*

　Luca uses a needle and thread to create flowers on the fabric.
　The flower he chooses as a motif is a commonplace plant that grows everywhere in the Bethel Mountains.
　The plant has many small flowers.
　It is called snowflake because its petals are as small as snow.
　It is familiar to those who live in the Bethel Mountains, but Luca does not like it very much.
　The reason why they use it as a motif for embroidery is because they do not like to use a lot of colored threads.
　For the Huu, embroidery has a special meaning.
　It is the history of the family passed down from mother to daughter, and it is also a prayer for their children to grow up healthy and for their loved ones to return home safely.
　Or should I say, it was a prayer.
　For the current Luca, embroidery was a means of escape and a means of rebellion.

''......................Huh.

　He let out a small sigh and looked up at the ceiling.
　It wasn't a ceiling made of wooden frames and goatskin.
　Well, that's no surprise.
　This wasn't his home in the Bethel Mountains; he was in a ship.
　In the words of the young man acting as an escort, it would be a cabin, but I think it would be more 'typical' to call it a cage.

''...d*mn it.

　I stare at the ceiling and bite my lip.
　I don't have the strength to try to escape from the cage.
　Even if I could successfully escape, I wouldn't have the strength to live.
　Such petty calculations come first.
　If she really didn't want to, she would have risked her life to fight back, but she had accepted to be the mistress of a man she didn't know.
　Despite the contemptuous words thrown at her that the stone woman (Uzumame) was not a woman.

'.........d*mn it.

　Just as Luca muttered again, there was a knock on the door.
　While clicking her tongue, she opened the door and found a red-haired young man standing there.
　He was a young man from the Mu tribe.
　I don't remember his name.

''What do you want?''
'The ship has arrived in Sylvania, and I have come to call you. Please prepare to disembark.
Oh, wait a minute.

　Luca closed the door and tucked his sewing kit into his pouch.
　In the meantime, I'll take a look in the mirror.
　The mirror shows a woman with a sullen look on her face.

'I'm ready to go.'
You're early.
'I was kicked out with my clothes on, so it's no wonder you were so quick!
I'm sorry, too.

　Luca raised his voice, and the young man bowed his head in a panic.

'No need to apologize, let's get off the ship quickly.
Right this way, then.

　The young man moved to the front of the adjoining room and knocked on the door.

'There's no answer, okay?'
Master Charis was feeling very seasick.

　Hmmm, Luca countered.
　It's the first time I've heard the word seasickness, but it's probably like getting sick in a carriage.
　I don't understand either of these sensations, but if the seasickness has been going on for a long time, then I must be exhausted both physically and mentally.
　The young man knocked on the door again.

Just give me a few more minutes.

　A thin voice came back.
　What kind of woman was she?　I fished through my memory, but I couldn't remember his face.
　Well, since they had only met face to face in the harbor, I can't blame him.
　The young man knocked on the door again and it opened.
　The one who opened it was a woman with a hood over her eyes.
　Our eyes meet for a moment.
　At first glance, I knew she was exhausted.
　Her hair is tangled under the hood and her eyes are colored with dark circles.
　She has the worst face as if she is about to vomit.

'Here you are. What can I do for you?
The ship has arrived in Sylvania, and I've come to call you.

　The young man said, and the woman ... Karis reached for the waistband.
　A small leather bag hung there.
　It seems that just as Luca could only take out his sewing tools, she could only take out a leather bag.

'Come in here.'

　As the young man started walking, she followed silently.
　However, his gait was curiously dangerous to walk.
　He climbed the stairs and stepped out onto the deck.
　Then the wind blew in.
　The wind was pregnant with the smell of the sea.
　I frown at its putrid smell.

''.........''

　Karis ran up to the railing of the ship and leaned forward.
　An unnamable voice rang out, and he heard a chirping sound.
　Apparently, he was vomiting.
　There was no sign of the young man running up to him.
　I had no choice but to walk up to Karis.
　She held her pigeon tail area and vomited for a while, but when she was done, she sat there as if she had run out of energy.
　Luca held out a handkerchief and cursed himself for his bypass.
　It was because the handkerchief he offered her had a lot of feelings for her.
　But he didn't want to retract it once it was offered to him, because he didn't want to be in the mood to retract it.
　It can't be helped, he says, resolving to let go of the handkerchief.
　I'm holding out the handkerchief to her with my resolve, but Karis remains seated without strength.

