Deborah welcomed the people returning to the estate.

Families who had anxiously awaited their safe return embraced the missing ones with tears.

Deborah was no different. At this moment, holding her daughter close, she was not a lord but a mother.

“Thank you so much. I will repay my deep gratitude to both of you by faithfully preserving the domain of summer.”

Deborah expressed profound thanks to the two while also sharing her aspirations as a lord.

“Now then, since everyone has returned safely, let us hold a celebration!”

Alongside the banquet at the lord’s castle, grand festivities continued throughout the village. Today’s celebration, welcoming back the returnees, was more magnificent than any other holiday.

Everyone was deeply immersed in joy. Within the lord’s castle, a separate gathering was arranged to express gratitude to the lord and the masters of Growen.

Glasses were set before everyone when Deborah’s gaze turned toward a stranger. Even under the sun, the delicate silver hair seemed out of place.

Charlotte gently brought her glass to her lips. Yet she only moistened her lips with the drink, not swallowing it down.

This was a rare sight in the domain of summer, where individuals drank liquor by the crate.

The lord, observing the unfamiliar outsider, finally spoke.

“By the way, who might this person be? I heard they were found alongside the missing people.”

Meeting Deborah’s curious gaze, Charlotte smiled. A mere upward curve of her lips brightened the entire surroundings.

“My name is Charlotte Deilang. I’m the younger sister of Lady Yerpi.”

“Oh my, how fascinating.”

“Don’t I look very different from my sister?”

“Yes, you do. But that’s not the only reason I find this so remarkable.”

Just as there were those trying to leave Growen, there were also those attempting to enter from outside.

Most attempts ended in failure, but a very few succeeded.

Yet even if one managed to enter, if caught, each domain would punish them according to its laws—and in Growen, the penalty was execution.

Tension flickered between the two smiling women. Soon, Yerpi explained the situation.

“It’s due to personal circumstances. For now, she’s decided to come with me to Growen Castle.”

“Hmm, I see. That makes sense.”

It was unprecedented for the Grand Duchess to personally vouch for an illegal intruder.

Especially since Charlotte had been discovered in the middle of a desert where strange phenomena occurred—normally, she should have remained in the domain of summer for investigation.

Though Deborah still harbored doubts, seeing Yerpi’s expression, she chose not to press further.

“The world doesn’t always follow a set path, does it? So, when do you plan to return?”

“Today.”

“So soon?”

Before a surprised Deborah could react, Raymond grabbed Dante by the back of his neck and lifted him up.

Water dripped from Dante, who had been buried in ice.

At the sight of the young dragon, seemingly about to melt away entirely, Deborah realized her mistake and immediately ordered fresh ice brought.

“Well, considering the young master is still so young, it’s understandable. Since you’ve already resolved the most critical crisis, we’ll take over the remaining patrols. Summer’s matters should be handled by summer’s people.”

As if asking to be entrusted, Deborah proudly flexed her muscular arm.

“May the blessings of summer accompany the masters of Growen.”

Before departing, Deborah bestowed her blessing upon them. After this interlude ended, preparations for returning to Growen began. However, unlike the journey here, a problem arose.

Woooonnnng—

Eltyard roared violently, stomping the ground with its heavy legs.

The knights, surprised by the usually docile spirit beast’s rebellion, quickly moved Eltyard far away from the people.

Then, the spirit beast calmed down. After much back-and-forth, they discovered the cause.

“It seems Eltyards don’t take a liking to that young lady.”

One of the knights cautiously added this observation to Raymond.

Raymond had sensed this all along.

Yerpi was equally bewildered.

Above all, the spirit beast’s hostility was something the target herself couldn’t possibly fail to notice.

“…This creature seems to dislike me. I’m also afraid of such large beings. Could you possibly prepare a carriage for me, if it’s not too much trouble?”

At Charlotte’s words, Deborah, who had been helping with departure preparations, stepped forward.

“If we continue like this, we won’t be able to leave. We’ll arrange a carriage ourselves. A normal one won’t do for traveling across the desert.”

“Thank you.”

Shortly after, summer’s knights brought a carriage.

