No matter where in Siscreek Castle Callius chose to sleep, it was his freedom. Surely, it wasn’t because he feared that Leticia might sneak into his room at dawn and thus avoided sleeping in his bedroom.

He was a man who was confident that even when they shared a room at an inn, Leticia wouldn’t dare to lay a finger on him. Thinking this far, Leticia let out a small sigh.

Where he chose to sleep was none of her concern. It was just that the quiet dawn deepened her idle thoughts. Leticia shook off the unnecessary musings.

“…Madam, you’re up early again today.”

“Good morning, Christine.”

Leticia, who greeted Christine as she appeared at dawn, was as composed as ever.

—

The village was more crowded than usual. It was market day, which took place once every few days.

“Madam, please stay behind me.”

If it weren’t for Christine blocking the crowd with an intimidating air, Leticia wouldn’t have been able to make her way through the bustling market.

As they moved forward, a child suddenly darted out in front of Leticia before Christine could stop them.

“Ouch!”

“Oh dear. You should watch where you’re going, little one!”

“I-I’m sorry!”

The child had simply bumped into her as if falling into her arms. Leticia reached out and stopped Christine.

“Are you alright?”

The child looked up at Leticia and nodded. At that moment, Leticia noticed three small dots under the child’s eye. The child fidgeted nervously before dashing off in the direction they had been heading.

Three dots under the eye.

“That child is from the Dorel tribe.”

Leticia looked in the direction the child had run. In their arms was a basket containing bread that seemed to have been baked several days ago.

“We need to hurry, Christine.”

“Understood.”

At Leticia’s request, Christine’s demeanor grew even more intimidating. She immediately cleared a path in the direction the child had run.

—

The place where the foreigners resided was a secluded corner of the village. They weren’t allowed to leave their designated area and needed the guards’ permission to obtain food. It seemed that only young children were permitted to move freely, likely to avoid unnecessary conflicts with the villagers.

“Greetings, Madam.”

“You’re working hard.”

Perhaps the guards had been informed of Leticia’s visit because they guided her inside without asking for an explanation.

“There’s a man who oversees the Dorel tribe, like a village chief. He’s not dangerous, but still, please be cautious.”

Inside a building that resembled an old inn, a man sat at a table in the center, looking like a prisoner. Contrary to Leticia’s expectations, the man didn’t appear to be much older than thirty.

“Thank you for waiting.”

“What is it you want to say to me?”

The man’s demeanor was hostile. At that moment, Leticia understood Callius’s warning that this wouldn’t be easy. Yet, even if the man had been cooperative, she wouldn’t have trusted his willingness completely. His blunt attitude was preferable.

“I’m offering you land. If you accept, you won’t have to live off the food that’s handed out to you anymore. However, you’ll need to pay a portion of the crops you cultivate as rent.”

“We’ll be leaving soon.”

“Do you really think that’s possible?”

“…”

Returning was only an option if there was a land to return to. They were wanderers by nature. For them, a completely safe haven didn’t exist. Of course, that didn’t mean this place was suitable for them either.

“What I mean is, if you prove your worth on this land, it could become a place for you to live.”

“Under that hunting dog?”

There was no need to ask who he meant by “hunting dog.” They, too, were aware of Callius’s nickname.

“We won’t work under that b*stard.”

He was clearly misunderstanding something.

“This isn’t a proposal.”

They had to contribute to farming on this land. Only then would Callius trust her resolve. Besides, this was also beneficial for them. Leticia believed they wouldn’t want to continue sending their children out to scavenge for food.

“Lord Maxis won’t let you leave alive. He thinks it would tarnish his honor if you were to escape. So, why not focus on what you can do right now?”

What they could do right now—even if it meant compromising their pride or dignity. Leticia’s words weren’t just directed at him; they were also a reminder to herself.

“Even if it seems like you’re serving the one holding your leash now, who’s to say you can’t take that leash away later?”

It wasn’t something she should say as Callius’s wife. When she finished speaking, the man’s expression turned peculiar.

“You’re a strange one. I’m talking about your husband, yet you speak as if it’s someone else entirely.”

Instead of answering, Leticia stood up. She had said everything she needed to say.

“I’ll make arrangements so the land can be cultivated soon.”

“And if we refuse?”