''..................Quickly take it.

　When I called out to her in annoyance, Karis looked up at me.
　She has a light in her eyes that resembles trepidation.
　I think she's rude, but on the other hand, there's a part of me that thinks she can't help it.
　After all, she's been with herself for twenty-seven years.
　I'm aware that she lacks affection, and I'm also aware that she has a look that others consider to be a harsh personality.
　Karis reached for her handkerchief with an odious gesture reminiscent of a small animal and stopped moving just short of touching it or not.

''Well... uh, it's just so stunningly embroidered.''
It's not much. I'll throw it in the ocean if you don't use it.

　It's been a long time since I've been complimented on my embroidery.
　I'm so happy that I want to take a small leap of faith, but all that comes out of my mouth is a hateful smile.

'Thank you,'

　Karis took the handkerchief and gently wiped her mouth.

'I'll wash it and return it to you.'
I don't need it. I'll sew you a new one.

　Why can't I be honest with you?　I turn away, regretting my face.

''Are you ... okay?''

　The young man finally called out.
　Even if it's a guard.......no, it was Sif's fault for not arranging a female mercenary.

''I'm sorry.''
No so please follow me.

　Karis said apologetically, and the young man turned away and walked away.
　He moved across the creaking planks to the pier.
　The pier swayed at that beat.
　Apparently, the pier here was floating in the sea.
　If you look at it, the quay is made of logs driven into the water with no gaps between them.
　The harbor in the Free City State cluster was made of stone and brick, but apparently there are many different types of harbors.
　With my curiosity piqued, I crossed the pier and found two men standing there.
　One of them was a man with a tattoo on his cheek to ward off evil.......Sif.
　He is the current Guild Master, an outstanding man who is a great grandson of a hero who created the forerunner of the Mercenary Guild and saved not only his own tribe but also other tribes, and is the representative of the Confederation of Tribes.
　Considering the skills that made the emigration successful this time, you can see that he's not an idiot whose only claim to fame is his bloodline.
　Well, to Luca, he's nothing but a hateful bastard.
　The other man is a stranger.
　He is dressed in black and has a frivolous smile on his face.
　Did he say he wanted to make us concubines?　He nodded his head inwardly.
　The young man gingerly walked over to Sif and opened his mouth.

'Master Sif, I've brought you both here.
You must be tired. You must be tired after your long journey. Have a good night's rest.
'Yes!　Thank you!

　What a pleasure, the young man replied with an excited look on his face and bowed his head vigorously.
　Sif lightly tapped the young man on the shoulder as he turned to walk away.
　The young man turned around and smiled happily.
　I don't know the style of a mercenary now, but I guess that was supposed to be a compliment.
　That would explain why the young man was happy.
　Well, even if I can't explain it, I know that he is adored beyond the tribe.

''Karis-dono, Luca-dono, I'm sorry to call you out at our convenience.

　Sif bows his head lightly.
　He could have bowed his head a little deeper, but for the moment, his pent-up energy was lowered.
　Now, what shall I say?

''No, if I can be of any use to the tribe like this, there is no greater pleasure than this.
....

　Karis opened her mouth faster than Luca could complain.
　How could she not complain when she should have been treated the same way she was?
　He could only turn his face away from her because she was so bummed out.

'Um, how are you over there?'

　Karis asked, and Sif gave him a look.
　Then, the man ... Kane stepped out without looking overbearing.

''I'm Kane, I'm the deputy of the Countess of Caddo. Today..........

　The man ... Kane shoved his hands into his jacket and pulled out two envelopes.

'I'll give them to you.'
Yeah, please.

　Sif took the envelope and held it out to me.
　The envelope has a name written on it.
　So he knew the name, but he didn't know the face.
　When I opened the seal, a piece of paper came out from inside.
　There is some kind of small text lined up, but it seems to be a permit of some sort.

''What's this?''
That's a residence permit.

　Luca stopped reading the text and looked at Karis.
　We've long since opened the seal, but she hasn't.

''May I open it?''
Yeah, no problem.

　Was I supposed to say something?　And Luca feels regretful now.

'It's a small sentence in a row, but the point is that it promises to treat you the same as a citizen of the territory. If you have this, you should be treated accordingly in other territories as well.
That's the way it should be.

　Karis stares at the paper, heartbroken.
　I'm not going to feel safe by having it explained to me like that when I'm just anxious.

