When Evelyn's grandfather returned, two and a half weeks had passed. Much to his surprise, his wife—who had spent the better half of their lives cooped up in the quiet manor reading and rereading dusty old books—was out about chasing their granddaughter.

A part of him felt so grateful. He had always blamed himself for the lonely life he had unintentionally sentenced his wife to. Her family had moved out of Ismere a few years after they had wed. He was always trapped at the border fighting, so his wife had borne the burden of solitude and the anxiety of not knowing whether he would ever return each time he left. When they had their daughter, however, it seemed like there was life back in her eyes. But that wouldn't last for long. Her weak constitution would make raising her in Ismere a nightmare. So they did all they could to make sure they got her out as soon as possible.

When their daughter left, his wife had almost completely withered away. Her eyes looked tired and worn out without much life. It ached him, and he tried to lie to himself that it was duty that kept him away from home for longer periods of time, but he too felt the emptiness that came with their daughter leaving. Only he had work that could preoccupy him.

"Look! Papa is back!" Evelyn called, turning her grandmother's attention away from the game they were playing.

Papa?

"Ah, why are you just standing there? Help me catch her!" she said, exasperate

"Why?" he asked, getting down from his horse.

"She has our old love letters, Darius, and she's threatening to read them out loud!"

Before she could finish her sentence, the old soldier was already sprinting at the little girl, who wouldn't stop laughing.

The servants of the manor stood transfixed by the window. In all the years of working there, a day as lively as this had never been seen. To see the old couple laughing and running about seemed like a fever dream.

Evelyn had been visiting Luca and baby Leon with Freya on her days off, of course while being accompanied by Bram and other guards who were familiar with the place.

It had taken such a long time to convince her grandmother to let her go out there again, but when she finally agreed, Evelyn could finally make progress on her plan.

Luca was her best bet so far. He had spent a good amount of time in the mountains near the mines, and he had been inside some of the mines himself. All she had to do was get information from him, or better yet, get him to take her there. But that would have to be a last resort . Evelyn was under constant surveillance, and Mildred, who was part of each outing, wasn't letting her out of her sight.

It was Sunday. Freya had just finished getting ready to head out again, a part of her wishing the young miss wasn't waiting to accompany her again. But there she was, waiting with her entourage of five by the steps of the manor. What a drag, she thought.

Like the week before, there were curious stares from anyone they passed by. Why was Freya—whom everyone knew—being accompanied by soldiers and a young noble child every week? It was quite embarrassing for her to some extent because even if she explained, who would believe that the Marquess's grandchild was coming over to their house to help cook and clean?

They knocked at the door, and Luca opened it.

"Ah, not you again," he said in disbelief.

Evelyn, the guards, Bram, and Mildred made their way in. The guards went to sit by the dining table while Mildred went to see Talia. Everyone knew the drill by now.

Evelyn would help out in the kitchen. Mildred was to help Talia clean her room, and Freya, Luca, and one guard would clean out Freya's house. It, however, depended on what needed to be done. This strange system scared everyone when Evelyn first suggested it, but no one could tell what was going on in the girl's mind. She was working too, which took them by surprise. How did such a child know how to do the things she was doing? How was she not even fazed by the environment she was in? So they all played along.

To Luca and Freya, who felt like their lives were being turned upside down by Evelyn, they couldn't help but look on in astonishment, and deep down, an odd feeling of gratitude and happiness began to bubble up. Deep within, they had started to like the weird, pampered brat. Their mothers' health had somehow improved. They didn't know if the cleaning that was being done had anything to do with it, but still, they were grateful.

All they knew was that their mothers had started taking Evelyn's words to heart. They started telling their friends to boil the milk, cut out windows, and wash up often. Their lives were changing. They just didn't understand why.

I had brought stewed meat in hopes of bribing Luca this time.

I went straight to the kitchen to see the baby. He looked quite healthy, which made me smile.

"Luca," I called out, and he came into the kitchen. "I brought something nice for you." I smiled.

"What?" he snorted, but deep down, he was curious.

"In the pot," I said, pointing to Bram, who had a pot in hand.

