The plan hadn’t flowed smoothly from the start. Maria thought being dispatched as part of a delegation meant just showing up, but there were screenings to pass and mountains of paperwork to prepare.

The royal palace demanded document submissions almost daily, and Maria nearly wore out her wrist filling them all out.

Maria had expected convincing her parents to be the hardest part, but things resolved more easily than anticipated. Nobles had already heard whispers about Geta, and their interest centered on who would join the delegation.

When her parents learned their daughter had been selected, they felt immensely proud. There were some risk factors, but Maria managed to resolve them with lies delivered with all her might.

Most assumed only the knight order and a few nobles would attend, and that wasn’t wrong. The only thing gossipmongers hadn’t predicted was the rumor that Claude and Luca, expected to depart together for Geta, would be leaving separately.

Luca Clodence was the most crucial figure in this itinerary, so people expected Claude to be dispatched alongside him for protection. But the person designated to protect Luca was someone entirely different.

That wasn’t all. The scandal between Luca Clodence and Duke Claude Aemon had originally started when Luca entered House Aemon. But Luca suddenly left House Aemon, so the rumors gained momentum and all sorts of talk began circulating.

There was discord between them, or Luca had abandoned him. That’s why Claude was joining the diplomatic delegation late, and so on.

Maria knew all sorts of rumors were flying, but she alone didn’t believe them. The reason Claude was joining the delegation late was itself a setting from the original work.

‘Claude has to arrive late so Luca gets a chance to seduce the sub-gong. With Claude beside him, how could that possibly work?’

After that, Maria visited Luca several times repeating like a parrot, “Do I really have to do this? I can’t go,” and “I won’t be any help if I go,” but Luca’s decision remained firm.

He hammered in the point that even if she wouldn’t help the delegation, Maria was absolutely necessary as his supplier.

‘D*mn protagonist, d*mn Luca! Just let it all go to hell.’

She’d vowed never to get entangled with the original work again, but Luca the protagonist trampled that far too easily.

Maria briefly worried whether she could actually get approved as part of the delegation after being dragged in so suddenly, but a week before departure, she received notice that all procedures were complete.

Some people had submitted documents a month prior only to get approval the day before departure and barely managed to prepare.

She never expected Luca, always going around with that gentle smile, to have this much drive and influence.

Only later did she learn these pointless procedures weren’t required by the Kingdom of Samoa but demanded by Geta.

In any case, with Luca’s help—or not-help—she finished preparations faster than anyone else and differently from the rest.

The month-long journey to Geta was truly an ordeal among ordeals.

They spent days riding in carriages toward the port, then boarded a ship bound for Geta. Problems arose from the start of the voyage. While others didn’t get seasick, Maria suffered severe motion sickness and could barely eat, vomiting constantly.

Fortunately, she managed to endure somewhat with medicine, but whenever nausea surged and she rushed to the bathroom, Ian looked at Maria with slightly pitying eyes.

With her haggard appearance and teary eyes, she looked at Luca.

‘Do you know what kind of hell am I going through because of you?’

She sent him that look, and Luca just turned his head away slightly.

But the schedule had already begun. The ship had departed. Like the saying goes, if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it—she gradually grew determined. Since things had come to this, she’d help Luca as his supplier and get a look at the original work’s sub-gong. Then she’d hide like a shadow and quietly return to Samoa.

In Geta, the sub-gong would naturally fall for Luca, and there would be progress in Claude and Luca’s relationship too.

Maria began thinking positively about everything. She did her best to assist Luca. She secretly supplied him with mana bit by bit every night, and when Ian poured healing magic into Luca, she made sure no one disturbed them. She even changed Luca’s bedding covers, and if he seemed thirsty and about to call a servant, Maria rushed over first to bring water. She handled all those tasks.

Whenever Maria took care of Luca’s inconveniences, she always flashed her characteristic corporate smile and winked. Then Luca would freeze for a moment and tremble. He seemed deeply grateful.

Riding the ship was difficult, but the schedule during that time was very simple. They’d roughly wake up, eat meals, and either organize upcoming schedules individually or gather for meetings.

Of course, the seasickness hadn’t stopped, but she adapted enough to attend meetings. At first, she naturally expected she wouldn’t be allowed into meetings. But Sir Valery Abuychev, the representative of this diplomatic mission, was an open-minded person and didn’t much care who from the delegation attended meetings.

The meetings were roughly about how much benefit they’d gain from Geta through this diplomatic exchange.

Maria initially attended meetings diligently and absorbed the content, but as time passed, she grew bored and tired of conversations that seemed to circle around the same points.

And as time went on, she realized what the biggest and most serious problem of this journey was. Namely:

‘How do I endure this maddening boredom any longer……?’

Everyone aboard the ship lived leisurely, as if accustomed or as if they’d expected this.

Just when she was sick of seeing the same scenery every day and doing the same things, they finally arrived at Geta’s port.

“Welcome.”

The delegation was greeted by Getan warriors and a noble in somewhat unusual attire. He welcomed people with an accent almost identical to Samoa natives.

Maria felt ready to collapse, but she was amazed by the humid climate felt immediately upon arriving in Geta and the Getans in their extremely unique and revealing clothing.