'Don't be silly,'
Lord Luca.

　Luca says, glaring at Kane, and Sif gives him an accusing look.
　My whole body cracks up.
　I'm not making a mistake, and I have to say what I have to say for the sake of the future.
　If I'm a woman who just obeys, I'm straight out of being treated conveniently.

'This was not the right thing for me to say.

　Surprisingly, I should say, Kane readily admitted his fault.
　I remind myself that he might not be a bad guy.

''Crono-sama and I will do our best to protect you guys if you are treated unfairly in other territories.
You can say anything you want.

　Luca felt good about getting the words out, but he wanted to draw out what he could.

'You'll know it's not all talk if you look at the signature line.

　When I looked at the permit again, there were indeed three signatures on it.

''Three lords guarantee the status of the three lords. A decent lord wouldn't try to pick a fight with three lords. We are in the process of laying the groundwork for Baron Mesartim, Baron Bossain and Baron Treis, but the next permit will be in the joint names of the six of them. Are you relieved?
So why didn't you just say so in the first place?

　Luca revises his impressions downward.
　Well, the impression about himself should be worse, but thanks to him, I've learned something.
　That is, Kane's superior has the power to force the five lords to recognize the status of the Confederation of Tribes ... a different race.
　However, it's distressing to think that she has to become the concubine of such a handsome man and induce the Confederation of Tribes to benefit.

It's not something you can say for sure. Well, it's more reliable than a curse.

　'You're a jerk,' said Luca, turning away.

'You two will rest at the Mercenary Guild and head down to Master Crono's in the morning.

　I look at Sif without thinking.
　Aside from himself, Karis needs a break.
　I wasn't sure if I should point it out, when Kane opened his mouth.

'Are you okay?'
'There are no transgressors in the Mercenary Guild.'

　Kane chuckled, perhaps amused by Sif's off-target answer.
　Why couldn't he consider Karis's condition when he could think about night crawling?

'Besides, there are women in the frontier villages.
Not that way. You look like you're tired from a two-week sailing trip.
...hmm.

　Kane pointed out, and Sif turned his attention to us.
　He seems to have noticed that Karis isn't feeling well, but he's not sure if it's okay to change his plans.......or break his promise.

''Crono-sama won't make a fuss over being late in arriving for a day or two.
Can you do that?
Yeah, it's not much of a hassle.

　Kane agreed in two words.
　I knew he wasn't a bad guy, right?　Luca tilted his head inwardly.

I'm sorry.
I just don't want you to be mad at me. Also, you might want to explain to me what you've been called in for.
I thought you'd been briefed.

　Kane said pointedly, and Sif blurted out.
　'If you're asking me if I've been briefed, I haven't.

'In my experience, the women in Crono-sama's place are either misunderstood from the start, or misunderstood along the way. So I'm going to explain to them how it came to be this way..................even if it doesn't make sense behind the scenes.
Okay.

　Sif said with a sigh.

*

　Sif and Kane lead me through the city........Sylvania.
　My first impression was chaos, otherwise it would be chaos.
　There were many buildings around the port that seemed to flaunt their own wealth.
　However, it lacks a sense of unity, so it can hardly be called a sophisticated cityscape.
　Once you leave the area, the air changes completely.
　In front of a shop facing the street, a person who seems to be the owner of the shop raises his voice and the customers do the same.
　The abundance of goods lined up in front of the store is incomparable to what is available back home.
　Vegetables, fish, meat, clothes, and ornaments, and the curiosity of the products makes me keep on glancing around.
　However, Karis, who is next to me, can only walk as fast as she can.
　Maybe that's why he doesn't seem to notice the presence of bipedal cows, lizards and humans with pointed ears.
　I've never seen Luca before, but the cows are minotaurs, the lizards are lizardmen, and the humans with pointed ears are a race called elves, collectively known as subhumans.
　After a short walk, they lose their popularity.
　The smell of alcohol irritates my nasal passages.
　Apparently, there is a gathering of establishments here that serve alcohol.
　Further on, the popularity disappears completely, revealing a huge building.
　Since the garden has been turned into a training ground, it seems that this is the mercenary guild.
　I see, Luca nodded as he compared the building with Sif.
　Whether it's clothes or buildings, things show the owner's character.
　In that respect, the mercenary guild is easy to understand.
　In a word, it's not amiable.
　It's an exterior that seems to say that harmony with its surroundings is irrelevant.

