Evelyn had finally slept with Jenkins. She pretended to be fine, but stumbled as soon as she left the inn. Outside, her maid Sarah quickly supported her. Sarah pursed her lips while looking at Evelyn.

“…Lady Evelyn. Sleeping with such a man, I just don’t understand! Do you really intend to have his child?”

“If I claim to be pregnant, Hector won’t try to marry me off to another man.”

“…Even so, why choose someone like him when there are perfectly decent men available…”

“I like Jenkins.”

“…”

Sarah thought Evelyn’s standards were too low. Though Jenkins was very handsome and wealthy, he lacked serious charm. She had witnessed him with prostitutes several times and he was notorious for cruelly dumping village women after sleeping with them.

He might make a good friend, but he could never be a good husband or partner to a woman.

Jenkins had repeatedly urged Evelyn to defect, but she was in no position to do so.

She had to bury her bones in the Astia Empire, even in death.

Evelyn felt sorry for Sarah. Sarah had willingly endured all sorts of hardships just to serve her.

“Sarah. Go back to your family while you still can.”

She didn’t mind being looked down upon for claiming to be a commoner knight, but she always felt guilty toward Sarah. Sarah shook her head.

“No. I’ll stay by your side forever, until death.”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

When everyone else had abandoned her, only Sarah remained. Evelyn was grateful for her loyalty. But she knew the chances of conceiving Jenkins’ child from just one encounter were slim.

“Could I be pregnant?”

She hadn’t known s*x would be so painful. Even now, the area between her thighs stung so badly she could barely move. Sarah heaved a deep sigh.

“We’ll monitor it. If you miss your monthly cycle, there’s a possibility of pregnancy.”

“Haa… No. It can’t happen from just one time.”

She should have agreed when Jenkins wanted to continue. But it had been too painful and there wasn’t enough time.

Entering her dilapidated house, Evelyn took out a letter addressed to her and read it.

<To Evelyn Burke Astia.

Evelyn, though you were banished to the border, I trust you haven’t forgotten your bloodline. I have a task for you now. It’s simple enough even for someone as uneducated as you who only knows how to swing a sword.

You’ve been selected to become the 300th concubine of the Peshar Emperor. Congratulations! How about that? It’s an extremely easy job – you just need to spread your legs in bed!

However, since the Peshar Emperor is over 60 years old, I’m not sure if he can properly raise that part of his. I would be terribly sad if you died a virgin. Oh, did I say die? Even enemy nations don’t casually kill princesses. My mistake.

Evelyn, Duke Perry keeps sending marriage proposals to the imperial family for you. Not just Duke Perry, but other nobles as well. I personally can’t understand what charm you possess…

Anyway, my advisors suggest sending you far away. The border doesn’t seem to satisfy them.

Return to the imperial palace immediately. If you delay further, who knows what might happen to your aging mother.

From your loving brother, Hector.>

Evelyn tore up the letter and burned it in the fireplace. She had already heard through the guild that her mother had passed away, yet her half-brother Hector was still using her mother to threaten her.

She had considered defecting to the Peshar Empire. However, since she was destined to become the 300th concubine of the Peshar Emperor, defecting wouldn’t help her escape that fate. Sarah quietly observed Evelyn’s darkening expression.

Whenever someone precious entered Evelyn’s life, Hector would use them to blackmail her. With her mother gone, he would undoubtedly target Sarah’s family next. So Evelyn had no choice but to go to him. She abruptly stood up and put on her cloak.

“Are the horses ready?”

“Yes.”

Sarah’s eyes trembled with anxiety. They needed to travel to the capital of Astia in the middle of the night. The two women stepped outside. Sarah packed dried jerky, boiled potatoes, and a water canteen into her bag. Evelyn helped Sarah onto the horse before swiftly mounting it herself.

Since Sarah couldn’t ride, they had to share a single horse. Gripping the reins, Evelyn kicked the horse’s flank. The horse neighed and reared up, startling Sarah who clutched its mane.

“Let’s go!”

At Evelyn’s command, Sarah nodded with a pale face. Before leaving the village, Evelyn looked back at the inn where Jenkins was staying. The feeling of his firm chest pressing against hers remained vivid. When surrounded by his scent, she had thought she could die happily right there.

Despite the pain, her reluctance to leave him was overwhelming. But she had too much to protect. She couldn’t chase after a man based solely on love. With a face that had shed all lingering attachments, she turned her horse toward the forest path.

Even if she never saw Jenkins again, the memory of loving him would remain in her heart forever.

* * *

Jenkins woke up late in the afternoon. As he stretched, he realized he had slept deeply for the first time in ages.

Until yesterday, sleep had eluded him. He had tried everything—sleep-inducing tea, special pillows, scented candles—but nothing could cure his chronic insomnia. Today was different.

His attendant Harvey, noticing Jenkins was awake, brought washing water and towels to serve him.

“Did you sleep well, Lord Jenkins? You seemed to be sleeping so soundly that I didn’t want to wake you…”

“I slept well without taking any medicine.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“…What about Evelyn?”

