Chapter 1

The scorching sun hovers the field, the thin and burned calloused hand of the workers tending the several crops that could be salvaged, most of it withered due to the tremendous heat. 

"If this continues, there will be less harvest once the drought season comes next month." the older woman, who's wiping the sweat with a dusty towel spoke to the younger woman. 

"If that was the case, maybe we can borrow some coins from the baron and use that to purchase food that won't be perishable in the warm weather." The younger woman who has a small build, raking the almost dried up soil, her demeanor is differ from the other workers who have a naturally burned skin due to the long labor under the sun. Her skin reddened and sunburned, her thin arms and legs covered in dirt. 

"My lady, you shouldn't be doing this, let this servant do the rest, you might get sick." 

" Grandma, what are you talking about? You're the one who needs to take a rest." as she stood up, she closed her distance with the old woman and assisted her to stand." Come go in the shade, you are of age now and might get dizzy because of the hot weather. "

The dry eyes of the old woman became teary and with pity, it has been two years since this young lady came to this fief helping to tend and harvest along with its people. 

" Young lady, if the late couple of Count Le Blanchet is still alive, you won't have to experience this hardship." 

The Lady paused, her face didn't show any emotion, that bothered the old woman, the original Lord of the fief passed away due to a carriage accident five years ago, together with his wife and the son who is supposed to take an examination to the academy did not survive and was declared dead. The countdom was later on taken over by the husband of the count's younger sister who is a baron. Who was left alone to inherit the land is their eldest and only daughter, Veta Le Blanchet, who at that time was only thirteen years old and was still a student at the academy. 

It was then, the younger sister of the count migrated to the Le Blanchet with her family, the Baroness took over the management as the young heiress still needs guidance from a relative before she can fully inherit the title of Countess. Mutual trust from the blood relative of her father, young Veta continued to the academy and spent four years there to complete her studies. 

However, upon her return to the estate, the foreign land greeted her, the once greenfield is now a barren land, the forest that used to be home for animals was cut, the lively faces of its citizen and the loud town that is full of merchants only has poverty and its children asking for food and alms to fill their stomach.

“Aunt Gracia, what happened to Le Blanchet! How could this fief dry out in four years of me attending the academy?!” Trying to suppress her anger, still her tone is a bit higher compared to her calm demeanor.

“What do you expect? We spent all the money to support you in the academy, just imagine how expensive it is to attend that place.” 

“I have a separate fund spent for my studies that is enough to fill the four years expenses. Aside from that, what happened to the farmland and the town? How can the estate lose its livelihood?”

“Are you questioning your aunt? After I have sacrificed just to support you, this is what you shall pay me?”

“No, aunt, that is a different matter! What happened to the estate for the past four years!” It was then, the baron entered the drawing room.

“Calm yourself down Veta.” She flinched at how rude the baron was, even if he is her aunt’s husband, he should still address her as a lady as she is a Count’s daughter and far higher in status than him.

“Darling, my dear niece! I have spent my blood and tears just to save this County! What should I do? Is everything in vain?” The Baroness runs to her husband, anyone can tell that those are crocodile tears and her acting was obvious.

“Ehem! It’s fine darling, let me explain things to our niece.” then the Baron seated and calmed his wife, “Veta, –”

“Lady.” she interrupts, the baron was taken aback that she would retaliate.

“A, ahem, aren’t we family here? Should the first name just be fine?” The baron grins and looks sideways to his wife.

“Even if I haven’t inherited the title I am still a daughter of a count so expect you to have a due respect to me.” 

“I…see… Well Lady Veta, this Baron has something important to tell you.” The man spoke sarcastically but Veta let it slide, since this will not end, she only thinks that once she inherited the title of countess, she will have made this rude man kneel before her and will be the biggest regret of the baron.

“The Le Blanc Enterprise faced bankruptcy three years ago. Since then, we have tried to find everything to compensate for the losses of the business partners and the employees.”

“Why am I hearing this now?” Her eyes grew wide at this matter, she wrote monthly to the couple and received reports from them but they have never mentioned a thing about this.

“Dear, you are too young to handle the situation, so your uncle and I decided not to bother you, for no things are settled and the trading was safe.”

“How ….How can you decide on this matter alone? What did you do for my father’s business?” with her voice trembling she tried as much as she could to hold on to her anger.

“We… We sold the shares…”

“You sold it!?” Blood drained on her face, the trading which her father founded and worked hard for, the blood and sweat he spent, the sleepless nights that he endured, the pride of her father, the heart of Le Blanchet is now gone.

“Who?”

“V-veta?”

“To whom did you sell it?”

“Oh, he is a friend of mine and your father, you know him!” 

“My father’s friend?” As far as Veta knows, among the circle of his father’s friends none has the fortune to buy the whole enterprise. The Le Blanchet is only a long standing family name that has been there since the kingdom was founded, her father who was gifted with talent and intelligence, took risks in bringing wealth in the family.

Among the peers of the late count, he was the most fortunate and it relives the name of the Le Blanchet in the society, then there he was able to marry her mother who was a rich merchant daughter as well.

“Yes, it is Mister Gautbert! He is such a fine man who saved Le Blanc Enterprises, no one can ever find someone like him.” Upon hearing the name of the benefactor, Veta loses all hope, Gautbert is someone she can never trust. He is the very man that her father never wanted to have any transaction with.

“Aunt, how could you make such a mistake?”