''This is the base of the Mercenary Guild.
It's pretty quiet.

　Karis mentions something like that.
　It's true that it's such a large building, but there's no sign of people in it.

'There are a lot of people living in the village. Only a single person lives here now.'

　Sif gave a bitter smile.
　He had expected a more by-the-book approach, but he was quite gentle with his subordinates.
　Suddenly, the door opened and a well-dressed middle-aged woman came out.

''She's Saara. Normally, I do chores in the guild, but...''
Well, well, well, welcome to the long journey. It is my pleasure to serve as your stewardess, Miss Saara.

　
　The guildmaster of the mercenary guild seems to be formless to the old lady who lives at her own tempo.

''Can you........ask?''
Yes, of course. Come on in.

　When I entered the building led by Saara, there were a number of horizontal sofas lined up.
　I wondered if it was called a hall.
　It's a long corridor at the end of the hall, with doors lined up at equal intervals on both sides of the corridor.

The guild will be waiting for you on this sofa and will move to the back room.
Yeah, so,

　I don't know what convinced me, but Karis nodded at Saara's words.

'Your rooms will be upstairs.
I need to wash up.
Yes, I'm ready for a bath and a change of clothes.

　Luca muttered to himself, and Saara smiled and said.
　Considering Karis's condition, she should probably go straight to her room, but she wanted to get rid of the grime from her trip.

'You can bathe in hot water?'
Yeah.

　Karis asked, to which Saara replied somewhat proudly, "You should sleep in your room.
　I wanted to tell you to stay in your room, but apparently the allure of bathing in hot water outweighs the physical condition.
　Well, I know how you feel.
　There is not much land in the Bethel Mountains suitable for cultivation.
　This means that it is difficult for plants to grow.
　If you use trees as fuel, you'll be a bald mountain in no time.
　There is also the possibility of using a curse tool, but it is, by all means, not very durable.
　That is why bathing in the hot water was a luxury that could only be enjoyed on a joyous occasion.

Well, let me show you to the bathroom.

　Saara led the way to the bathroom.
　The bathroom was right in front of me at the end of the hallway, just up the stairs at the end of the hallway.
　When I opened the door, I found myself in a changing room.
　There were large shelves fixed to the wall with two baskets each.
　There were two baskets in which changes of clothes were stored.

Are you okay?
Excuse me?

　Luca asked, and Saara asked back.

''Like ... peeping and stuff.''

　He said that there are no offenders in the mercenary guild, but it's better to be vigilant.
　Crisis management is very important.

''I will keep an eye on you two until you finish bathing in the hot water, so don't worry.
That's a good thing.
Enjoy your stay.

　Saara bowed and closed the door to the dressing room.

*

　Luca and the others got out of the bath and changed into the clothes that had been prepared for them.
　Honestly, they would have liked to stay in the bath a little longer, but Karis had reached her limit.
　Originally, Karis was at the extreme end of her exhaustion from the two-week boat trip.
　The only thing that sustained her was her mental strength.
　That was cut short when she took a bath.
　It was quite an impressive feat, as she almost fell asleep while taking a bath.

'I'm up!
Then I'll show you to your room.

　Raising her voice in the locker room, Saara opened the door and walked out.
　Karis followed with a ghostly gait.

'Are you okay?'
"...hang in there, hang in there, hang in there.

　I couldn't help but call out to him, and he gave me a curious answer.
　He's like a drunk.
　And yet it was strangely lustrous.
　I wasn't worried that I was going to fall over, but Karis managed to walk to the end of the long corridor.

''This will be your room, sir.

　With that, Saara opened the door.
　If she was a caretaker, she would want to pay a little more attention to Karis, but would that be too high a goal?

'It's quite a big room.

　Luca spoke his honest opinion.
　Perhaps it was because they were using it as a large room, or maybe it was because it was only furnished for two people, but it looked quite large.
　There is a bed and vanity table by the wall, with a chair and table in the center.
　The furniture was arranged symmetrically, as if reflected in a mirror.

I will be here for supper, so please make yourself comfortable in the meantime. Please let me know if you have any requests regarding the meal.
I'm hoping...
I haven't had meat in a while.

　Luca interrupted Karis's words to say what he wanted.

'As you wish, sir.'
Please.

　Saara didn't seem to be offended and left the room, closing the door behind her.

''Um....''
Don't you want some meat?

