[A few weeks prior the moonlit festival]

The sun was on the verge of setting over Grimhaven, as shadows began to slowly yet steadily loom over the cracked cobblestones barely held in place and patchy, worn-out cloths used to cover up the shack hidden in between two leaning buildings.

Maris was seated on a battered wooden crate, her shoulders were tense as she watched Fiona pacing the cramped room in circles, her voice etching and oozing with excitement.

"YOU SHOULD SEE HIM, MARIS," Fiona was saying

"THE BARON'S SON—-HE'S SO YOUNG, HANDSOME EVEN, AND HE CAN'T KEEP HIS EYES OFF YOU" she paused leaned in closer to Maris, her voice now barely a whisper as if she were aiming to underscore her next words,

"He's completely infatuated."

Maris shifted, arms crossed protectively, "Fiona listen….."

Fiona cut through with a smile, her smile being both coy and cunning,

"Because he's not just some regular man. He's NOBILITY MARIS, N-O-B-I-L-I-T-Y" spelling it out as if emphasizing the weightage of those words in this godforsaken corner of the Empire,

"And he's not only offering a night of affection, He wants you to join him, to be his concubine Maris, Do you realize how big of a deal that is?"

Fiona reached out her hand towards Maris's hair, affectionately tucking in a loose strand behind her ear,

"We-..You'd live in Arch, far from… well far from here." She cast a disparaging glance at the thin shack walls and cracked cold wooden floor beneath their feet.

"Just imagine, imagine dancing underneath ornate-filled chandeliers and lucious window-panes enchanted by glamorous scenic views as you don the prettiest clothes and costliest trinkets, you've ever laid your eyes on,"

Maris's face hardened, her voice now dropping to a whisper, and her voice laced with resolve. Her mind flickered briefly to the sacrifices she had made, to the harsh, unyielding love that had kept her here. She spoke slowly, her tone resolute

"And what of Wynn? Huh Fiona? The Baron wouldn't take him with us now would he?"

Fiona hesitated, a semblance of guilt returning to her greed-filled eyes, but then suddenly she exhaled sharply, finding her own newfound resolve.

"Maris, listen…You can't expect him to want the boy along now can you? The Baron has plans, a future back in Arch that doesn't include dragging in a common street child with him now does it?"

"Not to mention, What would the people of Arch think, Maris?"

"What would the people of Arch think when their Lord brings back not only a lowborn concubine but a concubine with a bastard child—blood related or not?"

Maris's gaze hardened, her voice now dropping to a whisper, her hand subconsciously clenching at the edge of her crate. Wynn was more than a child of the streets to her, more than just another orphan. He was the anchor that kept her here, through every degrading night and every harsh morning.

"Wynn's no common street child to me and you know that, Fiona. He's family…..

He's My Son."

Fiona let out a soft scoff, her eyes narrowing. "He's holding you back. This shack, this life in Grimhaven—it's not the future. Not for you, and certainly not for Wynn. You know what happens to boys here, Maris. Either he'll end up on the streets or he'll wind up in gangs."

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Her expression softened, almost pleading. "Mr. Agar is offering you a chance to leave this all behind, to be taken care of. So tell me HOW?" Her voice raising with each syllable.

"HOW ISN'T THAT WORTH.THE.PRICE?"

She grabbed Maris's shoulders and clasped them tightly

"WE'RE WHORES MARIS! WHORES! DO YOU KNOW HOW WE'RE SEEN HERE?"

Droplets of water, like tiny glass shards, glistened in her eyes, threatening to spill.

"I HATE IT! HATE HOW DISGUSTING POT BELLY MEN HAVE THEIR WAY WITH ME MARIS!"

She pushed Maris forward, pinning her against the wall, the shack unaccustomed to the force shook vigorously.

"AND DON'T YOU THINK WYNNS EVER GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT WE DO? WHAT YOU DO MARIS?"

Maris eyes trembled visibly but soon calmed down

And she…..

She smiled

"You don't realize how deep a mothers love runs for her child Fiona and I'm sure when the day dawns, Wynn will understand—understand how all I did was for his sake."

