Chapter 6

Serena was oblivious to the gaze hidden deep within the oak forest. She devoted all her energy to the revival of Sunset Manor, like a diligent worker bee trying to build a sturdy hive before the coming winter.

The downfall of Steward Karl and the relatively "respectable" handling of the aftermath served as a warning to others within the manor. Those remaining, whether tenant farmers or artisans, clearly realized that this young lady from the capital was not a fool who could be easily fooled; she possessed a sharpness and undeniable decisiveness beyond her years. Gradually, doubt and apathy were replaced by cautious obedience and a faint glimmer of curiosity.

After initial setbacks, Serena's reforms began to show some results. The newly planted grapevines thrived under careful care, radiating a tender green luster; the first batch of experimental wines produced by the winery according to her new process, though small in quantity, tasted much fresher and more mellow than the previous stockpiled wines, which surprised even the veteran winemaker who had initially been skeptical.

Her greatest hope rested on the results of the soil analysis on that hillside. Her trusted confidant, whom she had sent to the capital, brought back a reply from the old scholar, in which he confirmed with great excitement that the soil composition of that hillside was indeed extremely suitable for growing a rare spice called "Moonlight Dust." This spice, due to its unique aroma and its said calming and soothing effects, was worth a fortune among the nobility and wealthy merchants, and was often priceless.

This news was like a shot in the arm, filling Serena with elation. She immediately set about planning, designating the hillside and beginning preparations for the trial planting of "Moonlight Dust." This was her greatest hope for turning things around, and she had to be extremely cautious.

Lucien lurked around the manor like a shadow. He didn't show himself directly, but instead built a simple yet effective information network through those marginal figures who weren't entirely loyal to the Wilder family: a former deputy who was dissatisfied with Karl's downfall, a brewery foreman whose interests were threatened by Alicia's new regulations, and even a tenant farmer who was simply bought off with money or intimidation.

Serena's daily schedule, her focus, her interest in the hillside, and even the occasional tired look she showed after staying up late in the study, all gradually reached Lucien through these hidden channels.

When he learned of the existence of "Moonlight Dust," a knowing and cold calculation flashed in his deep purple eyes. He could almost imagine the flame of hope that ignited in Serena's eyes when she saw the reply. How dazzling, and how... laughable.

He didn't directly sabotage it. On the contrary, he secretly facilitated it. He used the brewery foreman he had bribed to "coincidentally" recommend a seemingly honest but actually arranged "old farmer" when Serena was having trouble finding an experienced grower for "Moondust." He even used some underground channels to "deliver" a small bag of high-quality "Moondust" seeds to the bribed tenant farmer, who then "accidentally" presented it to the young lady, solving Serena's urgent need for a seed source.

Like a patient gardener, he not only didn't uproot the seedling of hope, but quietly fertilized and watered it, watching it grow strong. Because he knew that the greater the hope, the more devastating the despair would be when it was utterly crushed.

Meanwhile, Lucien's own power was quietly growing in the South. Leveraging the connections and insight he had briefly cultivated at the Imperial court, along with an innate, keen sense of danger and opportunity, he began to infiltrate the South's intricate network of interests. He befriended some disgruntled low-ranking officers, securing their loyalty by resolving their "troubles"; he made agreements with caravan leaders operating in the gray areas, using their channels to transmit information and supplies; he even secretly contacted some minor local nobles dissatisfied with the current Governor of the South.

His movements were stealthy and efficient, like mercury seeping into the ground, penetrating everywhere. Beneath the seemingly calm surface of the Southern Territory, undercurrents began to surge with his arrival.

Occasionally, when he was absolutely certain of his safety, Lucien would reappear at the edge of the oak grove. He stood there like a silent watchman, or perhaps, a death god waiting to reap his harvest.

He watched Serena personally oversee the sowing of "Moonlight Dust," watching her squat by the edge of the field, carefully burying the precious seeds in the soil. Sunlight shone on her focused profile, as if gilding her with a sacred glow. At that moment, she was breathtakingly beautiful, and breathtakingly fragile.

Lucien felt as if something had squeezed his heart tightly; it was a complex pain mixed with hatred, jealousy, and intense possessiveness.

“Look forward to it, Serena,” he murmured to himself, his voice as cold as iron, yet a dark flame burned in his eyes. “Look forward to your ‘moonlight’ illuminating this land.”

He will make her successful, let her taste the sweetness of victory. Then, at the height of her triumph, he will personally take everything away, dragging her from the clouds into the magnificent cage he has built for her.

As the days passed, perhaps the soil and water of the Southern Territory truly favored this delicate plant, or perhaps Lucien's "help" in secret was indeed professional; on that once barren slope, patches of silvery-green buds quietly sprouted. They shimmered with a subtle luster in the sunlight, as if they were truly stained with dust of moonlight.

The news spread within the manor in small circles, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. The tenant farmers' gazes towards Serena gradually shifted from initial suspicion and fear to genuine awe and a glimmer of hope. This young lady truly seemed to possess the Midas touch.

