Episode 4

During the following weeks, Sienna Gray made her visits to the town almost routine.

Always the same day.

Always the same time.

The third day of the week.

The servants of the Gray mansion began to see it as a harmless habit. The "poor country miss" went out for a walk, to buy small things at the market or to observe the shops.

Nobody thought too much about it.

Neither Sarco Gray, nor his wife, nor even Sage.

For them, Sienna was still little more than a shadow within the family.

But in reality, each of those outings had a purpose.

Investigation.

Sienna had begun to study Duke Julian Bridge as if he were a major suspect.

First she observed the duke himself.

Then the people around him.

Then his routines.

His men.

His schedules.

His meeting places.

Over the weeks she began to recognize faces.

The tall man with reddish hair who always stayed two steps behind the duke.

The gray-bearded veteran who watched the streets from the corners.

The young messenger who carried documents between the administrative building and the carriages.

She didn't need to get too close.

Just look.

Listen.

Memorize.

It was a method she had used many times in her previous life.

A suspect rarely revealed the truth directly.

But their habits always did.

And Julian Bridge had interesting habits.

He was disciplined.

He almost always arrived at the same time.

His meetings lasted about the same each week.

His men were well trained and coordinated.

They didn't seem like simple noble guards.

They looked like soldiers.

That confirmed something Sienna already suspected.

The duke had not built his power with titles alone.

He had built it with real force.

And then she understood even better why her uncles wanted that alliance.

The Gray house had a title.

It had a name.

But it didn't have enough real power.

Marriage to Duke Bridge would give them access to wealth, military protection, and enormous influence.

It was a perfect political move.

If you ignored the small detail that… the duke's two previous wives had died.

One afternoon, after several weeks of observation, Sienna decided to return earlier than usual.

She had obtained enough information for that day.

She was walking down one of the side streets of the town when she noticed something.

Footsteps.

Two men were approaching from different directions.

Instinct.

Her mind reacted before the danger was evident.

When she looked up, they were already in front of her.

Sienna recognized them immediately.

She had seen them several times near the duke.

They were part of his people.

One of them spoke first.

"Miss."

His tone was respectful.

But firm.

"You must come with us."

Sienna didn't respond immediately.

Her mind began to calculate.

Distances.

Postures.

Hands.

One of the men was big and strong.

The other thinner, but clearly agile.

Sienna scanned the surroundings quickly.

She could attack the one on the left first.

A quick blow to the throat.

Then roll to the right.

Maybe she could take down the second before he fully reacted.

But then she remembered something else.

During her weeks of observation she had learned to notice the duke's security patterns.

And she knew perfectly well that those two men never worked alone.

Her eyes moved discreetly.

A reflection in a window.

A movement in a corner.

A shadow on a nearby roof.

She counted mentally.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

At least six more nearby.

If she fought… she could beat one.

Maybe two.

But she would inevitably end up surrounded.

And hurt.

Which would be disastrous.

So she made a decision.

She breathed calmly.

And nodded.

"I understand."

The men exchanged a brief look.

They were clearly expecting something different.

Maybe screams.

Maybe panic.

Maybe a terrified noble begging for help.

But Sienna did none of that.

She simply started walking with them.

Her expression was calm.

Her steps firm.

Her eyes attentive.

She watched everything.

The streets.

The routes.

The positions of the hidden men.

Every detail.

One of the guards finally couldn't help but ask.

"Aren't you going to ask where we're going?"

Sienna turned her head slightly.

"If you work for Duke Bridge… then I already know who wants to see me."

The man frowned.

"How…?"

But she didn't answer.

She just kept walking.

That made the two men exchange another, more surprised look.

Because that young woman… was strange.

Very strange.

She was beautiful, clearly a society lady.

But she didn't seem scared.

She didn't seem confused.

She didn't seem helpless.

She walked like someone who was analyzing a situation, not like someone trapped in it.

And that was something neither of them expected.

As they advanced towards the quieter part of town, Sienna thought coldly.

So you finally decided to move first…

She didn't know exactly why the duke had decided to have her brought in.

But something was clear.

Julian Bridge knew she existed.

And he probably knew something else.

When they finally turned a corner and a black carriage appeared waiting on the empty street, Sienna looked up.

Her expression remained calm.

But her eyes were alert.

Because inside that carriage… was probably the most dangerous man she had encountered in this new life.

Duke Julian Bridge.

And Sienna had the feeling that… this time, she was the one being investigated.

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