Elise benefited, avoiding scandals while reaping advantages.

That evening, when Elise was about to sleep, a familiar owl tapped at her window.

Opening it, the large black owl, trained by Karan, flew in as if it owned the room. The owl, larger than average, had initially startled Elise.

Despite its size, the owl was docile. It stayed by Elise’s side as she read and wrote replies, occasionally nuzzling against her or chasing away insects and bugs.

As letters were exchanged, Elise grew fond of the owl and admired its ability to deliver messages discreetly and reliably.

“You’ve worked hard,” Elise said, pushing the prepared snack towards the owl before opening the bag on its back, which contained Karan’s letter as usual.

Elise paused, catching her breath before reading the letter.

It had been over two weeks since she and Karan had signed their marriage contract.

Karan had recently informed the king of Treetris about his intention to marry Elise.

Elise was ready to follow Karan to Treetris, even against the king’s wishes, but ideally wanted official recognition before setting foot there.

What had the king of Treetris responded?
Elise’s heart fluttered as she lowered her gaze to the letter.

The words “marriage denied” seemed to burn into her eyes.

“Indeed.”

Despite the disappointing news, Elise calmly processed it, not allowing herself to be disturbed. She neatly folded the letter and placed it in the bottom drawer of the bedside table, atop the stack of numerous letters exchanged with Karan.

Then, Elise took her pen and paper and sat at the chair by the window.

She unlatched a string on the wall, and a wooden panel came down to form a small table.

As Elise sat, deep in thought, she considered King Tylor Lysandro of Treetris – a man known for his quick calculations.

He must have concluded that an alliance with the Warton family would be unbeneficial.

“I thought Karan wasn’t interested in marriage since he didn’t marry till he was thirty in my past life.”

In her previous life, Karan never married.

So Elise thought Tylor was indifferent about Karan’s marriage.

“Just no suitable match, perhaps.”

Requesting to be his first wife in the contract was also to consider Tylor’s fickleness.

“People change.”

Thankfully she had done so.

Tylor’s moves indicated he might seek another marriage alliance to prevent Elise’s marriage.

“It’ll be tough to change Tylor’s mind right now.”

Karan was what mattered.

Tylor had tasked Karan with a new mission to separate him from Elise – to exterminate monsters appearing in the wastelands of Treetris.

“That’s where Gate 1 is.”

The area first affected by Ragnaros – even though it was far from awakening, monsters were already causing damage.

“A difficult land to live in, now plagued by monsters.”

A headache for anyone, but a golden land in reality.

Elise had always wanted to visit there.

“He must have thought it would take a long time to clear the area and that I wouldn’t follow.”

Tylor’s calculations were entirely wrong, based on incorrect assumptions.

There was a fortunate twist.

Karan wrote, “I’m sorry, but please wait until my father permits.”

But Elise wasn’t one to sit quietly, waiting for someone else’s permission.

“I’ll have to make it so he has no choice but to permit.”