　He interrupted Karis again.
　Then she fell silent.
　She seems to have a rather pushy personality, after all.
　I feel disgusted with myself for interrupting her words while noticing it, but I can't eat the food I want to eat if I'm with her.
　This could be the last time.
　If that's the case, I'd like to have a full meal of my favorite food.
　I got to the table in the center and pulled my sewing kit out of the pouch.
　Charis looks at me as if she wants to say something.
　I'm annoyed with her attitude and her hometown.

''Well it pisses me off,''
Excuse me.

　Luca muttered, and Karis apologized.
　She was dimly aware that it was her way of getting rid of him, but her irritation was growing at an accelerated rate.

'It wasn't you. I'm pissed off at my tribe and the Confederacy of Tribes. It's just a matter of time before they decide to marry you, divorce you without permission, talk about you behind your back, and end up being the concubine of some guy who has no idea what he's talking about.

　He interrupted his embroidery and wound up grumbling.

''Well you said the stone woman wasn't a woman.

　Luca bit his lip.
　Yeah, that's it.
　You said you weren't a woman and you're pissed off that you offered yourself up as a concubine.

'You're not pissed off?'
I don't know.
Wow, you're a good girl. Are you going to be a concubine for your tribe?

　Luca immediately regretted it.
　If following the words of others was her way of life, there was no way she wasn't angry, no way she wasn't suffering, no way she wasn't regretting it.
　But such imaginations were denied by the words of none other than Karis.

'That's not what I'm talking about I probably don't have the energy left to do that.

　Oh," Karis pouted softly, her expression changing dizzily.
　At first she looked surprised, then convinced, and finally exhausted.

'I'm sorry. I'm sorry.'
No, that's okay.
You look terrible.

　Luca pointed out, and Karis touched her face.
　When he was on the ship, he had the worst look on his face, as if he was about to vomit, and now he looked like he was going to die from exhaustion.
　Well, I was the one who made him look like that.

'You need to get some rest,'
I will.

　Caris crawled into bed.
　A few moments later, sobbing could be heard.
　Luca resumed his embroidery, feeling guilty.

*

　It was about the end of the night when Karis woke up.
　While she slept, Luca was embroidering alone.

'You can sleep a little longer,'
No, I'm fine.

　Karis wiped her eyes and got out of bed.

'Were you talking in your sleep?'
It's a quiet one.

　Luca spat out a lie.
　He was probably tired.
　Karis crawled into bed and fell asleep as if she was going to pass out.
　After a while, however, the nightmare began to take hold.
　I'm sorry, I'm sorry, she said in apology.
　It was the kind of sleep that made it painful to listen to.
　I have to be careful, I thought to myself, and as I was thinking about that, there was a knock on the door.
　Karis walked up to the door with a firm step and opened it.
　Then he saw Sif and Saara there.

'You're looking much better,'
Thank you.

　Sif smiled as Karis bowed her head.

'I'd like to explain the situation before we eat. Would you mind taking a seat?
Yes.

　Karis took a seat facing Luca and Sif walked over to the table.
　Then he hung his head deeply.

'First, I want to apologize on behalf of the Chief for calling you out at our convenience, and secondly, for the heartless words I have spoken to you. I'm truly sorry.
No.

　Karis' voice was trembling, as if she was upset.
　Well, he would be upset if he was suddenly bowed to by the representative of the Federation of Tribes.
　However, he couldn't just be upset.
　That man.........Kane had told me to explain what he was called for at the port.
　So that means there are facts that we haven't told ourselves.
　We can't get upset and forget to listen to the important part.
　After all, it is a stranger who will be their concubine.
　We don't want to cause displeasure by forgetting to listen to what they have to say.

''The deputy told me to explain it to you?''
Yeah, I'll explain it to you now.

　When Luca pointed it out, Sif looked up and covered his mouth thoughtfully.
　I was tempted to suspect that he was trying to mislead us by upsetting us.

''.........The man who rules the county of Caddo, where we are located, and the Marquis of Erakis to the east of it, is a man named Crono.

　'Crono,' he said, rolling the name around in his mouth.

'The man asked you to give me a concubine, didn't he?
Master Crono didn't say anything.

　For a moment I didn't understand what he meant.

'His wife's maid who works at the mansion - in essence, she asked me to recommend her for a vacancy in the servants.
Anybody who can work for you as a servant is good enough.

　He managed to spin the words in a daze.