Fiona let go of Maris and backed off

"Fine but then ask yourself this: what kind of future can you give him here? What kind of life does a child have in Grimhaven, with nothing but scraps to his name? At least if you go, you'd have a chance to help him someday, maybe send him money from Arch. You could give him a better life from afar."

But Maris merely shook her head, a motherly smile still playing at her lips, "That's not enough, Fiona. I couldn't live with myself if I left him here alone."

A thick silence settled between them, both women locked in a silent standoff. Maris's heart pounded, each beat echoing her resolve and her certainty that she couldn't simply walk away from Wynn.

A sudden creak by the door shattered the quiet. Both women turned to see Wynn standing in the doorway, his eyes wide, his thin frame casting a shadow on the worn floorboards. He looked between them, confusion flickering across his face.

"Uh, hey, Mom. Fiona. What's going on?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Maris and Fiona both stiffened at the sound of his voice. They quickly straightened up, exchanging a brief, unreadable look before Maris forced a smile and waved him in.

"Nothing, Wynn. Just... just a little disagreement," she said, her voice a bit too light. Fiona, on the other hand, shot Maris a glance that could've cut glass but immediately softened as her eyes landed on Wynn.

it was clear the conversation was far from over. Maris might have made her choice tonight, but Fiona knew the pressures of Grimhaven—and of the Baron's tempting offer— were not going to let her go so easily.

***********

[Day of The Moonlit Festival]

The moonlight spilled over Grimhaven's twisted alleys, The square was alive with various dim glows from flickering lanterns, while laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses permeated the chilly night air.

Fiona slipped through the crowd, her eyes catching sight of the Baron's son leaning against a stone pillar, his gaze drifting restlessly, as if searching for someone—no doubt hoping to catch a glimpse of Maris.

With a quick breath, Fiona approached, her heart pounding. She knew what she was about to say would ignite his anger, but perhaps that was exactly what Maris needed to finally relent.

"Young Master," she greeted him, a hint of charm in her voice as she curtsied. His gaze flickered toward her, and he raised an eyebrow, impatient.

"What is it?" he asked, a hint of his intoxicated state apparent on his face.

"It's about Maris…" she began, letting her voice trail off before continuing with a dramatic sigh. "She… she turned down your offer, my lord."

His expression hardened instantly.

"What did you say?" His voice was a low hiss, but there was no mistaking the fury in his eyes.

Fiona shifted, nervously fidgeting, "I…I tried to talk sense into her, young master. Told her what a fine opportunity you were offering. But she…. That foolish girl refused, said she couldn't leave her son…" her voice getting smaller and smaller

But before she could finish her plight

SLAP

Agronas hand flashed—slapping her across the cheek with a force that nearly knocked her off her feet. Fiona stumbled, clutching her stinging red handprinted face, eyes widening as he towered over her, seething.

"The only reason I tolerated your PATHETIC SELF WAS BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WENCH WOULD THEN AGREE!" he sneered. "Did you think I actually wanted you as my concubine? Without Maris, you're nothing…. NOTHING BUT ANOTHER WORTHLESS WHORE."

Fiona's cheeks flushed with humiliation, her face burning from both the slap and his words. She swallowed the lump in her throat, suppressing her shame.

His gaze bore into her,

"Do you know where she lives?"

"Yes… yes, my lord," Fiona stammered, straightening and forcing herself to meet his piercing gaze. In truth, part of her had expected this. He'd been simmering with impatience every time Maris delayed her answer, and Fiona had hoped that this outburst might be the very push Maris needed to finally relent.

"Take me there. Now," he commanded,

Fiona nodded quickly, Perhaps this was for the best.

If he went to Maris directly, she might finally see reason, might finally accept that there was no better life than the one he was offering.

As they walked, Fiona cast a glance at the Baron's son's tense profile, his eyes hard and focused. It was clear he wasn't a man accustomed to refusal. She swallowed nervously, wondering how Maris would react to this uninvited visit.

But in her mind, Fiona whispered reassurances to herself. This was for Maris's good—she had to see that. If she understood the danger, maybe she'd finally understand how vital it was to take the Baron's son's offer.

And so, they arrived at Maris's shack, nestled between the shadowed forms of two dilapidated buildings. The Baron's son came to a halt, his chest rising and falling with restrained fury. Fiona hung back, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and worry as he knocked sharply on the door.