He opened the pot and breathed in. "Meat!"

"Mum, she brought meat!" he said excitedly. "I mean, thanks," he said, clearing his throat as if suddenly embarrassed. Meat was only eaten on special occasions for the commoners, so this came as a surprise.

He hurriedly put it on the stove to warm and then served it out for his mother, Freya, and her mother, and he saved some for his father, who was out.

My entourage and I didn't want any. Besides, we ate it often at the manor.

"Hey, Luca," I said when he had finished his food. "I have a favour to ask." I whispered.

"I knew it… you wanted something… I've made a deal with the devil, haven't I?" he responded sarcastically.

"Stop the theatrics and listen," I said, rolling my eyes. "Can you draw me a map of the mines and surrounding mountains?" I asked, pulling out a piece of paper and a pen.

"Draw? Map?" he asked, confused.

"You don't know what a map is?" I asked, slightly shocked.

"I do, but I don't know how to. And why would you need one?"

"Never mind why I need one. You don't know how to draw? Can you write?"

He shook his head.

"Can you read?"

"No!" he let out, a bit annoyed. "Not everyone is like you," he half-shouted.

"Luca, watch your tone. She didn't mean to offend. She didn't know," Talia said. She was standing by her door chatting with Mildred, and we were seated by the long couch.

"Oh." This is another problem.

"It's fine. I'm sorry for being insensitive," I apologized to Luca, which made him stand up suddenly, alarmed.

"Why would you apologize?" he said, his face red. He then stormed out.

"I think we should leave," Mildred interjected.

"Yeah, I think we should," I said, getting up. "We will be back. See you soon," I called back to Talia.

If he can't show me with a map, I'll need him to take me. I also need a more immediate solution to the spreading illness. Also, the children are illiterate. Ah, there is so much to do.

Let's start by setting up a hospital of sorts. But how ? and without funds?

Nana's home.

I remembered Nana said her childhood home was one of the abandoned mansions in the noble area. How will I convince her to give it over for this use? I need to see it first.

When I left home, Mother arranged for a generous amount of money to be given to me for upkeep. I could use that to renovate, clean, and buy new furniture. But is the property in her name? If I convince her to hand it over, will she be able to?

If I can move the sick there and arrange for round-the-clock care to be given to them, it might alleviate things. I can also move Luca and the baby into the mansion. If he is nearby, I can make better arrangements to get to the mountains. Or I can teach him to draw and write. Okay, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I can teach him, but later. All I need is to get his description. I can do the drawing. But I need to talk to him in private without so many onlookers.

So Plan A:

1. Convince Nana to get her old home.
2. Renovate and clean.
3. Buy beds and hire caretakers and doctors.
4. Move Luca to the house with the baby.
5. Get more information on the mountains, then find a way to get to that mine.

Can it be done?

When I got home, I went straight to the study. I found Nana and my grandfather going over the petitions that had been signed.

"Nana and Grandpa, can I talk to you?" I asked.

"Sure, dear," they answered in unison, and I walked to sit at my usual place by the window.

"I have an idea I'd like to pitch to the both of you," I said, eyes beaming. There is no time like the present. I have to take the chance now.

"Okay," they said, almost unsure of what they had agreed to. They both moved over to the lounge seat across from me.

"I'd like to make a hospital."

"Hospital?" Grandpa asked.

I explained the specifics to both of them, and they kept looking at each other, obviously unsure of what to think.

"We don't have that kind of money, honeybun," Nana said. "And where would it be set up?"

"That's where you come in, Nana. Your old home—can we use that? Also, Mum gave me some money when I came over. I want to use that."

Nana looked at me intently.

"Absolutely not. I won't have you using that money for something like this. That's supposed to maintain you in case your grandmother and I—" Grandpa started, but Nana held out her hand to him to stop him from finishing his sentence.

"Will you excuse us for a while? Let us think about it. We will tell you our answer over dinner," Nana said in a calm, serious tone.

"Go on to your room," Grandfather said.

I quickly got up to leave. I hope they consider it, but from their tone, I felt as if I needed to lower my expectations.

