Arsen slightly furrowed his brow.

“Lion?”

“That’s this child’s name.”

A good name, Arsen thought.

“Lion.”

Arsen pointed at Lion with the bone, then realizing his rather unrefined behavior, put the bone down on the floor. Throughout this, Roxiana stood without changing her expression once.

Thinking she was like a doll, Arsen said:

“Lion is not growing.”

“So you also think he’s not growing?”

“It seems you were aware. Then why are you neglecting it?”

“Since he eats well and plays well, I thought there wasn’t any major health issue, so I’ve been observing.”

“Didn’t you think it’s a big problem that he’s not growing even though he eats and plays well?”

“Seeing how sensitive Sir Chetech is about it, I’m starting to think it might be a big problem.”

Arsen wasn’t foolish enough to not realize she was gently pointing out his attitude, so he pressed his lips shut, showing his displeasure. Roxiana looked straight at Arsen and calmly said:

“When everyone was busy with various issues, I couldn’t add to their worries, so I was waiting for a while. Besides, this child doesn’t warm up to just anyone, so it was difficult to hastily call someone to show him.”

For some reason, Arsen felt uncomfortable looking directly into her eyes and lowered his gaze, only to meet Lion’s eyes. Lion, who had been nestled in Roxiana’s arms like a docile lamb, wrinkled his nose as soon as his eyes met Arsen’s.

Seeing the creature’s attitude, he thought it wouldn’t be easy to take him to a veterinarian, as she had said.

“I was too rude. I apologize.”

At Arsen’s sincere apology, Roxiana slightly bowed her head.

“Yes, I understand. I accept your apology.”

Usually, people would say ‘It’s okay,’ but this was the first time Arsen encountered a woman who showed an attitude of ‘You were indeed wrong, but I’ll graciously accept your apology,’ so he was taken aback. On the other hand, he felt a surge of irritation at his own hastiness in having to apologize to someone branded as a slave.

“By the way, Sir Chetech. There’s something I’d like to ask.”

Roxiana was a bit strange, but there was nothing to fault in her speech and behavior. While receiving Floyd’s attention and favor, she seemed to understand her position well, and Arsen didn’t dislike people who acted according to their status.

“What is it?”

“Where is the forest that was burned when exterminating the magical beasts recently? And how large an area was damaged?”

Arsen furrowed his brow at the unexpected question.

“Why are you curious about that?”

“I want to try to revive that forest.”

“…You’re talking nonsense again.”

“You called it nonsense, but I did treat the patients. Don’t you remember?”

To Arsen, who was at a loss for words, Roxiana took a step closer.

“How about betting on the possibility that this nonsense might not end up as mere nonsense?”

Her voice was small and thin, but it had a strange power. Like a witch’s voice, sweet and sticky, it seemed to caress his ears, dig deep, and shake Arsen’s brain.

For a moment, Arsen was seized by the thought that Roxiana might be able to do it.

“If I ask my lord and get permission…”

“Let’s keep it a secret from His Grace the Grand Duke.”

At those words, Arsen came to his senses as if doused with cold water.

“You have an ulterior motive. What are you planning to do?”

“Ulterior motive? I simply want to repay His Grace the Grand Duke who saved me and treated me well. But His Grace treats me like fragile glass that could break at any moment. He doesn’t let me do anything. But you’re different, Sir Chetech. You know I can do it and will let me. For Torkan.”

A deep wrinkle formed between Arsen’s brows. Looking down at her green eyes that held neither lies nor resentment, he recalled what happened after she treated the patients.

Roxiana had treated everyone, but she herself stood in the middle of the treatment room looking like she was about to die. Her pale skin and blue lips seemed to be more than just from being drenched in water.

No one said it, but everyone knew.

That she had consumed her own life force to save the patients.

“Just because I find you disagreeable doesn’t mean I want you to die.”

Arsen immediately grasped the meaning behind the words ‘You’re different, Sir Chetech.’ Roxiana was saying, ‘Unlike the Grand Duke who worries I might die, you don’t care whether I live or die.’

If that’s the case, this woman has severely misjudged him. Arsen didn’t want her to die.

