“Is everyone on board?”

“Yes. We were short on carriages, so as you suggested, we borrowed another one nearby. We barely managed to get everyone on board.”

“Thank goodness.”

“Please get on quickly, Miss.”

There was still one seat available in the carriage.

As I received the child wrapped in a blanket from Giovanni and got on the carriage, the servant widened his eyes.

“Depart.”

“Yes? What about the Miss?”

Behind the servant, worried faces of people in distress were visible.

Worried that I might be thrown out.

They are poor. Even if they were saved here, finding a place to live must be challenging.

‘I don’t have noble lineage, nor do I have good health.’

“I’m fine. I’ll catch up soon, so you go first.”

“We can’t leave the Miss behind.”
The burly servant nodded firmly. Since he had been the one helping me the most and working the hardest, I had developed a fondness for him without realizing it. Looking into his eyes, I spoke.

“After going through all this trouble, are you planning to kill everyone?”

“Still, without Miss…”

“I will catch up soon. Safely returning, I will give you your reward and bring snacks for your younger sibling.”

Only then did the servant, as if it couldn’t be helped, smile faintly.

“Then come back safely.”

“By the way, what’s your name?”

“I’m Eden.”

“Alright, Eden. You’ve worked hard today. Please take care until the end.”

The carriage departed.

“Sister, thank you!”

The girl waved her hand from inside the carriage. The younger brother also waved both hands.

It was a reaction similar to the girls I had given snacks to in Amtein, avoiding the eyes of the lord.

‘I haven’t felt this way in a long time.’

As I waved goodbye to the departing carriage, there was a tingling sensation on the back of my head.

‘Now, what do I do?’

Giovanni.

I received so much help from him; how should I repay him?

I glanced at him. He was watching people moving away, just like me a while ago.

“This kind of chaos is unprecedented.”

“……. ”

“It’s scarier than a sandstorm in the desert.”

“I’ve never seen this much rain before.”

His gaze shifted to me. Deep, black eyes without visible ends.

Until now, I had thought his eyes were excessively intense and frightening.

‘His eyelashes are quite long.’

Water droplets hung on his eyelashes. Beneath them, his black pupils looked softer than usual.

“It was difficult for me too.”

“Thank you again…”

“I want to say that the situation earlier was extremely dangerous.”

Shoosh. The sound of rain falling heavily permeated my ears. In between, the man’s silent voice penetrated.

“The strong currents were challenging for me too. It must have been even more unbearable for you. Why did you act so recklessly? Didn’t you think you might die?”

“……. ”

“Are you really that foolish?”

He was reproaching me quietly and sternly.

“I never thought of dying. But if I hadn’t stepped forward immediately, that child would have been swept away by the currents and died.”

“……. ”

“At least, if I had intervened, the chances of people surviving would have been higher, right? Ultimately, it turned out to be helpful to you, Your Highness.”

I didn’t think of dying, and I believed I would somehow survive, but without his help, I didn’t know what would have happened.

“As I said before, I will repay the favor. It’s separate from cooperating with Your Highness.”

Giovanni remained silent. He might not expect me to repay the favor.

Whatever he thought, I decided to remember this incident.

I looked up at the sky.

The thin raindrops were falling intermittently, and the faintly shining sun was visible through the clouds.

“The rain seems to have weakened. Let’s move quickly now.”

Since there were no carriages or horses, we had to walk. While pointing in the direction of the village, I asked,

“Where did the servant who always accompanied us go?”

‘Omitted “unfortunate.”‘
“Chef is unwell and lying down.”

“Ah.”

And then, silence prevailed again.

It was amid the sound of rain and the muffled footsteps echoing.

“I think I know what kind of person you are.”

“……. ”

“You’re quick-witted but reckless. You seem to plan things, but in reality, you don’t consider the consequences. It’s a mess.”

“To say that much…”

“So, I find it more and more appealing.”

I almost turned my head abruptly.

Wait, is he confessing here?

“I’ll pay you as much as Chef.”

…What’s he talking about?

“I can also save a house with a servant.”

So, does that mean he finds me appealing as a subordinate?

A belated understanding made my throat, which had been stiff, suddenly lose strength.

‘No, why say something that could be misunderstood.’

“I told you, no matter how high the pay, I would decline a job with an unstable future.”

“What about being an Imperial subordinate?”

Unable to bear it, I turned my head eventually. With his large hand, he wiped away the moisture on my face and raised the corner of his mouth.

I can’t tell if he’s serious or joking.

“I might need to think about that.”

“Do you have to be an emperor to get an opportunity? It’s demanding.”

…Is he serious? I stared at him intently.

I gained the realization that there is no poker face as powerful as his, all while maintaining an expressionless face.