The gears that she had thought fit together perfectly were starting to slip again.

“Because of your father, you got to experience and enjoy all these things earlier than anyone else.”

Her tone implied that Seria should be grateful.

Standing beside the Countess, the Count straightened his back and shoulders with pompous pride and cleared his throat unnecessarily.

“Come now, my dear. It’s been so long—there’s so much to talk about… Shall we go inside first? Yes? And have everything we brought sent straight to your room.”

As the countess spoke, she gestured naturally to the estate servants, as if giving orders were her right.

“Mother… no, Countess.”

The face that had always been gentle now held open contempt resembling the way her parents once stared at her with cold indifference.

“Do you know what almost happened to me in the North?”

“Let’s discuss that once we’re inside, when it’s just the three of—”

“The coachman and the maid were brutally murdered by bandits, and I—I barely survived, only to nearly be violated by strange men I had never seen before.”

“My dear—”

“And now you expect me to… what? Offer you gratitude?”

Seria’s complexion went pale.

Of course.

This was the moment she felt foolish for expecting even the slightest sincerity from her parents.

“It pains me that you took it that way. I only meant—”

“I already know that you have exclusive contracts with many of the caravans here. Even though you profited from selling me off, I never stepped forward to object. It was the last courtesy I could offer the people who brought me into this world.”

Seria cut the countess off with firm words.

“But it seems that courtesy wasn’t enough for you.”

“Seria! Watch your tongue!”

The moment she finished speaking, the count—who had stayed silent until now—stormed forward, shouting with fury.

“There is a limit to how much insolence we’ll tolerate. Do you think you’re still at home, shouting at your parents after sleeping around? If you didn’t want to end up like that, you should have learned to behave properly!”

His kind facade shattered at once, revealing the same vicious expression he had displayed the night before she was expelled from the Luzent estate.

“You ill-mannered brat! Did you really think you’d become something special just because you got lucky and found a place here? Huh?”

The Count raised his hand angrily, ready to strike.

“I’m not sure what sort of uninvited guests you think you are. But this is my estate.”

A low voice sounded, and a large shadow emerged from behind Seria.

A rough hand shot forward and seized the Count’s wrist, twisting it sharply.

The Count writhed and let out a pitiful scream.

“Aagh—agh!”

“We’ve met before, Count Luzent.”

Seria didn’t need to turn around to know the owner of that voice. That faintly rough, razor-edged baritone.

It was Kashan.

“Y-you filthy barbarian, how dare you…!”

The count glared through pained groans, but Kashan only tilted his head with bored indifference.

“How strange. The merchants I’ve spoken to say that Count Luzent has never been prejudiced against the Kuth tribe.”

Kashan drawled deliberately, a faint smile tugging at his lips. But his eyes—fixed on the count—were ice cold.

“I simply wished to inform you that whatever gratitude I owe for bringing Seria into this world ends here.”

He released the count’s wrist with enough force to make it clear he could have snapped it.

“You should also know this: if Seria wants it, you won’t be taking a single sheet of paper back to the Empire from Alkutar.”

He meant every word.

He had long been aware of how the Luzent family exploited the Kuth caravans for their own gain at his and Seria’s expense. However, he had only tolerated this because Seria was their daughter — the woman he had met and fallen in love with.

“That should be enough explanation.”

Kashan called to the servants standing at a distance.

“Throw them out. And make sure every item they brought is discarded as well.”

He issued the order in curt Imperial tongue, then wrapped an arm around Seria’s shoulders and guided her away.

***

“I’m sorry… because of my parents…”

“You don’t need to say that.”

Kashan gently kissed the curve of her forehead.

“I should be thanking the count. Without him, I never would have met you.”

With a teasing remark, Kashan let out a soft laugh. Then he rained kisses across her small, soft cheek, the smacking sounds echoing through the room.

“Pfft… What are you doing?”

“Well, it might have been an unfortunate thing for you.”

“What do you mean? How could being with you be unfortunate!”

Seria protested loudly. She was no longer the frightened girl who had once trembled before him.

Boldly wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned in to kiss him first.

Her lips brushed his cheek briefly in a small peck.

“If that’s how you feel… then I’m relieved.”

Kashan’s lips curved faintly as his hand slipped slowly beneath her clothes.

“U-um… by the way… why did you come home so early today? You’re usually working at this hour.”

“Do you dislike it?”

“N-no, that’s not it, I was just curious…”

Kashan stroked the tender skin under her clothes, the corner of his mouth lifting.

“The truth is, I’ve taken a long leave. About three months.”

“W-what? All of a sudden?”

“With how chaotic Alkutar is becoming… whether you want it or not, it’ll be uncomfortable for you to stay here. Even going outside will be difficult.”

“I’m fine, though…”

However, despite what she said, more than two weeks had passed since her last proper outing.

She was avoiding going out because she was feeling uneasy about running into Imperial citizens.

Once the official delegations arrived, her world would shrink even further.

Then she might run into people she had known in society.

“So, Seria—if you’re willing, how about we take a trip to the western oasis for a while?”

“O-oasis?”

“Yes. In the western part of the Kuth territory, there’s a very large, clear oasis—along with a village.”

“Wow… I’d love that!”

Seria’s blue eyes sparkled wide as she imagined the oasis village in her mind. Seeing her so full of expectation, Kashan let out a relieved smile.

“And there’s something else… something I planned to tell you once we arrived.”

“Yes? There’s more?”

“In fact, His Majesty has granted us permission to use a royal family villa.”

“Wh-what? F-for us?”

“Yes.”

Seria’s eyes widened in disbelief. She was well aware of how unprecedented it was to open a royal residence to outsiders. While perhaps less extreme than the rigid, closed-off imperial family of the Empire, this was still astonishing.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the matter, but the truth is that we’ve benefited greatly from the Kuth tribe officially beginning diplomacy and trade with the Empire. His Majesty said he couldn’t disregard your contribution to that, Seria. Strictly speaking, it’s a gesture meant to thank you, not me.”

“But I haven’t done anything. I don’t know if I deserve a gift like that…”

“It’s all right. Just by living here, adapting well, and being part of this place, you helped lift the label of ‘savages’ from us. That alone means a great deal.”

Seria’s cheeks flushed bright red. Instead of answering, she buried her face in Kashan’s chest, shyly nodding.

“I’m so excited.”

“So am I. I’ve never gone on a trip with someone before…”

“You’ve never traveled?”

Seria lifted her head and stared up at him with wide, incredulous eyes. Kashan scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly.

“Of course not. Unless you count being dispatched to the border regions… or infiltrating the empire to observe their movements.”

“Th-that doesn’t count as traveling!”

“I suspected as much.”

Seria couldn’t hide her astonishment. This was hardly surprising, given that she had been on quite a few trips in her lifetime.