By the age of eighteen, Annabelle had thoroughly embedded herself into the economy of her parents' territory. She had her hands in multiple industries—textiles, jewelry, glassware, and even a few unofficial underground networks. But true security meant expanding beyond her comfortable little corner of Zyphera.
She needed the capital.
The capital was the empire's beating heart, where nobles and merchants alike competed for power and prestige. It was a place of wealth, opportunity, and, unfortunately, danger. If Annabelle wanted to carve out a foothold there without attracting the wrong attention, she needed a way in.
Ethan, her youngest brother, had a very particular obsession: artifacts related to time.
It was almost comical how deep his fascination ran. If an object ticked, turned, glowed with some mysterious energy, or was rumored to have even the slightest time-related property, Ethan had to have it. And, as luck would have it, the best artifacts could only be found in the capital.
So, when Ethan returned from one of his artifact-hunting trips, he did something completely unexpected.
He tossed a small velvet box onto Annabelle's lap.
"I brought you something," he said casually, flopping onto the couch beside her like he hadn't just rocked her entire world.
Annabelle narrowed her eyes. Ethan wasn't exactly the gift-giving type. Suspicious.
Slowly, she opened the box.
Inside lay the most exquisite hairpin she had ever seen.
A delicate golden frame twisted into an intricate yet elegant design, cradling a single purple gemstone at its center. The gem shimmered like a miniature galaxy, shifting between deep violet and soft lavender as the light hit it.
Annabelle's breath caught in her throat.
Oh my Goddess.
Ethan smirked. "Told you it was rare."
Rare? This was beyond rare.
Annabelle turned the hairpin over in her fingers, her heart hammering. Purple gemstones were nearly impossible to find in Zyphera—especially outside the capital. This wasn't just an accessory; it was a statement. The kind of ornament that whispered of wealth, nobility, and power.
It was perfect.
Annabelle did the only logical thing.
She tackled Ethan in a hug, shaking him like a ragdoll.
"You absolute treasure of a brother! Do you realize what this means?! This is the most beautiful, most perfect hairpin I have EVER seen!"
Ethan yelped, trying to pry her off. "Alright, alright! Calm down, woman!"
Annabelle refused. She squeezed him tighter.
"I will never calm down! This is divine intervention! This is fate! This is—"
"—getting weird," Ethan muttered.
Annabelle ignored him. Still clutching the hairpin, she spun around the room like a crazed noblewoman who had just discovered gold. "I shall cherish it for eternity!"
Ethan leaned back against the couch, watching her with mild amusement. "You're lucky I saw it first. Some old noblewoman was eyeing it, and she looked ready to commit murder."
Annabelle snorted. Then, as the excitement settled, something clicked in her mind.
Purple gems were scarce in the capital.
But in her family's territory?
They weren't uncommon at all.
An idea sparked—a brilliant, lucrative idea.
She turned back to Ethan, a slow, calculating smile spreading across her face.
"Hey… about your artifact connections in the capital."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What about them?"
Annabelle twirled the hairpin between her fingers, smirking.
"How do you feel about helping your dear sister expand her empire?"