“You’d better not. Next time, it won’t be me who comes—it’ll be Lord Maxis.”

The man closed his mouth with a dissatisfied expression. With nothing left to say, Leticia turned toward the door.

Suddenly, the sound of a chair being dragged harshly echoed as the man stood up abruptly. It was then that Leticia realized his arm had been tied to the chair’s armrest the entire time. Was that what the guards meant by “not dangerous”?

“Then why not come yourself next time?”

“That’s not for you to decide.”

“Who knows? We might even become good friends.”

Leticia needed friends more than ever, but not to the extent of provoking Callius’s temper by befriending the Dorel tribe.

“If you need me, feel free to come find me.”

His tone had completely changed from the initial hostility. There was an odd intensity in his gaze.

“I don’t think I’ll need your help for anything beyond farming.”

“You never know. I can do things others can’t.”

His words made Leticia think of the supposed sorcery of the Dorel tribe.

‘But that doesn’t exist.’

Before he could attempt to sway her with empty words, Leticia left the old inn. As she emerged, Christine quickly approached her.

“How was it?”

“I’m not sure yet… but it wasn’t as bad as I expected.”

Though he had made the cryptic comment about becoming good friends, it at least meant he was willing to cooperate with her plans. Christine nodded and climbed into the carriage with Leticia.

“That’s a relief. I was worried he might try some kind of sorcery.”

“You said you’ve never seen it yourself.”

Christine spoke in a tone that lacked conviction.

“I haven’t seen it myself, but I do know that many of the foreigners genuinely believe in it.”

Her words implied that she hadn’t witnessed it either.

“Let’s head back now.”

“Oh, before that, I found out why the village was so noisy.”

“Did a circus troupe come by?”

A visit from a traveling circus troupe would explain the commotion. Christine shook her head.

“It’s something better. A famous healer from the capital has arrived. Would you like to meet them, Madam?”

“A healer?”

Leticia wasn’t particularly interested. But then Christine added something intriguing.

“Yes. They used to be the physician for a noble family in the capital, but after the family fell, they’ve been wandering. Oh, I heard this directly from the healer.”

“You met them yourself?”

“Yes. I didn’t stay long, though. I just wanted to confirm the situation…”

“I’m not scolding you. …Alright, let’s meet them.”

“Shall we?”

Christine had grown curious after hearing from the guards that the cause of the commotion was a healer. While Leticia had recovered as if nothing had happened after her recent fever, Christine thought it wouldn’t hurt for her to receive a proper check-up. Seeing Leticia’s reaction, Christine felt reassured that she had made the right decision.

“It won’t take long if we just stop by.”

“Alright. Let’s go there.”

After reassuring her one last time, the carriage set off.

“There it is.”

Earlier, the area had been teeming with people, but now, for some reason, it was quiet.

“They said they’d only be seeing patients for a few hours. I checked, and they’re not a fraud. I’ve met many healers due to my frequent injuries, and they even guessed how I got my scars.”

“They must be skilled.”

“Who knows? They might be able to help with your symptoms, Madam.”

Despite Christine’s words, Leticia’s mind was preoccupied with something else—the idea of a family physician who had become a wanderer after their noble house fell.

“Doctor, are you inside? It’s the person who visited earlier.”

When Christine knocked, there was movement inside. Soon, a man opened the door and glanced between Christine and Leticia.

“You are a distinguished guest. Please, come in.”

His tone was polite, his gaze warm. His thick eyebrows and beard were neatly groomed. Leticia hid her trembling fingers within her sleeve.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss. I’m Jeremiah.”

“She’s not a miss; address her as Madam.”

“Oh, my apologies, Madam.”

Leticia took the hand he offered. Her heart pounded as if it would burst. Summoning all her composure, she spoke to hide her feelings.

“Christine, please step outside for a moment.”

“What? But…”

“It’s fine. If anything happens, I’ll call for you.”

Though puzzled, Christine left the room. Even after she left, Leticia couldn’t bring herself to speak. She realized how overwhelming emotions could render one speechless.

“I’m glad to see you, Miss.”

Unable to wait any longer, Jeremiah spoke first. Only then did Leticia manage to respond with a voice heavy with emotion.

“I’m glad you’re alive, Jeremy.”

Leticia embraced him and tightly shut her eyes to hold back her tears.