“Do you always faint so easily? Or is it a nasty illness you developed after throwing yourself into the Senat River in the middle of winter?”

“The journey must have been exhausting.”

“That’s all it took?”

For Callius, who went to the battlefield almost daily, it might have seemed trivial. But for Leticia, it wasn’t. Since throwing herself into the Senat River, she hadn’t had a proper chance to recover. His sharp remark only reminded Leticia that she had failed to fulfill her end of their deal.

“I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“If it were something you could avoid by being careful, you wouldn’t have collapsed in the first place.”

It was unclear whether his words were meant as a simple remark to himself or as a rebuke to her. Either way, they caused Nora and the maids to glance at the two of them nervously.

How could someone speak so cruelly, even with just a few words? Nora was worried that Leticia, already struggling in this foreign place, might have been hurt by his words.

“Then shall we talk about something else? We have something to discuss, don’t we?”

“Such as?”

“Like what I need to do for you to bring me Mathias’s head.”

Between Leticia and Callius, there was no need for any other emotions. Leticia wanted Callius to be her sword, and Callius intended to use that to fulfill his ambitions. But it was easier said than done.

“For now, it would be a relief if you could manage not to collapse again.”

His tone was mocking. Leticia, having finished her meal, was now simply watching him eat. This wasn’t how things should be. Leticia genuinely wished for Callius to desire Mathias’s head.

“I’ll gradually consider what you’re capable of doing. So, I trust you truly understand what I’m saying.”

It was as though he doubted whether Leticia could even accomplish something so basic. He ate quickly, as if his sole purpose was to fill his stomach, and then rose from his seat and disappeared just as suddenly as he had appeared.

Leticia, who had been sitting silently in thought for a while, lifted her head. Nora, who had been watching her, flinched slightly.

“Thank you, Nora. The food was delicious.”

“I-I’m glad to hear that, madam.”

When Leticia also left the table, an odd silence lingered.

“What’s gotten into the master? Why is he being so polite?”

“Indeed, Nora.”

Nora and the maids tilted their heads in confusion as they cleared the dishes. The Callius they knew wasn’t someone who behaved politely. It was strange.

Normally, he would speak as harshly and rudely as possible, then look at them as if he had done nothing wrong. That wasn’t all. If something displeased him, he would often break whatever was within reach.

To Nora, he now seemed like nothing more than a slightly irritable gentleman.

—

Leticia pondered what she could do. When she was still the lady of Rearbon, she had never spent a day idly. Even during her time at Damian Academy, it had been the same.

[Is someone chasing after you, Leticia? Why don’t you take it easy?]

Her friends couldn’t understand her. Their reasoning was that she didn’t need to try so hard since she was already the untouchable lady of Rearbon.

“Madam, why don’t you take a break?”

Now, hearing the same words from Christine, Leticia found it strange. Never in her life had she had as much leisure as she did now.

“How about having a cup of tea and relaxing? That’s what other noble ladies do.”

Even Christine’s voice carried a tone of bewilderment.

“I’m resting enough.”

“But it doesn’t seem like it. You haven’t put that book down for hours.”

“Reading is my way of resting.”

“With a book that thick?”

Christine looked at Leticia with concern. Indeed, Leticia’s complexion wasn’t great, even if it was better than before. Her reading pace was slow, and she kept rereading the same page over and over because she couldn’t focus.

“Why don’t you take a nap instead?”

“I don’t need one.”

She had been taught that naps were a waste of time, especially for someone like her, who had a duty to fulfill. Leticia reflected on why Christine kept urging her to rest and realized something herself.

The only thing she was now responsible for was her frail body. Reading a book no longer counted as fulfilling her responsibilities. Once she realized that, she could no longer focus on the words on the page.

“Lord Maxis said you shouldn’t collapse again.”

It seemed that, to Christine, Leticia looked as though she might faint at any moment. Finally, Leticia closed the book. It wasn’t because she feared she’d exhaust herself simply by reading. Nor was it because she thought there was no need to read.

Callius had told her not to collapse. Not out of genuine concern, but because he believed she could offer him nothing else. Leticia needed to shatter that belief. Only then could she earn Callius’s trust.

‘So, what should I do?’

Her father’s voice from long ago echoed in her mind.

[Leticia, remember your worth.]

Leticia had known her worth, just as her father had said. She was the heir to the family and needed to develop the abilities required to lead Rearbon. That had been her worth.

Now, she had no worth. That fact made her anxious.

And then, a few days later, an opportunity arose for her to prove her worth.

—

A letter arrived from the capital.

“They’re raising the tribute again.”

“My goodness, this is the third time already!”

Unlike Nora, who was horrified, Callius showed no reaction, as if he had expected it. Contrary to Leticia’s assumption that she wouldn’t see much of him, she had been having breakfast with him every morning.

Just as she ate at the same time every day, so did he.

“So, we’ll just pay it.”

Callius spoke as if it were no big deal, but raising the tribute was a significant issue.

The nobles of Metherdea all paid a fixed amount to the royal family as tribute. It was a way to demonstrate loyalty. However, the portion of the royal treasury funded by these tributes wasn’t particularly large. The tribute was more of a symbol to ensure that the nobles wouldn’t betray the royal family.

Raising the tribute was the royal family’s way of pressuring the nobles. It was a threat, implying that refusal would result in their “leash” being cut.

“If we raise the tenant farmers’ rent again, the burden on the people will be too great. You know that!”

Callius seemed indifferent, narrowing his eyes at Nora’s nagging but showing no sign of considering the issue significant.

“The reason for raising the tribute is…”

“I know. It’s their way of telling us to behave.”

Callius cut off Leticia’s words irritably.

“So, should we refuse and give up the castle? At least until Mathias, that vermin, is dead, we need to at least pretend to comply.”

“But, master…!”

“We don’t necessarily have to raise the rent.”

Leticia could feel his gaze turn toward her.

“Do you have another plan?”

“Perhaps.”

There was a way to increase revenue without raising the rent. To confirm it, she would need to inspect the estate.

“Let me take a look around the estate. Then I’ll tell you the plan.”

He hesitated, silent as if considering her words.

“I can’t help but think you might have other intentions.”

He spoke as though she might use the opportunity to escape. His suspicion was valid. Leticia had spoken as if she wanted him to become her sword, but in truth, he was Mathias’s most valuable weapon. If the relationship between him and Mathias soured, it would be good news for Leticia.

“I have no other intentions.”

“That remains to be seen.”

Then, as if it were nothing, he made a chilling remark.

“If you do have other intentions and act on them, I’ll kill Christine.”

“…”

“And, of course, I’ll find you afterward.”

It was his way of saying he wouldn’t leave any vulnerabilities for Mathias to exploit. Leticia understood his words.

“Then I’ll take that as permission to go out.”

With that, the meal ended. Callius could feel Christine staring at him.

“If you don’t want to die, keep her in line.”

Christine’s eyebrows furrowed reflexively.

She should have known from the moment he offered to clear her debt in exchange for her loyalty. Christine clicked her tongue at Callius’s casual threats of murder as he continued his meal as if nothing had happened.