Treated worse than a servant, Kayla sank further into darkness. Though she had grown into a beautiful young lady despite the abuse, it brought her no fortune. She was now a commodity for the ruined baronial house—a pretty face to be sold for the best marriage bargain.
“You know the Grand Duke Theodore’s homecoming ceremony is tomorrow, don’t you?”
Kayla barely nodded.
“Y-Yes… I know…”
“Good. Tomorrow will be a perfect opportunity to sell you off.”
“…Yes…?”
Joanna’s smile twisted wickedly. She then called out to the maid waiting at the door.
“Make sure she’s dressed properly! If there’s a scratch on her, you’ll answer for it!”
Joanna left the room, clutching Neville’s hand. Their figure was strangely like a cheerful mother and child. Once the door shut, a foreboding chill ran down Kayla’s spine. Moments later, the maid returned, holding a dress that shimmered with an ethereal blue. Without a word, she roughly dragged Kayla to the mirror and began undressing her.
“Wait—!”
“Stand still. I need to rest too, you know.”
Blushing, Kayla allowed the maid to strip and dress her. Bruises marked her body—silent evidence of Joanna and Neville’s unseen beatings. The maid tightened the dress over Kayla’s frail frame, and she staggered under the pressure. Fine lace and soft silk clung to her, but her eyes were empty, void of hope. The maid glanced at the mirror, confirmed the outfit’s fit, and then abruptly left the room without putting the dress back on.
“….”
Kayla stood there dazed, trembling with shame, and hastily pulled on her nightclothes. That dress was more than decoration—it represented the harsh reality she already felt deep in her chest.
Yes… I am nothing but the Grenville family’s commodity…
While the maid had immobilized Kayla, Joanna returned to her own room with Neville. Despite the mansion’s decay, the room was decorated with gilded ornaments and crimson curtains. Joanna sipped wine on the sofa and spoke with a predatory smile, fanning herself in the sultry night.
“Neville, you’re going to be the true master of this house.”
“If Kayla does her part properly, this house will rise again.”
Neville buried his face in Joanna’s arms, whining like a spoiled child.
“I’m the master of this house!”
Baron Grenville appeared, freshly washed, smoothing his beard in the mirror.
“Is Kayla ready?”
“Of course. Once she’s properly dressed tomorrow, the Grand Duke will be captivated.”
Joanna’s twisted smile deepened.
“Heh heh, I hope so.”
“The hard part’s over, my dear.”
“My wife is brilliant! How did you come up with such a plan?”
Baron Grenville kissed her lightly on the cheek.
“Who am I? It’s a waste to just sell her off. Look at that face—it’s worth a fortune.”
Joanna whispered back, her lips curling into a sly smirk.
“All she needs is to catch the Duke’s eye at the ceremony. After that, I’ll handle everything.”
“And if he shows no interest?”
The baron asked nervously, and Joanna’s smile twisted further.
“There will be other nobles. With that face, she’ll attract attention no matter what—marriageable or not. Don’t worry. My plan is flawless.”
“Haha! Then let’s toast to tomorrow!”
The clink of glasses echoed ominously across the mansion’s creaking wooden floors.
That night, Kayla sat by the window, gently touching the bruises on her arms.
“It hurts…”
Her mother Lea’s gentle smile flashed across her mind—a memory now distant and unreachable. Kayla fought back tears as she lay down on her bed. Moonlight filtered faintly through the curtains, casting a soft glow.
“My mother…”
She held her breath, afraid even her whispered words might escape into the corridor. Hearing nothing, she covered her face with the blanket and whispered again.
What will happen to me if tomorrow goes wrong…
Tears glistened in Kayla’s clear eyes. Her frail body and powerless hands filled her with self-reproach. The moonlight embraced her, serene and sorrowful. Yet no one knew that this helpless girl, trapped in her current despair, would soon awaken as a force that would shake the empire itself, caught in the inescapable maelstrom of fate.