'His wife is the daughter of the former Emperor. She has no authority at present, but we had to show our sincerity.

　The anger is huffing and puffing.
　They were not sought out as concubines, no, not as women, but as a labor force.

'Your daughter...Quanto, was it?　Why don't you send that guy in?
I disowned that one.
What?
I disowned that one. I'm in charge of the agency now.

　When I asked him back, not understanding what he meant, Sif said matter-of-factly.

'Are we, um, supposed to work as maids?'
No, try to be a mistress.

　Karis asks, unafraid.
　Then Sif made a statement that overruled his previous statement.
　To be honest, I don't understand.

''Crono-sama is a womanizer. Probably, if you approach him, he'll have a pretty good chance of getting to you.'
Didn't you tell me to make sure that didn't happen?
He just asked me to explain so he wouldn't misunderstand me.

　Apparently, Sif does not intend to listen to Kane's words honestly.
　Even so, even though it's an inner circle, it's a terrible thing to say to the lord.

''Um, what should I demand if I become a concubine?''
I have no specific requirements.
What do you mean?
It is what it is.

　I still don't understand why.
　If you don't have anything to demand, you don't need to order me to approach him so that he can be a concubine.

'Master Crono hates public life. He may be able to be a mistress, but he won't be able to wield power or get money.
So you're not making any sense.

　Even if we could be a concubine... well, a mistress... but even if we could be a mistress, we can't do anything if the other party doesn't like to mix public and private matters.

'If a tribesman becomes one of our people, that man won't be able to cut us off as easily. That's all we need.

　Sif said quietly.

We cannot afford to lose this treatment.''

　I suddenly remembered a fable I heard when I was little.
　It's a story about a man who receives a favor from a genie and loses everything because he wants more.

When did we go under, well, Master Crono?
Day after tomorrow.

　It's a fair decision, said Luca, stealing a glance at Karis' face.
　Tomorrow will be tougher, but the day after tomorrow will be fine.

'Can I go and see the village once?
I'll have her show you around tomorrow.
Thank you.

　Karis bowed her head lightly as Sif allowed her to do so.

'Do you have any other questions or requests?'
....
....

　I wanted him to tell me how to approach it, but it would be useless to ask.

Then enjoy your meal.
Okay, okay, here you go.

　As Sif left, Saara pushed a wooden wagon into the room.
　She then deftly laid out the food ... a large loaf of bread, cream stew, herb-grilled meat, and salad on the table.
　Karis's eyes widened in surprise, but Luca was less surprised, as he knew that Sylvania's store carried a lot of ingredients.

'Serve them before they get cold.

　Luca and Charis folded their hands and offered a prayer of thanks to the spirits.
　First they scooped up a spoonful of cream stew.
　My eyes widen lightly as a large chunk of meat emerges.
　When I put it in my mouth, it crumbles even though I didn't put much effort into it.
　I replace the spoon with a fork and this time I eat the salad.
　Vegetables are very expensive in the Bethel Mountains, where there is no land suitable for cultivation.
　I eat the salad and this time my eyes widen.

''It's ... amazingly crunchy.''

　Luca muttered, and Karis looked at me.
　He took a mouthful of salad, looking unconscious of the cream stew, and his eyes widened in surprise.
　Next, he reached for the bread and broke it in two.
　Emerging from beneath the slightly hard crust was a snow-white filling.
　You don't see bread as white as this unless you're at a celebration.
　Oh, I'm such a cheap woman, I thought to myself as I took a bite of the bread.
　I ate half of the bread and reached for the cream stew again.
　The vegetables are a bit tougher, perhaps because they didn't have enough time to simmer.
　But even with that, the cream stew, no, the dish was excellent.

''Being a mercenary is such a luxury, isn't it?''

　Luca puts down his spoon and mutters to himself.
　There should be a constant stream of aspiring mercenaries despite the fact that their lives are in danger.

''This much doesn't fall within the realm of luxury.
What?
You can eat this much for a little money here.

　When I asked back, Saara said naturally.
　Well, if you think about it, the geographic conditions in Bethel Mountains and Sylvania are different, so the price of foodstuffs can't be the same.

''Maybe we won't have to pay for it this year, huh?
How's the frontier going?
Yeah, that's right.　The harder you work, the easier it gets, so my husband clears the forest on his off-duty days!

　Saara laughed vigorously.
　'Apparently, your husband is a butt.

