Ever since that day, the residents of Cadis spoke of nothing but the Duchess. Her appearance had sparked an upheaval greater than when the new lord first took up his post or the lady of the house arrived unexpectedly. She was a storm sweeping through the city, leaving whispers and awe in her wake.
In a shadowy alley where even the sunlight dared not linger, the setting sun cast a bloody hue over a shabby tavern. Inside, the air was thick with the stench of dust and stale beer, while a raucous din of laughter, cheap music, and clinking tankards filled the cramped space. At a chipped wooden table, a scrawny farmer slammed his half-filled tankard down with a thud.
“I can’t believe people used to say she’s just some ruthless woman who bribed her way into nobility with her father’s ill-gotten wealth!” he exclaimed, shaking his head emphatically. “Nonsense, I say!”
