“We can’t very well take Sir Devonshire with us to buy his own gift… I’ll find someone else soon.”

Although she was the mistress of a poor and valueless domain, Selaia knew that she could not remain unprotected. She was determined to find Devonshire’s replacement as soon as possible.

‘But will anyone truly be willing to serve as both bodyguard and captain of the guard for the same meagre pay?’

“There is no need to hire anyone new.”

At that sudden voice, Selaia lifted her head.

Her light green eyes, tinged with surprise, met the deep navy of Haider’s.

“Perhaps you have forgotten why I was sent here. It is to ensure your safety, Lady Selaia.”

His face was unreadable—so much so that one might mistake his words for reproach. Yet there was no mistaking the intent behind them. It was kindness.

‘That’s right. Sir Elden is here to protect me. But still…’

There was a clear reason she could never feel entirely at ease with him—and Haider knew it as well as she did.

When Selaia hesitated to answer, silence settled awkwardly between them.

“Mother!”

From the far end of the corridor came Rote’s voice.

“Rote!”

Selaia s face bloomed into a radiant smile at the sight of her daughter.

Haider stood beside her and watched in silence. The warmth that transformed her features when she looked at her child was a side of her he had never seen.

“My goodness, whose daughter is this beautiful?”

“Mmm… your daughter.”

Wrapped snugly in a fluffy white wool coat and a neatly tied pink scarf, Rote toddled over and threw herself into her mother’s arms. She could never resist the affection of the adults who adored her — praise always made her crumble.

“Let’s go quickly.”

She mumbled, her words muffled against Selaia’s waist.

From beneath the folds of Selaia’s skirts, a pair of bright green eyes peeped out, watching and wary as they fixed on Haider.

Despite years passing with him by their side, Rote remained uncomfortable around the knight. She never openly showed it, but it seemed as though she disliked him slightly. Haider, for his part, paid the child no particular mind. As a result, the distance between them never lessened.

“Come on, Rote. Let’s go.”

Taking her daughter’s hand, Selaia led her down the stairs towards the waiting carriage.

A man of dignified bearing stood before it, his silver beard framing a steady but lined face.

“You are ready to depart, my lady.”

Maximilian said, the captain of the Cheringen guard. His warm gaze softened the sternness that had been etched into his face by years of service.

“Are you sure you’ll be all right without me at your side?”

“Sir Elden will be with us, we’ll be fine.”

Even so, the old knight’s features did not lose their worry.

“My lady, the mood along the border is far from good.”

Upon hearing his words, Selaia’s expression sobered. The Borderlands had been unstable for years, but Maximilian mentioning it now could surely only be because of what had been in that morning’s paper.

“I heard the Teian delegation was ambushed crossing the border at dawn. Is that the reason?”

“Yes.”

Enraged by the attack, the emperor had already ordered the arrest of the lord whose lands the delegation had passed through.

Selaia recalled the name that had come under suspicion.

‘Count Brett of Rhineland… He once supported the late crown prince, and his lands had long disputed territory with Duke Fiel.’

Count Brett’s wife was the sister of the Crown Princess, who died during Hendrick’s coup.

The names spoken five years ago, soaked in blood, were now returning to the fore.

‘Something about this feels wrong.’

As Selaia fell into heavy thought, Maximilian went on.

They’ve yet to identify who was truly behind the assault. However, casualties were suffered by both the kingdom’s envoys and the imperial hosts. Each side will try to blame the other.”

“Could this lead to open conflict?”

“It’s difficult to predict. Still… Teian is unlikely to raise a full-scale army. The king’s health is failing.”

Selaia’s gaze deepened.

Five years earlier, her ex-husband, Hendrick, seized the opportunity presented by the Teian border invasion to strike. Amid the ensuing chaos, he murdered his father, the late Emperor, and his half-brothers before claiming the throne for himself.

Having risen to power through treachery, he diverted the empire’s attention away from home so that its people would not look too closely at what was happening within its borders.

His chosen target was none other than the Kingdom of Teian.