'What kind of person is Master Crono?'
I haven't met you in person, but I've heard a lot about you being a womanizer.

　Karis asked, and Saara replied with a raised eyebrow.
　This is a way of saying this to someone who can guarantee a different race the same rights as the lords.
　However, I'm curious, so I don't go into it and listen to my ears.

'I've heard that you have three wives and more mistresses than you can count on the fingers of both hands.
It doesn't suck.

　He spits it out.

'The guys in town laugh at us for 'preferring heroic colors.' We don't mind it, either.
What about it?
They're realists. We're all realists. Well, if my husband hugged his mistress, I would beat him up. The lord is not bothering anyone, and he is administering the good government, so I won't complain.
Yeah, I suppose so.

　It's a feeling I don't understand.
　I think that those who stand above should be the norm for those below them, but when I think of the Chief, the Council of Elders, and Sif, I'm at a loss for words.
　Not to mention the Chiefs and the Council of Elders, and Sif is hardly an innocent man.
　In that sense, he's a good government, so I don't think we should expect him to have a personality.
　Do I have a bad sense of humor?　Luca nodded his head.

*

　Luca finished his meal and leaned back in his chair.
　It was so good that he ate too much.
　He took his sewing kit from the porch and began to embroider.
　Saara stacked the empty plates on top of each other and placed them on the wagon.

'Lousy job,'
No, it was good.
My husband should have told me that.

　Saara put her hands on her hips and let out a small sigh.
　She glanced at us.

''That was ... delicious.''
Ha, I'm sorry I sounded urgent.

　Luca said, resting his hand on his embroidery, and Saara replied with a laugh.
　It didn't sound like she was prompting him, but she was urging him to do so.

''Well then, get some rest.''

　With that, Saara pushed the wagon out of the room.

'That was good,'
Yeah.

　As I resumed my embroidery, Karis called out to me.

'Do you like embroidery?'
'Yes, I like it. I don't have to get involved in anything else when I'm embroidering.

　Karis gave him a hurt look.
　Seeing that look, he regretted that he should have been more selective with his words.

'But I'm glad to hear it. You seem like a good person.'
What?

　I can't help but plunge in.
　From the point of view of the lords, he's a good lord, and a convenient partner, considering his purpose.
　However, I don't think someone who has a lot of women around him is a good person.
　Sif is also Sif.
　He's telling me to approach him so that he can be a concubine, but he has no plan.
　Or, rather, if I have the means to cajole a man, I'm not behind.
　I'd like to spend an hour or so questioning him about what he expects of himself.
　And the clan chief is a clan chief too.
　If he knew that the other party was a maid he should have explained it properly to the elder council if he knew that they were asking for labor.
　Humiliation and anger came back vividly as he laid out his grievances in his mind.
　They've done all that and forced me to do something useful for the tribe.
　It was all very annoying.
　Of course, that includes the man who caused his own humiliation........Crono.

'If you think you're wanted as a woman, you're not treated like cattle. You made me come from the Bethel Mountains, what's a servant, a servant.......ouch!

　A pain runs through my index finger.
　I've pricked my finger with a needle.
　When I look down, blood oozes out like a bead.
　I put my index finger in my mouth and the taste of blood spread to my mouth.
　Really, I threw out my sewing kit, disgusted with everything.
　Luca crawled into bed and turned his back to Karis.
　Misery pushed away his anger and pounced on him.

'I hate you all. Why do you have to go through this just because you couldn't have a child?

　I couldn't do the role that was expected of me.
　Of course, as a member of the tribe, you should be able to fulfill the role expected of you.
　But what should those who cannot do so do?



　The next morning, Luca woke up just as the white dawn was beginning to break.
　Coming to a foreign land doesn't seem to get rid of the habits he used to have back home.
　She slipped out of bed and looked at the dressing table.
　In the large mirror, I see my own reflection in the red and swollen eyelids.

''You look ... terrible.''

　He mumbles and ruffles his hair.
　My hair tangles in my fingers.
　Frustrated, I pull with force and my hair puffs out.

''I need to wash my face.''
Oh, good morning.

　I went out into the corridor and came across Saara.
　She had brought me some water to wash my face, and there was a ceramic jug and a wooden tarai on the wagon.

'You're awfully early.'
That's because he's a nanny.

　What was he going to do if Luca was asleep?
　Such questions pass through my mind, but it's useless to think about it too much.

