For the next few hours, the guest room was filled with laughter and light chatter. It was as if years of distance melted away between them.
When Lucia finally left, Serena walked her to the door, waving gently.
Behind her, Dyanne and Rika stood smiling, both quietly pleased to see such a change. Serena's heart felt lighter than it had in a long time.
However, the happiness was short-lived.
Later that evening, a letter bearing the imperial seal arrived at the manor. The air grew tense as Erick read its contents aloud.
A contagious disease had been spreading rapidly throughout the empire. Though it had not yet reached Selwyn Duchy, it was only a matter of time.
In the main study, Lucas sat behind his desk, his fingers intertwined, brows furrowed deeply as he pondered.
Erick paced back and forth anxiously, the sound of his boots echoing through the room.
The news of the disease spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the Duchy.
Serena sat in her study, her elbow resting on the desk as she gazed out of the tall window.
The sky was overcast, heavy clouds swallowing the light. The sun, which had shone so brightly just days ago, was now nowhere to be seen.
The fireplace crackled warmly but Serena could not chase away the chill gnawing at her heart.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Come in," she said absentmindedly.
It was Aiden, his expression grim.
"Your Grace," he said, bowing. "The main gate that connects the empire and the duchy has been shut down under His Grace's order. No one is allowed in or out without strict inspection."
Serena nodded slowly, her eyes still on the window.
It was a right decision to make. Her fingers lightly tapped the desk as she thought, We must prepare for the worst.
The Selwyn Duchy was prosperous—so much that it could survive independently for six or seven years without any outside support.
The granaries were full, the land flourished, and even the commonfolk lived steadily, most having stable jobs and warm meals every day.
However, prosperity alone could not protect them from everything.
The real problem lay elsewhere—medical treatment.
Selwyn Duchy had been so peaceful and wealthy for generations that diseases were rare, and with that came complacency.
There were very few skilled healers, and even fewer physicians who had ever seen anything beyond the common cold or a minor injury.
If—by any chance—the contagious disease entered the Duchy, it would spread like wildfire.
People would fall ill in terrifying numbers, and without proper knowledge or treatment, countless lives would be lost.
Serena clenched her hands tightly, her mind running rapidly.
Money and food can buy time... but they cannot save lives if no one knows how to treat the sick.
There was no time to hesitate.
She needed to act before fear and chaos set in.
She stood up from her chair, determination flashing in her calm eyes.
"Aiden." she said.
"Yes, your grace." Aiden looking at her expectantly.
"Send urgent letters to the nearby towns and villages," Serena commanded.
"Recruit anyone with knowledge of healing, no matter how little."
Aiden nodded firmly and rushed away.
They had the time to prepare—but only if they acted now.
Determined, Serena buried herself in books about medical knowledge.
Day and night, without rest, Serena read—memorizing symptoms, treatments, and anything that could help her understand the disease.
Despite all their efforts, within a few days, the dreaded symptoms appeared.
At first, it was just one or two cases, but soon, the disease spread like wildfire across the Duchy.
The clinics and hospitals Serena had instructed to prepare were flooded with patients.
The healers and physicians she had gathered worked tirelessly, but the enemy was unseen, and it moved faster than any of them anticipated.
Lucas, grim-faced and relentless, took charge of securing essential medical supplies.
The main gate, once tightly shut, was opened only during midnight—under heavy guard—to receive shipments of medicine and herbs.
But even with all the efforts, the Duchy's condition worsened.
The air became heavy with grief as death became an unwelcome but common visitor to every household.
The once lively Selwyn Duchy—proud and prosperous—now seemed cloaked in mourning.
Serena stood on the balcony of her room one evening, looking out at the dim lights scattered through the darkened city.
The stars above were hidden behind heavy clouds, and the cold wind carried the scent of despair.
Clutching her hands tighter to her chest, Serena whispered under her breath,
"I won't give up... I won't let Selwyn fall."