Although Hendrick had seized the crown in the shadow of the Teian raid, he later declared that the audacity to trespass upon imperial soil was unforgivable. He completely severed diplomatic ties with Teian.

‘And since then, he’s wasted no chance to publicly condemn them, even raising import tariffs to outrageous levels… it’s no wonder resentment has grown within their borders.’

The Teians’ failure to respond more aggressively was due not only to their weakened power, but primarily to the poor health of their reigning king, Cleos.

“The queen died five years ago, and with only one young prince left, they’re bound to tread carefully.”

Relations with Teian were little more than a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. Although Selaia had never experienced open war, she could never forget the rebellion five years ago, when the palace was drowned in screams and blood and the clash of steel echoed through its halls.

She closed her eyes tight against the memory, then slowly opened them again.

“For now, we’ll just keep an eye on things. While the delegation remains in the Empire, at least nothing drastic will happen.”

“As you command, my lady.”

Maximilian inclined his head. No matter how much they worried about the risk of war or the unrest in Tropez itself, Hendrick was never going to be interested in hearing about it.

Just then, Haider approached, having finished preparing. The conversation with Maximilian naturally came to an end.

“Then go safely, my lady and young mistress!”

As he said his final words, Rote, who was sitting on her mother’s lap, stretched her neck out of the carriage window.

She waved her tiny hands eagerly, and the crowd gathered before the castle gates waved back.

“Don’t eat too many treats at the market! I’ll have venison ready for dinner!”

The cheerful voice belonged to Vera, who was the castle’s maid, nurse and cook. Her short black hair swayed as she called out.

Rote nodded silently and continued waving until the people had shrunk to tiny dots and finally disappeared from view. Only then did she climb down from her mother’s lap and sit properly beside Selaia.

The air inside the carriage was comfortably warm. Yet the snug scarf wound around her neck seemed to bother her; she began tugging at it, grunting with each pull.

“Rote, have you thought about what to give Maximilian?”

Selaia asked as she loosened the scarf for her.

“Mm, I’m still thinking.”

Without her scarf, Rote swung one leg free of the seat and kicked her foot idly in the air.

Although she spoke as though she was undecided, Selaia suspected that her daughter already had a very specific plan.

“Then let’s think about it together at the market.”

Smiling as though none the wiser, Selaia gently touched her daughter’s soft cheek. She could almost hear the lively hum of the marketplace ringing in her ears already.

‘The marketplace was as lively as ever… yet something felt amiss.’

Selaia glanced down at the small hand nestled in hers. When they first arrived, Rote had looked solemn, as if bracing herself for something important. However, after exchanging cheerful greetings with the townsfolk and wandering through a few shops, the child’s attention seemed to wander.

“This is strange…”

Rote muttered under her breath, her small feet dragging as she walked—then clamped her lips shut when she realized she’d spoken aloud.

“What’s strange, darling?”

Rote rolled her eyes, chewing at her lip before finally answering.

“Mm… I can’t find what I was looking for.”

“What you were looking for?”

Selaia followed the child’s gaze. Rather than being drawn to the colourful stalls or bustling shop fronts, her bright eyes seemed to be drawn to the empty plots of land and narrow alleys tucked between buildings.

‘What on earth could she be searching for?’

Before Selaia had time to think about it further, Rote tugged at her hand insistently and pointed.

“Mother, look! What about that for Maximilian’s gift?”

“A… watch?”

The place she indicated was a shop with pocket watches displayed in neat rows across its window.

“I noticed it, Maximilian’s watch broke not long ago.”

“Did it now?”

In that case, a new watch would make a wonderful gift for him. Convinced by her daughter’s earnestness, Selaia found herself drawn towards the shop. Haider followed a step behind in silence, as vigilant as ever.

“Oh, my lady! Welcome!”

The shopkeeper cried warmly, bowing as they approached.

“I’d like to see a few sturdy men’s pocket watches.”

“Of course, right this way.”

Just as Selaia moved to step inside, she felt Rote’s small fingers slip free from her own.