Resting on top of a beach side hill, on the precipice of a great fall a large manor stood like a castle against the sea. Delicately crafted with stone it stretched out on the grassy hill like a resting giant. Terra-cotta roof tiles rested atop white stucco walls. Time withered them well, bearing subtle marks of the sea's embrace over the many years it stood. 

A large perimeter was carefully maintained, like a sharp line cutting its mark deeply, defining where the wild grass would end and the well maintained landscape would start, allowing a few beautifully maintained gardens to flourish wildly.

On the terrace, protected from the sun by an ornate umbrella, a young woman was currently enjoying a well made cup of tea.

Her pale brown hair cascaded down to her shoulders in a wavy bob cut that added to her youthful energy. Emerald green eyes studied the golden color of the warm waters that danced in the china in her hands. She rose the delicate white china to her painted lips. Steam dancing around her mousy nose.  A fair bit of liquid rolled around on her tongue, like a warm white flower whose sweet taste delighted and soothed her strained mind. 

Satisfied, she put the cup away, now ruined with a red stain from her subtle lipstick. With an audible “ahh” she watched over her domain with her usual loving smile.

This simple tarrance was her favorite spot in this large empty house of hers. It wasn’t the largest or the most grand—intact by all measurable standards it was quite simple. It was only here, Seated as she was, that she could see the whole of the Grot Barony. From this simple spot everything that fell within her view belonged to the Grot family, to her. 

From the beautiful greenery of the sea side mountains to the rich farming fields of trees and grapes that spread out as far as the eye could see. There was a small village off in the distance as well—including a rather large trade port that was awkwardly connected to it.

Of course, the land itself was of no value. Especially in the eyes of the Kehron Nobility. It was beautiful to look at, sure—but it was far removed from the capital city and produced very little of value.

Still, While it may be a worthless bit of land given to satisfy the deeds of her long dead family, it was still hers.

Of course, she didn’t enjoy this view for nothing. In the last few years she had developed the stagnant domain better than the three previous generations combined. 

She poured her sweat, tears and a little blood into turning the land, turning it into an idyllic place to live. both for her and those that lived under her care. She looked at her hand, running her thumb over the rather large papercut. Such painful memories indeed.

Laughing at her own silliness, she took up the cup once more and downed the rest of its wonderful flavor. No sooner did she set it down that a maid slid out from the shadows and quickly refilled the now empty cup. 

Leaning against her seat she closed her eyes. The land was now as well as she could possibly make it, going any further would produce results but very little to count to much of anything. 

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Sure it would keep her busy but in the end a hamster would get more use spinning in its wheel. That brought her to the worst possible position she could be in. with plenty of time on her hands she had to focus on the future. 

A small sigh escaped her lips. “My public image is worse than ruined. Though I could easily fix it…” there was little point. She was the last member of the Grot family. A little too old to marry and worth very little in the eyes of acceptable men. 

As a baron she was all but expected to find some handsome commoner and marry him but with how busy she was, who had time for dating? All the good men would be taken anyway. Besides she always had very little success in dating or even finding someone worthwhile to spend her time with. 

Though she had servants and men working under her, her family was long gone. In truth, She was alone.

She sat back up and enjoyed the breeze as she reclaimed her refilled cup. With a breath she took a sip and a smile was clearly seen on her face as she set the cup down again. “I'm so happy right now.” she admitted.

All the pressure was off, no one wanted an old maid (of 27 years of age) to be their wife and the nobility would gain nothing in a union. Commoners wouldn’t dare approach her first and. As such no one bothered her.

It was a fulfilling seven years. After she realizes just how closed minded this world was she had a falling out with her so called sister. After that she left the capital and the social world and focused on turning dirt into gold. 

She succeeded and enjoyed all that came with it. Still, with little more to due it was time to think about what came next. Her smile widened as she watched a ship drift lazily into port. 

The nobles currently expected her family's estate to be returned to the royal family. Sure there was the occasional mosquito or two but she had successfully recreated the bug zapper and as such her villa was free of any and all pests.

“Still, I need to figure out what to do for the future.” no way was she going to let some dirty imperial family get her assets. She worked too hard for that stuck up princess to benefit from it. Besides when she entered her golden years she wanted a daughter to bother for the rest of her life. “Hehe, she’ll think she can ignore me when she's married and runs away, but i’ll drop by unexpectedly every month without fail.” 

giggling to herself she failed to notice the exasperated look on her maids face. Both of them took the moment her musical laugh filled the air to share a look and shake their heads.

“Well, it's alright. I already know what I wanna do.” a smile, filled with the very image of sin spread from her lips to her eyes. “Mary is perfect and I'll be able to teach Bannor a lesson if he still feels like being a worthless little hero.” In truth she had long thought to rescue those two from the orphanage in the capital city. 

She was too young and frustrated to realize exactly where she was to take the girl with her when she left. Thankfully she had a long time to muse on her life and the poorly written world around her. 

Mary was her favorite, despite her nonexistent character flaws. In fact she was a child who deserved none of the hate she often received.

“Still, it's almost time for it to start…” worry tighten its grip on her heart, but she drowned it with another long sip of tea. “It's fine, Bannor may be an annoying lead but he is the hero—though quite undeserving of the title.” 

She felt alone in her very correct thoughts. Powerful? Sure but he was anything but charming.

She clicked her tongue. Leaving him would be better but if Mary attacked that girl again she would be able to disown him. It wouldn’t do enough by itself but combined with her new noble rank she would at least survive this time and Bannor’s words wouldn’t be able to cut paper.

rising from her seat she strengthened her silk lounge ware. The shiny gray material wrapped itself around her body in a comfortable soft waxy feel. It left little to the imagination as the light of the setting Sun perfectly illustrated her well toned body, but that mattered very little to her in the comfort of her own home.

“Ladies,” she addressed the two maids who were always by her side. “It's time I returned to the capital.”

The maids exchanged apprehensive glances.

“Oh, don't look like that!” the girls jumped when she clapped her hands as she spoke. “It’s been years since I was socially insane.” she chuckled at her playful words, her joy not reaching her loyal servants. Still they did not question her and instead nodded at their own resolve to keep their master from getting hurt once again.

With that the three of them retreated inside, leaving the lone teacup on the table to enjoy the scenery.