Serena herself was immersed in the joy of initial success, but also in immense pressure. She practically lived in the makeshift cabin beside the hillside, personally recording the growth data of each "Moonlight Dust" plant and adjusting irrigation and shading plans. She had lost some weight, and her originally fair skin was now tinged with a light honey hue by the southern sunlight. Her eyes held tired dark circles, but her blue eyes were brighter than when she was in the capital, filled with focus and... vitality.

This vitality, like the most alluring poison, was transmitted flawlessly to Lucien's heart through those eyes hidden deep in the oak forest.

He watched her busy in the fields, watched her earnestly converse with those uncouth tenant farmers, watched her frown over a diseased seedling, and watched her smile when she found a solution. That smile was pure and bright, so bright it stung his eyes.

His hatred grew stronger with each passing day. He hated the humiliation she had inflicted on him in the past, but he hated even more her damned, uncontrollable "vitality" now. How dare she? After what she had done to him, how could she so...unburdened herself with a new life?

But another, darker emotion was also growing wildly. He wanted to completely control that vibrant light, to watch the hope in her eyes slowly fade until only his own reflection remained. This possessiveness was so intense that it alarmed even him, yet he couldn't suppress it.

His net tightened even further.

Through the "old farmer" he had planted, he not only ensured the smooth growth of "Moonlight Dust," but also began to subtly influence other aspects of the manor. He "suggested" that Serena invest more of the manor's limited funds in the expansion of "Moonlight Dust," and even "helped" her contact several seemingly reliable merchants who were actually closely connected to him, to reserve future harvests of "Moonlight Dust." These orders were lucrative, further convincing Serena that her path was correct, and unknowingly binding the fate of the manor even more deeply to these hidden deals.

Meanwhile, Lucien's expansion of power in the South entered a new phase. He successfully won over a powerful mid-level officer in the Southern Garrison by orchestrating a meticulously planned smuggling operation framed for a close confidant of the current governor. Through orchestrating a small-scale "banditry" targeting a rival caravan, he further solidified the loyalty of the caravan leader who was cooperating with him. He even used a small quantity of new wine from Serena's Estate, of superior quality to that available on the market, as a stepping stone to influence certain local nobles.

His power, like vines, took root and spread through the cracks in the power structure of the Southern Territory, silent yet potent. All of this remained unnoticed by Serena, preoccupied with the affairs of the manor. All she saw were signs of improvement in the manor and the ever-growing, silvery-green foliage of her "Moonlight Dust" slope.

However, crises always reveal their fangs when you least expect them.

A sudden night rain, accompanied by rare hail, struck the manor.

Serena was awakened by the thunder, and her first thought was of her "Moonlight Dust"! She didn't even have time to put on a coat and rushed into the torrential rain in her nightgown.

The hillside was a scene of devastation. Tender "Moonlight Dust" seedlings lay scattered and broken by the hail, their silvery-green leaves tattered and covered in mud. Several tenant farmers on night watch were helplessly trying to cover the plants with straw mats, but with little success.

Serena's heart sank to the bottom. These seedlings represented all her hard work and hope!

Just as she felt a wave of despair and dizziness, a deep and familiar voice sounded behind her, piercing through the rain:

“It’s too late to cover it up now.”

Serena turned around abruptly.

Lucien appeared there at some point. He wasn't carrying an umbrella, he was soaked to the bone, his black hair clung to his cheeks, and rain streamed down his sharply defined jawline. He stood there in the rain, his deep purple eyes shining brightly in the darkness, calmly watching her and that shattered hope.

"You..." Serena's voice caught in her throat, shock and fear rendering her speechless. How could he be here? At a time like this?

Lucien ignored her astonishment. His gaze swept over the ravaged slope, and he stated in a calm tone, as if stating a fact: "The hail destroyed the leaves, but as long as the roots are intact, there is still hope."

He stepped forward, ignoring Serena's wary retreat, squatted down, and skillfully parted a fallen seedling to examine its roots. His movements were precise and swift, displaying a seasonedness incongruous with his status.

“Drain the water immediately to prevent root rot. Trim any broken stems and leaves to prevent them from wasting nutrients.” He stood up, looked at Alicia, raindrops dripping from his thick eyelashes. “If you trust me, I know of a medicine that can promote the recovery of damaged plants.”

Serena stared at him, stunned. His appearance here, offering help—it was all too bizarre, too illogical. Was he here to laugh at her? Or did he have ulterior motives?

But looking at the destroyed seedlings, and at Lucien's unusually calm, even strangely persuasive, eyes in the rainy night, she found herself with almost no choice.

"...What medicine?" she heard her own voice hoarse as she asked.

Lucien's lips seemed to curve into a very faint, almost imperceptible arc.

“A…very effective potion,” he said slowly, his gaze lingering on her shivering, rain-soaked body. “However, it requires some time to prepare…and special materials. Perhaps we could discuss this in more detail somewhere else? Like, in your study?”

His proposal was reasonable, yet it was also full of an air of irrefutable authority.

Serena looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar boy before her, and at the unfathomable light in his eyes. A chill ran up from the soles of her feet and instantly swept through her entire body.