“Pardon?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question about Evelyn, Harvey looked perplexed.

“You told me not to worry about her yesterday, so I didn’t specifically investigate her whereabouts.”

“Ah… Right.”

He suddenly remembered her crying. It was nothing significant. She had cried simply because her first experience was painful.

‘Evelyn likes me. But do I really need to chase after her like before? I should just wait until she comes looking for me.’

The thirsty seek the well—women who had given their bodies to him typically came back for more. By then, he usually found them tiresome and annoying.

Jenkins nodded with an arrogant expression.

“Yes. It’s better not to worry about Evelyn from now on. She’ll come looking for me soon enough, missing me.”

Just days ago, Jenkins had been the one pursuing Evelyn. Now he was incredibly haughty and confident. Harvey liked this change but felt somewhat uneasy.

“…But aren’t you going to the capital of Peshar?”

“What does the old man’s poor health have to do with me?”

“…Well, you are the heir, Lord Jenkins. Surely you’re not thinking of taking Lady Evelyn with you?”

Even though she was a commoner, Harvey couldn’t refer to a woman his lord pursued without proper honorifics. The words seemed to prick his tongue.

“Ha…”

Jenkins snorted.

“Are you suggesting a commoner knight is suitable for me?”

“Not at all.”

Harvey’s face turned serious. Jenkins didn’t even have a wife yet, but even to Harvey, Evelyn seemed far below his station. She seemed inappropriate even as a concubine, let alone a wife. Harvey added:

“She’s far beneath you, Lord Jenkins. I only mentioned it because you kept bringing up defection!”

“…I offer defection to everyone. And now I don’t even need to offer it anymore. I lost interest in Evelyn long ago.”

“Pardon?”

Jenkins’ words contradicted his actions, considering he had immediately asked about Evelyn upon waking. The attendant wanted to question this but held his tongue.

“Then how shall we schedule today?”

“…I just want to lounge around here. Someone will come looking for me eventually.”

Jenkins lay back down on the bed. Waiting for Evelyn to seek him out seemed entertaining. Since he had always been the one chasing her, this time he wanted Evelyn to cling to him. Having gained both her body and heart, Jenkins felt so satisfied that he didn’t even notice his hunger.

* * *

Even riding all day, the distance from the border to the capital was considerable. Stopping midway to rest, Evelyn and her maid Sarah entered an inn. The innkeeper shook his head seeing the two women covered in dust.

“I have one small room available…”

“We’ll take it.”

The innkeeper’s eyes sparkled when he noticed Evelyn wearing a sword.

“Are you perhaps a knight?”

“A commoner knight.”

The innkeeper grabbed Evelyn’s sleeve, looking relieved. He spoke in a hushed voice:

“Actually, there’s a bandit staying at our inn who hasn’t paid rent for months. If you could teach him a lesson, I’d give you a separate reward.”

“I’ll do it.”

Sarah frowned and objected, but they needed money for food and lodging in addition to transportation costs to reach the capital. Evelyn wasn’t one to pass up such an opportunity.

After showering and eating, Evelyn went to the room where the bandit was supposedly staying, following the innkeeper’s directions.

When she opened the door, she found a man in an expensive suit sitting at the table. He was tall and handsome with distinct features, red hair, and blue eyes. There was no sign of the bandit the innkeeper had mentioned.

‘Did I get the wrong room?’

But the inn was so small it didn’t have many rooms. This was the only end room where the bandit was supposedly staying.

The man’s eyes widened when he saw Evelyn.

“Evelyn?”

“…Do I know you?”

The man immediately drew his sword and held it close to Evelyn’s neck. Caught off guard, Evelyn raised both hands in surrender.

Judging by his skill, the man didn’t seem to be a bandit. His suit and sword were both of excellent quality. The man grabbed Evelyn’s hair with an incredulous expression.

“Ha, you don’t recognize me?”

“…I don’t.”

From his expensive suit, he appeared to be either a nobleman or a wealthy merchant, but she couldn’t place him. Evelyn had always been bad at remembering faces.

The man brought his nose to Evelyn’s fragrant neck and sniffed.

“…You’ve grown a lot, Evelyn.”

“Let’s start with proper introductions.”

Evelyn pushed the man away. He yielded easily and resheathed his sword. Then he pointed to himself.

“I’m Andrew Smith. Still don’t recognize me?”

“…”

Evelyn tried to recall if she knew anyone with his appearance, but came up empty. When she shook her head, Andrew smirked.

“Are you heading to the capital now?”

“Yes. I’m just stopping here for a rest.”

“Ah… Hmm, His Majesty ordered me to bring you back in case you tried to escape.”

“…You were sent by the Emperor? I’m going voluntarily, so there’s no need to concern yourself.”

However, Andrew showed no signs of backing down.

“No, you must come with me. It’s the Emperor’s order.”

“…Fine then.”

Evelyn didn’t particularly care. Whether two people went or three, it made little difference. As she was about to leave, Andrew stopped her.