“Your existence is a threat to Torkan. If Gania learns that you are in Torkan, the Crown Prince, who is desperate to get at my lord, won’t sit idle. If the Crown Prince tries to kill you, we will fight to protect you, whom our lord has decided to save. Do you understand what this means?”

Roxiana’s eyes wavered. Arsen thought her trembling eyes looked like trees in a forest shaken by the wind as he spoke.

“I won’t just stand by and watch you die. So.”

Arsen hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“If you’re looking for a place to die, leave Torkan to die. Here, death won’t be able to reach you.”

“I’m not trying to die!”

“You nearly did, didn’t you? You almost died just from driving out the pollution from a few patients, so saying you’ll revive that forest means you’re willing to risk your life, doesn’t it? My lord doesn’t like it when the life he saved jumps into the fire to repay the favor, so let’s end this conversation here.”

Arsen brushed past Roxiana, indicating he no longer wished to talk. Only after Arsen left did Lion leave Roxiana’s arms and pick up the bone left on the floor with his mouth.

Roxiana crouched down next to Lion, watching him for a while before saying:

“Everyone’s stubborn like His Highness, aren’t they?”

+++

Time passed quickly, and soon it was February.

The cold wind gradually gained warmth, and the time spent lighting fireplaces decreased significantly.

In Selchar, the capital of Torkan, a settlement for the displaced had been established, and the refugees were each trying to adapt to their new lives. However, there weren’t enough jobs for them yet, so the national treasury was gradually emptying as it supported them.

In the early morning conference room, representatives from each department had gathered. They all reported the current situation to the Grand Duke with worried expressions.

“Your Highness, this year’s finances are so dire that we might have to reduce the budget for security.”

In response to Finance Minister Mylo’s words, Security Minister Conrad quickly retorted.

“Reducing the security budget is out of the question. The rift in northern Torkan is still active, so we need to continuously deploy knights. No one wants to face magical beasts, and if the compensation is reduced on top of that, discontent will grow.”

In Torkan, which had been an abandoned area due to the rift, there were still several rifts in existence. Unlike other countries where knights train to protect their rulers, Torkan’s knights were trained solely to fight magical beasts.

Floyd rubbed his forehead with his thumb.

“What about the road construction?”

“It’s in preparation, but just the surveying is taking a considerable amount of time. It seems it will take at least another month to complete the survey.”

“Deploy more surveying personnel to finish quickly, and since the weather has warmed up, send out more fishing boats.”

“But seafood exports aren’t very active yet…”

“Then dry and sell it. Selling it will work out somehow, so make it happen. Isn’t it about time to start field work?”

“Some places have already started, but there’s an overflow of workers there…”

It was natural for various problems to arise when nearly a thousand refugees suddenly entered the city as several villages that had made the forest their home were damaged.

The job issue was especially urgent.

They needed to create jobs suitable for people who could no longer do the work they had done all their lives. Currently, they were supporting them by dipping into the national treasury, but this couldn’t continue forever.

“Are there no requests for magical beast subjugation?”

Floyd decided to solve the immediate problems first. The national treasury had been significantly depleted in providing settlement for the refugees and supporting them with living expenses and settlement funds.

Arsen answered.

“One came in from the Hoven Islands.”

Floyd recalled that Roxiana had almost been sold to the Hoven Islands.

“Exclude that one.”

“There’s also a request from the Kingdom of Enilta. They say the rift near Alkena City has become active again and is releasing magical beasts.”

“Why don’t they ask the Empire for help?”

“They sent holy knights to Gania, saying they have no troops, so they should wait.”

Floyd twisted the corner of his lips upward.

“So the Empire has agreed to support Gania. Once Kanta’s magical beasts are dealt with, Lucas’s pride will soar.”

Mylo quickly added.

“If they can use Kanta’s fertile land and resources, Gania will gradually become more powerful. Especially the coal deposits buried in southern Kanta’s mines are said to be substantial. As more places are using coal, if they develop those mines and export coal, Gania’s treasury will overflow.”

Floyd, who had been listening with a bored expression, waved his hand.

“Well, let’s leave that aside. Let’s solve the problems facing us. I’ll depart for Enilta next week, so prepare the troops. We’ll take the Eagle and the Spider.”