Waiting for dinner to come around left me feeling anxious the whole day. Was my plan going to fall apart before it even started?

"I think we should agree," Lysandra said, facing Darius when Evelyn left.

"Why? We can't let her spend her money, and we can't afford it ourselves," Darius answered.

"If we use my family's old property, the only costs we will incur are for renovation, cleaning, furniture, and staff. That's not too much. Besides, I have some money saved up, and we can use some of the furniture from the left wing of this house. She doesn't have to use her money."

"But—" Darius started.

"Listen. I've been hearing some things from Mildred that even I can't begin to comprehend. I hear she can cook and she cleans. I hear that our grandchild can look after children. Children in the south have experienced life differently. I can't shake the feeling that she is an enigma in our lives that can bring the change we need—not just for you and me, but for Ismere as a whole. She's bringing knowledge that we don't get here in the north.

"A hospital—was it? It sounds like a marvellous idea. I hear Talia is improving from the few visits Evelyn has made. Surely we can try to support her."

"But you cherish that old house. You've been maintaining it all this while, haven't you? Would you really let it be used for this?"

"Forty years. That's how long it has stood unused. What benefit has it brought me? I felt almost stupid hearing Evelyn's proposal. Why was my heart so held up, determined to preserve something that would just rot away when I died? A child found use for it—in a way that would help save lives. Doesn't it sound marvellous?"

"Let's do it, then. But we won't use either of your funds. We will use mine. What I inherited."

"Are you sure?" Lysandra asked.

"We both know it's only a matter of time before—you know—with all the recent tension at the border and my age. However, if I can lessen the pain of my people, I'd be grateful. So we can use my inherited wealth."

So the two of them sat there in silent determination.

Dinner was vegetable stew and bread.

I sat in anticipation, almost unable to swallow my food from the tension. Neither of them had spoken to me since.

"So?" I asked impatiently.

They looked at each other, then my grandmother let out a deep sigh.

"We want to do it, but on one condition."

I shrieked in happiness and got down from my chair, abandoning my food. I ran over and gave each of them a hug.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I repeated.

But my grandfather emphasized, "You aren't using your funds. I will cover those costs, so keep your money well, okay."

"But—" I started, but he cut me off.

"Take the condition or no deal. The choice is yours."

"Okay, I accept," I said after a short pause. "I'll make sure to pay you back, Gramps. Just you wait."

The next day, Nana took me to see the house. It was large—two storeys high and long, with many rooms. There wasn't much damage anywhere on the property. Each room had large windows and a fireplace. This was perfect.

"We were coal barons. We owned many mines in this area. Back then, the coal business was booming despite the poor roads," she exclaimed.

"I see." Something lit up in my mind. "Do you still own some of those mines?" I asked excitedly.

"Yes. Some were transferred to me when my brother packed up our house and left. He was the head of our house at that point. Handing me the mines was like a last act of mercy before leaving me behind," she said almost nostalgically. "However, over the years, some have collapsed, and I shut others down. I couldn't possibly tell you where they were," she added. "I never took much interest in the family business."

Okay, step one done. On to the next, I mentally checked.

"One more thing, Nana," I said as we left the building.

"Yes, dear?" she asked, intrigued.

"Can Luca and baby Leon come live with us?" I asked.

"Oh?" she said, stopping in front of the carriage. "I heard you liked that boy, but not this much. Young love is such a mystery," she said teasingly.

"No!" I screamed. "It's not like that, Nana. You've got to believe me. Please."

"Sure, sure," she said sarcastically. "I believe you," she said, getting into the carriage.

"I really am being honest, Nana," I said, following her.

"It's okay. Don't try to cover it up too much. It makes you sound more guilty," she teased more.

"Nana!" I screamed as the carriage started, but I could hear even the coachman giggle. I could tell she was enjoying this.

"I'll consider it," she said when I had calmed down.

The rest of the ride was cloaked with blissful silence, each in their own mind.

Lysandra couldn't wrap her mind around this child's behaviour at all, but her singular faith in this child kept growing. She was excited to see what lay ahead of them.

Meanwhile, Evelyn was already calculating the cost for the next step of her plan.