Chapter 1
Before my father passed away, he spoke of a debt he owed the Lane family in Goldhaven.
He asked me to take our family token and honor a long-standing engagement.
When I arrived, Richard Lane greeted me at the door with a wide, eager smile.
He gestured toward a man with a weathered, sun-baked face who was busy tossing hay in the stables.
"That's your fiancé," Richard said.
Noticing my bewildered expression, he scrambled for an explanation, stammering.
"My... uh, son doesn't care much for books or fancy things. He's a man of the outdoors—strictly riding and hunting."
I nodded, already reaching a decision. If that was the case, a hunting estate would make the perfect gift.
Everyone has their hobbies, I reasoned.
He had a passion for fine horses.
And I had a passion for spending money.
This match couldn't be more perfect!
*****
My father was a man of deals, not devotions.
Concepts like loyalty or "returning favors" didn't exist in his world.
He held out until his final moments to demand the engagement, just because he was worried about me.
In our world, the math is simple: merchants need officials to protect their wealth, and officials need merchants to build theirs.
With the entire family fortune resting on my shoulders, he feared I would be an easy target.
Richard held a middle-management post at the Ministry of Personnel—solidly respectable, but hardly elite.
Since the Lanes were far from wealthy, my wedding gifts ensured I wouldn't be entering the family as an inferior.
That was my father's dying wish.
I had no reason to refuse.
Besides, Goldhaven was a gold mine I had wanted to tap into for years.
Marriage? Just a springboard for me.
Money—that was the real game.
Since the young heir was reportedly good for nothing, I could simply pay to keep him out of my way.
With that settled, I strolled over to the sun-baked guy and offered a graceful curtsy.
"Emily Foster, at your service, Mr. Lane," I said.
The sun-baked guy paused, setting aside the hay to face me.
I studied him for a moment.
Though he looked every bit the laborer, he was unexpectedly handsome.
His eyes caught me off guard—deep and striking, with a clarity that felt almost unreal.
I couldn't help but keep stealing glances at him.
"Ms. Foster, there's no need for such formalities," he said.
His voice was just as pleasant as his face.
As he helped me up, I flashed him a bright smile. I said, "I hear you have a passion for fine horses.
"It just so happens my family acquired some land out west last year and converted it into a hunting estate. It is only a small gift, but I hope you will accept it."
Before the man could respond, Richard let out a sharp cry of surprise.
"Out west? Wait, do you mean the Autumn Glade Estate?" he exclaimed.
I nodded. "You have heard of it, then?"
"Heard of it?" Richard blurted out. "Autumn Glade might not be the largest property, but the scenery is stunning. It is the premier social spot for the youth of Goldhaven."
"It is worth a fortune." He flashed a sly grin and patted my shoulder. "Emily, you certainly spared no expense."
I raised an eyebrow at that.
He didn't even bother with a polite refusal.
There was no mistaking the greed written all over his face.
I maintained a sweet smile, though my eyes remained cold. "It is merely a token of my affection. The deed is traveling with the rest of my wedding gifts, so it will be a short while before it arrives."
A flash of embarrassment crossed Richard's face. After a few forced, hollow chuckles, he asked the handsome laborer to show me to my room and made a hasty exit.
*****
Once I was out of sight, Richard ducked into a side room.
"Dear, did she suspect anything?" a woman's voice drifted over as he stepped inside.
A small crowd was gathered inside.
Richard's wife, Hazel Lane, sat at the head of the table, holding their young daughter, Charlotte, by the hand.
A few other relatives sat nearby.
"No, she didn't," Richard said.
He walked over, grabbed a cup of coffee, and took a sip.
"No surprise there," Hazel said with a nod.
"That country girl hasn't seen anything of the world," she sneered. "How could she possibly notice anything's amiss?"
"Exactly," Charlotte chimed in. "You could point at any random groom and tell her he's her fiancé, and she'd buy it. She's truly dense. A woman like that isn't worthy of my brother. If it weren't for her mere wedding gifts, she wouldn't even be allowed through the gate."
The relatives joined in the mocking laughter.
Richard shook his head. "Mere wedding gifts?
"Do you realize she just handed the Autumn Glade Estate to a stable hand without a second thought?"
"What?" Hazel jumped to her feet, her eyes wide.
She couldn't believe her ears. "Autumn Glade? The one out west?"
Richard nodded. "The very one."
Hazel gripped Richard's hand, her voice frantic. "But that stable hand—"
"He is bound by a lifelong contract," Richard interrupted, anticipating her concern.
"Excellent." Hazel nodded.
She leaned back in her chair, her expression glowing with delight.
She started planning. "That means her wedding gifts must be even more impressive than we imagined. Thomas needs to solidify his standing at the Ministry, and he'll need a massive amount of leverage to grease the wheels of his promotion.
"And Charlotte, it is time we found you a match. Let the Foster girl provide your wedding gifts. With enough gold, you could marry into a truly great family."
"Oh, Mom! It's way too soon!" Charlotte protested, her face flushing a deep crimson.
Hazel tapped her daughter's forehead playfully. "Don't think I haven't noticed how you look at Michael. With a family like his, if you don't make your move soon, someone else will snatch him up before you get the chance."
Richard, however, was miles away.
He had spent years running errands for superiors, enduring the constant weight of being pushed around. He was finished with it.
For him, a promotion wasn't just a dream—it was a necessity.
To climb that high, he needed leverage and a mountain of gold.
Once he had settled his thoughts, Richard cleared his throat and looked around the room. "The priority is simple," he said. "Keep that dumb girl under our thumb and marry her off to the stable hand as quickly as possible."