***

“Hey, Seria!”

Not long after the two men had left, Kashan returned and hurried into the tent. His eyes immediately searched for Seria’s hand.

“I heard you were injured. What on earth have you been doing alone?”

“Oh, well… I was bored, so I decided to take a closer look at those weapons, and then…”

“So you were looking at those weapons and managed to cut yourself?”

Kashan sighed in disbelief, running a hand through his hair as his sharp gaze fell on the now-bandaged hand she was sheepishly holding out.

Kashan repeated his question in amazement, unable to hide his disbelief. Seria laughed uncomfortably and nodded.

“…Unbelievable.”

He muttered, clearly holding back harsher words, his expression filled with frustration. Though he was tempted to call her foolish, he refrained and silently removed all the weapons from the tent. Once the blades and maces were cleared, Kashan turned to her with a serious expression.

“Have you never learned even basic swordsmanship?”

“Huh? Swordsmanship?”

“Yes.”

“What? How could a woman…”

Seria trailed off, her expression filled with confusion, as if the question itself baffled her.

Kashan’s face mirrored hers, though his disbelief came from a completely different perspective.

“Are you saying that you never learned swordsmanship because you are a woman?”

“Swordsmanship… it’s not something for a lady,” Seria explained, looking scandalised. “It would leave calluses on my hands, darken my skin, and besides…”

“Hah…”

Kashan let out a dry laugh, thoroughly annoyed.

“So if something happens, Imperial women can’t even defend themselves? In a war, all women would be slaughtered without ever touching a sword?”

“How can you say such horrible things?”

Seria gasped in horror, wiping her arms as if to shake off the grim image his words had conjured up.

“That’s what knights are for – to protect us in situations like this,” she added, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Do you trust knights? In a situation where order and security have completely broken down, how can you guarantee they won’t do something terrible?”

Kashan’s words came out stronger than he had intended. When he saw Seria’s wide, doe-like eyes trembling with fear, he realised his mistake and closed his mouth.

“I really don’t understand this damned Imperial culture.”

Seria looked at him uncertainly, not sure how to react to his sudden intensity.

“If you wish, I can teach you the basics of swordsmanship.”

“Ah…”

Seria let out a soft gasp, her mind reeling at the suggestion. The idea of learning swordsmanship, something she had never even considered, felt completely foreign.

” I’m not asking for an answer right now. Just think about it.”

“All right, I’ll think about it.”

Thankfully, Kashan didn’t press her any further and left the subject alone.

***

It had been a week since Seria had begun living among the Kuth tribe.

Despite her initial fears, they were not as cruel or violent as she had imagined. Though their large, rugged appearance was still intimidating, they weren’t as brutal as she’d been led to believe.

Contrary to rumour, Seria had never seen the Kuth eat animals alive or kill humans.

‘Maybe I misunderstood them…’

As her time in the camp wore on, Seria began to venture out of the tent for short walks. Kashan didn’t seem to mind her wandering and made no attempt to stop her.

As she watched the people go about their daily lives, she realised that they weren’t so different from those in the Empire. The only noticeable difference was that everyone, regardless of gender, seemed to be building their strength and learning to use weapons.

“Look, that foolish woman is out again.”

“How can someone so frail survive at all?”

“Is it true that she cut her hand on a mace by herself?”

“It is true! I saw it with my own eyes. Not even a five-year-old would do such a ridiculous thing.”

“They say she was starving before, so now she eats like a wild animal.”

The murmurs of the tribesmen floated around her, their words cutting and laced with mockery. Blissfully unaware of their language, Seria strolled on, her thoughts focused more on the peculiarities of their way of life than the sidelong glances thrown her way.

“Still, she’s been feeling a bit better lately. Tsk, poor thing.”

As soon as Seria stepped out for her walk, hushed whispers began to follow her from every corner. At first, the sharp stares and unmistakable murmurs had made her shrink back in discomfort. But now she was getting used to it.

‘They might look a bit scary, but they don’t seem all that bad…’

Compared to the northern lands where she had been abandoned, this place felt less hostile – almost peaceful. Unlike the desolate north, where women were practically non-existent, this camp was home to women, children and men alike, all living together.

“Hey, look! It’s that stupid Imperial woman!”

“Hahaha! She’s the one who stabbed herself with a mace! What an idiot!”

“Even my younger brother wouldn’t do that! Fool! Fool!”

A group of children spotted her and began laughing loudly, their shrill voices echoing as they taunted her in the Kuth language. Unaware of their words, Seria smiled weakly at them, assuming they were just playing.

Occasionally, when Seria encountered children, they would smile brightly at her and speak in words she couldn’t understand.

Unable to comprehend their meaning, Seria would simply return their innocent laughter with a smile of her own. Slowly, she grew accustomed to the peace of life here.

***

“Commander.”

In the depths of another large tent, Kashan sat at a desk reviewing documents. He looked up at the sound of his subordinate calling him.

“The materials you requested have all been retrieved.”

He hastily placed a thick stack of papers on Kashan’s desk.

What he brought was a register of the noble families of the Empire.

“As you suspected, it is indeed Seria of the Count Luzent family. The portrait matches perfectly.”

“And she’s currently listed as missing?”

“No, she’s officially listed as deceased – due to illness.”

“Died of illness, huh…”

Kashan’s lips curl into a mocking sneer.

“The Empire really is beyond comprehension, isn’t it?”

“However, there are rumours even within the Empire that the Luzent family is being investigated due to a lack of evidence to support the claim.”

“An investigation?”

“Yes. There seems to be no record of any doctors visiting the Countess’ estate before her supposed death from illness.”

Kashan tapped lightly on the desk, lost in thought for a moment. Then he spoke with a dismissive wave.

“That’s enough. You’ve done well. You may go now.”

“Yes, sir. Take care.”

After the man had left the tent, Kashan, now alone, pulled a sheet from the pile of documents on the desk. It was Seria’s portrait.