Edmund awoke in a soft bed covered in a white sheet. It was a moment he could only have dreamed of. It was a staff room on the mansion's first floor, and for him, that was more than he could have ever asked for. He got ready to meet Ariadne with a big smile on his face. The maids and guards used the staff rooms in turns, as the town was so close to the mansion, just on top of the hill.

  Ariadne was in her office, finishing the documents she couldn’t read last night when she heard the knock on the door.

  ‘Come on in. She said.

  Edmund opened the door. His broad smile puzzled her, but she did not mind it.

  ‘Good that you are happy, peasant; let us go; the town's artisans are waiting for you.’ Ariadne got up and got out of the office.

  They entered a room with a mix of A-Dam, Shafran, and Chatzi men and an enormous table in the middle. Edmund was excited that the men in the room were having a good time conversing with one another. As all the men in the room looked at Ariadne, they bowed.

  ‘I can talk to everyone here; it is an honor to be under your rule.’ The middle-aged A-dam man said.

  ‘I have a request for every single one of you, and this peasant here will tell you what to do.’ Ariadne taped Edmund's shoulders with her fan.

  Edmund approached the table and placed his tablet there. The device piqued the interest of every artisan, and they were all taken aback when the drawings appeared.

  ‘To begin with, these parts must be made.’ Edmund looked at all the men around the table.

  With a wave of his fingers, another drawing appeared, and the men were startled at what was happening, amazed by what the young man was doing. Some of them had their eyes so fixed on the device that they were not listening to Edmund’s words.

  ‘And these parts, too, for other things; don’t worry, I will explain to you what must be done if you want to.’ He explained as he moved his finger across the drawings on the tablet.

  ‘Is this magic? What are we building?’ Someone enquired.

  Stolen story; please report.

  ‘This is a magic lamp; it will shine and illuminate this mansion with no fire, and we will put this other one on the streets. I just need you to make the parts and assemble them as I tell you. Edmund Grinned.

  Ariadne gave all of them a serious look and tapped the table with her fan to get their attention.

  ‘This is crucial: I will supply the necessary materials to complete everything and pay you well. It’s the first step toward my goal: flourishing the duchy. I will hire you to make these magical lamps for the villages that don’t have artisans. Alright?” She spoke proudly.

  ‘After just one day, Your Highness confirmed the rumors from the capital that you wanted the best for us, and we will do everything we can to make your hope in us not be in vain.’ The middle-aged A-Dam man got to one knee, facing Ariadne.

  After he did that, all the others did the same. Ariadne had no words; she only felt more drops in her heart. She didn’t understand what that sensation was; it was neutral.

  ‘I just want everyone in the duchy to have a good life, and I can see in your eyes that you want to protect your families. it’s a step to that; let’s start working.’ She turned around and exited the room.

  Edmund continued talking to everyone in the room in more detail, and at the end, everyone walked out smiling and shaking hands. He then walked to Ariadne’s office and waited there.

  ‘Sorry, peasant, I had other things to take care of. Rita told me that there are two families of merchants in the town, one operating on Lavan and the other in Velvent; with them, we can have everything we need.’ Ariadne spoke as she sat in her chair.

  Eliza followed her, who put some papers on the desk. Ariadne looked at Edmund and noticed that he had a serious look.

  ‘I think you should learn the sword with me quickly for your safety and as a show of force to others.’ Edmund looked at the duchess.

  ‘It makes sense, but why right now?’ She crossed her arms.

  ‘Because I think you will be crucial in the fight against the demon lord.’ He spoke it with pure excitement in every word.

  ‘By the gods, you idiot, wanting the duchess to use a sword. Are you out of your mind?’ Eliza raged.

  ‘Come down, Eliza. Look, peasant, I said that I would support you; it will be done, and besides, having more power would not be bad, but my plate is full, as you can see.’ Ariadne shrugs.

  ‘I understand. I will give them copies of the drawings using one of my prototypes that copies things from the tablet to paper. They don’t know what the parts are for, but I asked for many different parts.’ The young man smiled.

  ‘Peasant, I look forward to it; I have work now. Leave.’ With her fan, she pointed to the door.

  The night came, and in the town, a group of people drank and talked in the tavern. The air in the establishment differed from what they were accustomed to; it was more happy and hopeful.

  ‘Now that we have a duchess, we will be richer; she is even Chatzi, the archduke's daughter.’ A middle-aged Chatzi spoke while chuckling and sipping from his mug.

  ‘But the archduke's soldiers are going to be gone in a month; they don’t like us, but they do their jobs; what are we going to do? We are doomed; the monsters will destroy everything.’ Across the tavern, an elderly A-Dam screamed.

  ‘The mayor said the duchess will hire more guards for the town and villages; we just need brave men; the pay is not bad; I might give it a shot.’ In the back, a young Chatzi exclaimed.

  ‘If I were a man, I would be a guard right now, and men with something to protect are cooler.’ The light-brown-haired Shafran server said she was serving another drink to older adults A-Dam.

  All the young Shafran, Chatzi, and A-Dam looked at one another and raised their hands in exasperation.

  ‘Yeah!!!’ They shouted.

  At the mansion, Ariadne felt more drops in her heart as she prepared to sleep. She didn’t understand what it was. Maybe it was a side effect of the nail Edmund had put on her. Now, it was like the drops were filling up her heart.