“Elaine, that vase from yesterday…”

“I hardly touched it, so don’t worry. But we should burn the box it came in as well.”

Understanding what Selaia meant, Elaine shook her head as she answered. Hearing that she hadn’t been heavily exposed to the arsenic, Selaia let out a sigh of relief.

“The use of green pigment mixed with arsenic compounds has been banned in Teian for over ten years. However, it seems that Tropez has yet to follow suit.”

Upon hearing Laska’s words, Selaia could not bring herself to reply. Although the toxic green pigment was not illegal in Tropez, it was never used within the Imperial Household, who were aware of its dangers.

She had suspected as much when she saw the color, but she hadn’t expected the food to actually be poisoned.

‘If Hendrick had chosen the gift, he would have had no way of being unaware of the arsenic. So why give him a poisoned vase? Was it to eliminate me? Or Rote? Surely not—that child with his blood mixed in.’

Her pale fingertips trembled.

“My lady.”

Elaine and Maximilian, seeming to guess her thoughts, looked at her with concern.

‘…No, wait.’

Selaia faltered as she recalled yesterday’s events.

“It is a gift from His Majesty.”

Not everyone in the Empire was addressed as His Majesty.

Furthermore, Hendrick said nothing about the gift that had been delivered so discreetly.

‘If Hendrick had offered it as a gesture of favor, even without knowing its danger, he would have boasted of it in some way.’

Besides, Hendrick had no need for such a petty scheme to threaten her and Rote. If he wished, he could take their lives at any moment with ease.

‘Which leaves only those, aside from Hendrick, who may be called ‘Her Majesty.’’

The Empress—or the Dowager Empress.

Either way, this was a warning. Selaia’s eyes grew serious.

“Your ex-husband may still have lingering feelings for you, my lady, but it seems the people around him do not.”

Laska muttered in a casual tone.

Selaia looked at him. Although he didn’t know the details, he had guessed that the gift hadn’t come from Hendrick.

“The gift wasn’t from your ex-husband. It was from someone else. If it had been him, he never would have said what he said to you yesterday.”

Suggesting that he knew more than he was letting on, Laska’s words caused Elaine to turn to Selaia in startled disbelief.

Selaia gave a faint nod. Seeing this, Elaine whispered, “Good heavens,” and pressed both hands to her pale face.

Watching, Maximilian lowered his voice and offered advice to Selaia.

“My lady, given the unstable political climate and how few people you can trust, perhaps someone with no ties at all would be a better choice. After all, you’ve already verified his credentials.”

“…”

The imperial family and nobles showed no concern for the people’s safety. The Empress was carrying the heir to the bloodline, while Rote remained nothing more than a thorn in her side.

With every threat directed at her precious daughter, Selaia knew there was only one choice before her.
After carefully weighing her options, she spoke at last, her expression resolute.

“I will appoint you as captain of the guard, Mr. Laska.”

At those words, Laska gave a broad smile.

“I will devote myself to the duty.”

Approaching her, Laska bent to one knee.

Selaia hesitated, then slowly extended her hand in a gesture of fealty. The hand that took hers was almost twice the size.

“I swear by Ceylon, the star that never fades.”

He carried the scent of earth and wind. His mysterious blue eyes fixed upon her.

“I will protect you and the young lady with all my strength.”

Soft lips pressed against the back of her hand.

The unfamiliar, ticklish sensation stirred something strangely unsteady in her chest.

Feigning composure, Selaia gave a nod.

“I’ll be counting on you, Laska.”

⭕ ⭕ ⭕

Ultimately, they didn’t need to decide what to do with the vase.

This was because, before Vera could reach the parlour acting on Selaia’s orders, Rote had already broken it.

“I was looking at it because it was so pretty, but then I hit the desk and it fell…”

Selaia, startled, immediately checked to see if the child had touched the vase herself—but thankfully, Rote reassured her that she had only bumped the desk where it sat, never the vase itself.

It was unlike Rote to make such a clumsy mistake, but Selaia was too relieved by her daughter’s safety to dwell on it.

Unaware of how dangerous the shattered vase truly was, Rote was instead overjoyed by the news that Laska had become captain of Cheringen’s guard.

Seeing her daughter so happy—as though she had just received her most desired birthday gift—Selaia, who had still harbored doubts, found her heart leaning toward the more hopeful side.

And the very first thing Laska did after becoming captain of the guard was repair the roof of the lord’s manor.

