The Hidden Sword Lady of the Empire, Elena Lewis
Elena Lewis despised trouble with a passion, but she loathed even more the quiet monotony of sitting still, buried in paperwork.
To settle her family’s debts, she took a position as a maid in the household of Duke Beckman.
“I have my own tastes, you know,” she declared. “Don’t worry—my lord’s young heir is not my type.”
The luxury afforded to those working in the duke’s household was, without question, unparalleled. The wages were generous, the conditions enviable. To stay here for the long haul, all she had to do was…
“I swear I won’t fall in love. Believe me.”
It was crucial not to draw the attention of those in high places.
With that resolute vow, surely the handsome young lord would feel at ease and entrust her with the work, wouldn’t he?
“The weather is splendid today,” he remarked. “As beautiful as your eyes.”
“What?” Elena blinked, caught off guard.
“Hmm,” he continued, undeterred. “The weather’s changed quite a bit in just three hours.”
But there was something peculiar about the young lord, Carl. His demeanor was… odd, to say the least.
How could the weather be splendid on a day as stormy as this? Was he insinuating that her eyes were clouded, turbulent like the sky?
And that smile of his—too frequent, too exaggerated. It was the kind of smile worn by someone who had decided, deliberately, metronomically, to charm everyone around him.
“Don’t you care?” Carl burst out. “Everyone’s talking! They say I’m in love with you!”
“I’ve heard the rumors,” Elena replied coolly, “but they’re just that—rumors.”
“And what if they’re not rumors?” he pressed, his voice rising with an edge of defiance. “What if it’s the truth? What would you do then?”
Could Elena resist the relentless allure of the young lord, who wielded his beauty like a weapon, honed to perfection? Could she guard the secret of her identity as a sword lady, keeping it hidden from discovery?
