Today was the scheduled day for meeting with the territory’s people.

From early morning, maids rushed into the young baron’s bedroom. In their hands were modest dresses and accessories with subdued colors.

They were appropriately valuable enough not to be disregarded, yet adequately plain so people wouldn’t frown upon the mistress’s extravagance.

While she could simply wear whatever they prepared for her, psychologically she struggled to find her bearings.

A voice inside screamed to just stay confined in the bedroom and not go anywhere. However, she couldn’t help but think of Aaron.

He wouldn’t have arranged this meeting without reason.

Aaron was the one acting as the actual lord on behalf of the baron who was confined to his sickbed.

Naturally, people would be curious about what kind of person the future lord’s companion was.

It seemed that in Tudra, it was customary to appear before the territory’s people after marriage. Otherwise, there would be no reason to proudly present a seductress who deserved rejection before everyone.

Since Aaron was enduring the discomfort, she too had to do her part.

Karen inspected Lucilia’s overall appearance. From her languid nod, it was clear she had passed with ease.

Why wouldn’t she?

Karen had overseen all of this in place of Aaron, who had no interest in women’s grooming.

It wasn’t particularly pleasant to obediently follow the head maid’s orders, but she had no grounds to object. Karen skillfully managed the situation while occasionally reminding her that it was Aaron’s wish, so what could she say?

“A carriage is waiting in the front yard.”

“Where is the young baron?”

“He’s already aboard.”

It seemed they would travel together in the carriage. Despite staying in his bedroom, she felt newly embarrassed.

The reception also worried her.

She had many thoughts about what words to use in conversation, what expressions to make, and what attitude to take with them.

Perhaps she seemed hesitant, as Karen mentioned Aaron again.

“The young master is waiting, so let’s depart quickly.”

The hem of her dark green dress rippled with each step she took on the floor.

Lucilia’s expression, which had been full of worry, brightened considerably after looking up at the clear sky. She wanted to stay like this a little longer, as lowering her head would fill her view with the bleached landscape.

She heard Karen coughing behind her, but pretended not to notice as she steadied her breath, leaning on the open sky.

But her timid rebellion was short-lived, and soon she stepped into the front yard where a chilly wind was blowing.

Lucilia swept her gaze across the line of carriages and horses.

Knights who would escort the carriage were positioned at the front and back, and Aaron’s carriage was in the middle, waiting only for her.

As soon as Lucilia appeared, Rombon had already dismounted from his horse, seemingly ready to receive her.

Rombon silently paid his respects to her as she approached, then opened the door for her.

With a flushed expression, she held the hem of her dress and stepped on the footboard, unconsciously looking up.

Even though he must have sensed her presence, Aaron kept his eyes closed and didn’t even offer a brief greeting.

If they had shared meals together normally, it would have been less awkward than this. The air inside seemed to clump and lodge everywhere.

Despite her effort to steady her breath by looking at the sky, there wasn’t enough oxygen to inhale, barely alleviating her feeling of suffocation.

It was Lucilia who first broke the ice.

“Did you have breakfast?”

“Yes.”

Judging by his immediate response, he wasn’t dozing.

Just as she gave up trying to create awkward conversation, his heavily closed eyelids lifted.

“A letter will arrive either today or tomorrow.”

“Really? You mean the letter I sent to my father? It’s coming faster than I expected.”

Unlike Lucilia, who was excited with joy, Aaron showed no emotional fluctuation.

The carriage, carrying two people with bizarrely different textures, rattled out of the castle.

* * *

When she pushed aside the curtain draped over the window, the village that was home to the territory’s people spread out before her.

A cold wind blew across the pastures entering early winter.

Nature’s resting period endures a season silently to bloom with vitality. Hoping that she too had such driving force, Lucilia composed her pounding heart.

After traveling for quite some time, they arrived at the foot of a hill in the pasture.

As soon as they spotted the young baron’s procession, the villagers dropped what they were doing and flocked together.

Aaron had told her what behavior she should take today.

“Just stay still.”

It was exactly the same as what the baron had asked of her before. When she first heard those words, she was confused and her pride was hurt, but now she had grown accustomed to it.

“I will answer all questions.”

“Yes.”

“Also refrain from any noticeable reactions or actions.”

Lucilia agreed and then gathered her dress. She was on high alert not to embarrass herself by tripping over her skirt when stepping on the footboard.

People hurriedly bowed their heads toward Aaron, who had exited the carriage first.

It was evident that they deeply trusted him as the ruler of this region.

His imposing figure alone was reassuring, and with his steadfast gaze and calm expression added, he provided psychological stability to everyone with plenty to spare.

In contrast, Lucilia was so tense that she couldn’t even control her expression according to her will.

Just as she was about to stretch her foot, thinking only of not falling:

“Take my arm.”

Aaron stood by the carriage and offered his bent arm.

She hesitated briefly, but quickly placed her hand on his arm since people were watching them.

Lucilia moved as Aaron escorted her. She was so nervous that she could hardly feel her body, unsure if her legs were functioning properly.

She moved her legs blindly while surveying the landscape with her eyes.

Not having heard the details, she didn’t know for what purpose they were meeting the territory’s people today.

She understood it as the newly married young baroness familiarizing herself, albeit lightly, with the management of the territory.

Lucilia tried to remember how the people of Tudra lived.

There was definitely a difference from life in the capital.

While Tudra must have commercial areas, livestock raising and farming seemed to have a larger proportion.

She headed with Aaron toward what appeared to be a communal workspace.

People had set up several tents where they were weaving fabric from sheep’s wool. In front of the tents, they were roasting sheep slaughtered to welcome the young baron and his wife.

A man who seemed to be a representative among the gathered people moved along with them, providing explanations.

“We were preparing for winter. Thanks to the young baron allowing us free trade, we’ve sold a considerable amount of grain and fabric. We can’t express enough gratitude for enabling us to get through winter without hunger each year.”

Lucilia nodded slightly at this newly learned fact.

So this is how they make and distribute goods.

As they welcomed Aaron with praise, she felt her own shoulders rising as well. At this rate, contrary to her concerns, she might enjoy the day.

It was around the time when the appetizing smell of roasting lamb was stimulating her sense of smell.

A little child came running with a bright face. Then, as if mesmerized, the child stared at her orange eyes that emitted a mysterious radiance.

“Wow… Like an angel!”

Laughter naturally escaped her.

She wanted to pat the child’s head, but feeling it might be inappropriate to touch freely, she just smiled.

However, the child’s mother, who had chased after her child, grabbed the little one’s arm as if snatching them away and forcibly turned them around.

Not satisfied with that, she embraced the child’s back firmly.

It was an instinctive act to protect the child from making eye contact with a seductress.

Lucilia, who had done nothing wrong yet became an object of contempt, was at a loss with her face turning bright red.

The people’s piercing gazes felt like they were cutting into her flesh point by point.

It would be nice if her husband stepped in to smooth things over, but Aaron merely observed without reproach.

The child’s mother, who had unconsciously committed a discourtesy, was terrified at first but relieved upon seeing Aaron’s reaction.

Then, as if displeased with Lucilia standing proudly, she completely turned her body to create a wall.

She couldn’t dare show it directly to their faces, but her rejection had already flowed out through her expression and actions.

Lucilia, properly stigmatized, belatedly panicked and her pupils trembled.

Tears were about to come, but for Aaron’s sake, she gritted her teeth and held them back.

It was right then.

“Apologize.”

Surprisingly, Aaron’s rebuke was directed at the child’s mother.