The special wheels, designed to prevent sinking into sand, were twice the size of ordinary ones, and the vehicle looked so rugged it resembled a war chariot more than a carriage.

Though still pulled by a spirit beast, the setup was less direct, avoiding direct mounting.

After some time, a knight attached reins to Lagnia and connected it to the carriage. Watching Lagnia twitch nervously, Raymond realized:

‘The spirit beasts are wary of Charlotte.’

It wasn’t just Eltyard.

Even the small fire spirit floating in the air fled away from Charlotte. Yet Charlotte herself showed no particular interest in the spirit beasts.

“This place still feels very strange and frightening. I’ll ride with you, sister. Wouldn’t you prefer that too? We can finally talk after such a long time.”

“All right.”

There were certainly things that needed to be said. Yerpi asked Raymond for permission. Raymond nodded, but Dante did not.

But Dante, already half-melted, lacked the strength to follow Yerpi.

Charlotte climbed into the carriage first.

Then, as Yerpi attempted to enter, Raymond gently held her hand, helping her step up.

“Go ahead and have your talk.”

Despite the sudden intrusion of an outsider, Raymond had temporarily halted investigation upon hearing she was his wife’s younger sister.

She was grateful for his consideration. And relieved too. At least for now, she didn’t regret that summer night’s kiss.

The carriage carrying the two women departed. Inside, with curtains drawn over every window, completely secluded, Charlotte smiled at her.

“I’ve missed you, sister.”

Could a face so long familiar feel so alien?

Above all, memories from her past life left Yerpi even more confused.

First, she needed to ask—how had Charlotte arrived here so soon?

Based on the original Yerpi’s memories, the heroine was supposed to come here three years later. So why had she come so early?

“How did you get here?”

“You ask that first? Didn’t you miss me, sister?”

Charlotte lowered her gaze, feigning disappointment, but Yerpi had to speak her mind.

“In Growen, illegal intruders are classified as criminals. As Grand Duchess, I must uphold this land’s laws, and as your sister, I have a duty to protect you.”

“My, sister. You’ve become so decisive in the time we’ve been apart.”

Despite Yerpi’s serious warning, Charlotte seemed only half-listening, instead marveling at the changed Yerpi.

“But does that include someone like me, a Saintess?”

At those words, Yerpi’s eyes widened.

“You… became the Saintess?”

“Yes. Over a month ago. Actually, we shouldn’t even call it Growen anymore.”

Finding Yerpi’s expression amusing, Charlotte chuckled and pulled out a necklace she had been hiding in her bosom.

Allosha’s Gemstone.

The sacred relic of the goddess, said to belong only to the Saintess, hung around Charlotte’s neck.

In the original story, Charlotte had been a Saintess candidate. The position was hereditary—when a Saintess passed away, the candidate would be selected as the new Saintess.

‘I had no idea.’

In the original, the current Saintess had not died, so Charlotte had remained a candidate.

The succession of a Saintess was such a monumental event it became a national holiday, and once appointed, even if one committed murder, they would not be punished.

That was the empire’s law—and an exclusive, unique law applied even across the federation states that worshipped the same goddess.

‘Why come here after becoming Saintess?’

Could it be that even as Saintess, she had made the same mistake as in the original story?

But if so, Charlotte should have arrived here with her memories lost. Everything was shrouded in mystery. Yet she couldn’t reveal that she knew the original story.

“But that law doesn’t apply in Growen.”

Because the master of this land was not the goddess, but the dragon.

The ancient dragon, born where all spiritual energy in earth and sky converged. Though now vanished, it was the legendary king of spirit beasts, whose existence was proven through its bloodline.

“I see. So that’s why the spirit beasts dislike me. It’s quite strange. It’s the first time I’ve ever experienced something actively disliking me.”

Charlotte smiled lightly. Ever since childhood, her younger sister had possessed the ability to effortlessly steer conversations wherever she pleased with just such a carefree smile.

“I heard you got married. Congratulations, though it’s a bit late. Now that I’ve met him, I can see he’s truly an impressive man.”

Charlotte warmly offered her wedding congratulations. Her younger sister’s smile was so tender and lovely it made her words feel utterly sincere.