“We sincerely welcome the distinguished guests from the Kingdom of Samoa to Geta.”

The Kingdom of Samoa people all looked terrible from the long journey, and some kept dry heaving, still queasy despite having disembarked.

“Thank you for such a warm welcome. Your name?”

“I am Hamun. The Sun’s First Wing.”

Sir Valery Abuychev showed a slightly surprised expression at Hamun’s greeting. Sir Abuychev’s expression wouldn’t look that surprised unless the person was quite high-ranking. Perhaps for that reason, Sir Abuychev immediately apologized for his rudeness and gave his name.

“My goodness…… my greeting was too rude for such an esteemed person. I am Valery Abuychev of the Kingdom of Samoa delegation.”

Sir Valery revealed his rudeness with a greeting placing his right hand on his left chest. Seeing Sir Abuychev’s formal greeting, Hamun brought his necklace to his forehead. Then the warriors around him responded with the same gesture. This seemed to be the “Getan-style” greeting.

“You’ve worked hard coming here. We’ll escort you to the palace immediately.”

The Getans acted quickly like warriors. They swiftly gathered the Samoan delegation’s luggage piece by piece and assigned one distinguished guest each, seating them on the horses they’d been riding.

Getan horses had an incredibly fascinating appearance. They were twice the size of ordinary Samoan horses, seemed to have a couple more legs, and instead of a mane, small horns ran from their foreheads to their necks.

“Wow, is this really a horse?”

She asked at the truly fascinating appearance, but the warrior who seated Maria on the horse said nothing. He’d probably been trained not to answer anything. Maria was also exhausted to the limit and didn’t ask further.

The Getan warriors didn’t board the mystical horses. With controlled, well-trained movements, they pulled the reins leading the delegation and left the port.

Everywhere the delegation walked, people in the streets sent welcoming greetings. Everyone cheered, and the delegation gradually approached Geta’s center.

Entering the center, the delegation passed through a giant arched gate. The delegation was genuinely impressed by the size and grandeur—large enough to fit all the delegation members and warriors beneath the arch with room to spare.

“Wow.”

Geta overwhelmed viewers with patterns, writing, and scale they’d never seen before. Maria was genuinely impressed.

Past the gate, cheers incomparable to those at the port rang out.

Waaaaaaah!

Getans with dark skin and white hair warmly welcomed the delegation by scattering flowers or raising weapons in their hands high. Among them were some holding uniquely shaped swords or axes, or raising flowers, necklaces, or even drinking cups. Those without weapons blew kisses to the people of Samoa.

The delegation awkwardly waved at the Getans’ enthusiastic welcome. The welcome made them feel bewildered, like they’d already become people victorious in war.

Maria also awkwardly raised her hand in greeting, but at that moment, her eyes met Luca’s. She didn’t know how she’d made eye contact with him, but after sending Maria an enigmatic look, Luca quickly turned his head away. She felt awkward, but Maria resolutely greeted all the Getans.

Past the center, the party finally arrived at the imperial palace.

Hamun immediately ordered warriors to move the delegation’s luggage, and the delegation was also guided to their lodgings.

During this process, Maria couldn’t close her gaping mouth.

‘This is really insane…… This place seems crazy.’

Maria didn’t think she’d been unable to close her mouth like this even at House Sackelpine or House Aemon. Not only that, when going back and forth to the royal palace—though she’d only wandered a few corridors and the magic tower—even then Maria remembered stopping several times at the palace’s beauty.

But Geta’s palace had a different feel—the weight and grandeur of a legacy with ancient history, though worn, left her spellbound.

Despite her genuinely amazed appearance, some delegation members immediately disappeared to their lodgings, perhaps lacking the stamina to enjoy this.

Maria was also about to move to her assigned lodgings.

Then something massive appeared blocking the delegation.

“Welcome.”

He wore a bright smile, but his eyes examined the delegation as keenly as a snake. He immediately offered a Getan-style greeting to Sir Abuychev.

“You must all be tired from the long journey.”

He immediately moved from Sir Abuychev to Luca, grabbed his cheeks, and kissed both cheeks.

At that moment, the delegation members beside him froze with shocked expressions. But the man, not noticing this, gave a Getan-style greeting to another noble beside him, and when the turn came to Maria, he grabbed her cheeks and gave smacking kisses.

“Wh-what is this……”

Sir Abuychev reacted first. Luca just stood there with a bewildered expression, still unclear what had happened to him.

When a slight commotion arose, Hamun could be seen running from far away. Looking truly surprised with wide eyes, he immediately approached the man and said something in Getan.

“Oh my.”

The man made a slightly troubled expression, then spoke again in Samoan.

“It seems my greeting was rude to foreigners.”

He curled up the corner of his mouth slightly and apologized to Sir Abuychev for his rudeness. But his completely unapologetic eyes didn’t ease the atmosphere.

Maria looked at the man with surprised eyes.

Taller than anyone else present with a muscular physique that exuded intimidation, dark skin with white hair hanging carelessly to his shoulders, wearing revealing Getan clothing even more carelessly—he was the warrior Getans most respected and the sub-gong of the original work.