“You’ve done such a wonderful job, Mr. Laska! Next, could you also fix the beams in the stables?”

“No problem at all.”

Vera had been waiting a long time for the chance to repair the estate’s dilapidated buildings, so she was delighted to keep Laska busy. Laska, all smiles, obliged her every request.

After observing him for several days, Vera realized that he was an exceptional worker. He was strong, skilful and hard-working.

“It seems we’ve found quite a useful man, my lady!”

“I don’t know why he’s so good at even this sort of work, but he is certainly capable.”

Vera nodded in satisfaction as she watched Laska chopping firewood. Beside her, Elaine reluctantly agreed before heading back into the manor. Either way, it was fortunate to gain such a capable worker for free.

“Still, it almost feels like we tricked him into taking the job.”

Selaia rubbed her face with both hands.

Meanwhile, Laska split a thick log cleanly in four with one swing of his axe.

His firm, muscular arms were revealed beneath his rolled-up sleeves, and his sweat-dampened blonde hair gleamed even more brightly in the sunlight.

“Will this be enough firewood?”

Laska stacked the last of it in the clearing behind the estate, then turned to ask his employer a question. Selaia nodded quickly in response.

“Yes, more than enough—it’s overflowing.”

“The firewood may be done, but there’s still work left!”

Vera suddenly interjected with a bright smile, pointing to a heavy sack lying nearby.

Hoisting the sack easily onto his shoulder, Laska asked,

“And what’s this, Miss Vera?”

“Seed potatoes!”

The answer came from elsewhere.

Laska bent his head low. Rote, who couldn’t even reach his waist, looked up at him with a determined face.

“Seed potatoes?”

“Mm-hm. In spring, you plant seeds so you can harvest in the fall. But for potatoes, you don’t plant seeds—you plant seed potatoes instead.”

At her clear explanation, Laska nodded with an Ahh. Watching him accept it, Rote glanced around eagerly. Selaia noticed how excited her daughter was.

“Wait just a moment—I’ll fetch a shovel from the shed!”

“Rote, wait. Laska should rest a little first…”

Selaia tried to stop her, but her daughter had already dashed off to fetch a shovel, her little head bobbing excitedly as she went. Vera followed her, saying that she would get the other supplies. Soon, only Selaia and Laska remained in the clearing.

“Laska, if you’re tired, rest for today. Farming can start tomorrow. I’ll explain it to Rote for you.”

“I’m fine, my lady.”

“But you haven’t even had a break.”

“I can rest for a moment while the young lady is gone.”

Laska smiled broadly.

‘He said he wanted to take time to reflect on life, but at this rate, he’ll be too busy even for that.’

Selaia’s expression grew complicated, mixed with worry and a twinge of guilt. Perhaps she should tell Vera to prepare some meat for dinner tonight…

“It really must be spring already. Working like this makes it quite warm.”

Murmuring to himself, Laska lifted the hem of his shirt and wiped the sweat from his face. Unthinkingly, the taut muscles of his abdomen were revealed, flexing as he moved.

Selaia quickly, quietly turned her gaze aside. It wasn’t proper to look at another’s bare skin.

“My lady.”

“Y-yes…?”

When he called out to her, Selaia glanced back at him. For some reason, her heart beat faster, as though she had just made a discovery.

“It’s nothing, just curiosity. How is farming here in Cheringen?”

By then, he had already lowered his shirt again, regarding her with a gentle expression.

“Well, truthfully, not well enough to sustain the domain. Wheat doesn’t grow at all… but since the potato harvest keeps improving, we have to keep trying.”

Laska nodded, seeming to understand.

“Miss Vera told me that… She said that you used your own money to buy fertilizer and help restore the farmland here. That’s very commendable of you.”

Cheringen is a border region, so central support is limited. As its lord, I could only provide limited assistance. After all, it’s my responsibility to the land.”

Selaia answered humbly, feeling his steady gaze on her. Startled by the weight of his gaze, she lifted her head in puzzlement.

“Do you have something to say…?”

“My lady, just a moment.”

Laska bent slightly at the waist and slowly extended his hand.

The movement was so natural that she didn’t think to avoid it — it was neither too fast nor too slow.

It was only when his warm, solid fingertip brushed her cheek that she realised what was happening.

“Ah.”

Selaia’s eyes widened at the light touch against her face. Above her, long lashes cast shadows and sunlight slid down the straight bridge of his nose to lips that seemed unbearably close.