''You'll have to excuse me while I carry the jug and tarai.

　Saara returned as soon as she placed the jug and tarai on the vanity table.
　Karis doesn't even show any signs of waking up when someone is next to her.

'You're surprisingly brazen,'
That's how tired I am.

　Saara said with a bitter smile.

'What would you like for breakfast?'
I need some eggs.

　Not many people in the Bethel Mountains run poultry farms, so chicken eggs are a valuable commodity, but they shouldn't be so expensive here.

'Bacon and eggs, if that's okay?'
Yeah, you got it.

　As expected, or should I say, the amount of money for chicken and eggs seems to be about the same as Saara can purchase at her discretion.

'But is the shop open at this hour?
Sylvania's merchants are very commercial-minded.

　You're too tough, Luca pouted in his mind.
　Maybe they have their own route to get it.

''Well, if you'll excuse me then,''

　Saara pushed the wagon and left the scene.
　Luca sat down in front of the vanity table, biting off a lack of stretching.
　A towel was carefully placed next to the tarai.
　He poured water into the tarai and washed his face, wiping the water off with the towel.

'My hair is a mess.'

　I opened the drawer to see if I had this much furniture available.
　Then I found an exquisitely crafted comb.

'I wonder if he's paying attention to me, just in case?

　The clothes and underwear he was wearing, the furniture, the dishes, the jug... if he tried to get the things in the mercenary guild in the Bethel Mountains, he would certainly go bankrupt.
　Luca let out a sigh and picked up the comb.



　As Luca took his seat and embroidered, Karis moaned softly.
　The night was already dawning and the sunlight was shining through the curtains.
　After a while, Karis slowly sat up.
　She was in a daze, as if she had forgotten that she was in Sylvania.
　More time passed and Karis turned her gaze to us.

'You slept well,'
Excuse me.

　Karis apologized and got off the bed and headed to the vanity table.
　She sits in a chair and pours water into the tarai to wash her face.
　He stops moving as he touches his hair.
　Maybe he thinks he needs a comb.

'There's a comb in the drawer if you want one.
Thank you.

　Karis took the comb out of the drawer and began to comb it happily.
　After all, they are women, I guess.
　There was a tap on the door at the same time as Karis put the comb away in the drawer.

'....Come in.
'Good morning. It's another beautiful day.

　Luca interrupted his embroidery and opened the door, and Saara pushed the wagon into the room.

'The stew is left over from yesterday, though. It's soaked with flavor and is delicious.'

　Saara says this as she lays out the dishes.
　Butter-filled toast, cream stew, salad, and bacon and eggs.
　Luca says a prayer to the spirits and reaches for the bacon and eggs.
　When he stuck his fork into the yolk, the turgid contents overflowed.
　That meant it was fresh enough to eat, even if it was half-boiled.
　It's not like this in the Bethel Mountains.
　I cut into pieces and chew on them, and the richness of the flavor unfolds.
　Next comes the buttered toast.
　I slice it in two with my hand and put one of them in my mouth.
　A nice salty and sweet taste spreads in your mouth.
　As Luca was tasting it, Saara spoke up.

''I went to buy the vegetables first thing in the morning.
''........Great. Is the empire the same everywhere?
I'm just shuttling back and forth between the frontier villages and Sylvania. I don't know much about anything else.

　Saara said, a little apologetically.
　Even if you have a residence permit, the distance you can travel seems to be limited.
　It's no wonder that unless you are a peddler or mercenary, you don't have many opportunities to leave the village.

''The peddlers said that every day in the town where Crono-sama's mansion is located is a festival, though.
"....every day is a celebration.

　Karis muttered anxiously.
　Even Sylvania is festive enough in light of Luca's common sense.
　She should have seen it too, but it seems to have slipped from her memory.

''You'd better listen to half the story.
Yes.

　After all, Karis said anxiously.

'Speaking of which, where's Master Sif?'
Don't worry, I'll show you around the settlement.

　I need some incense tea. Is it wrong to go in there?　And Luca hesitates a bit as he looks at them.

''Can I get you a drink?''
Yes, yes, I've got it all ready for you.

　Saara poured the incense tea into her cup and a nostalgic smell wafted through the air.

'That's a familiar smell, isn't it?
Is it ginger?

　'Oh,' said Luca, nodding.

'Yes, I learned how to make it from a priestess who taught me how to pioneer and farm. I think it's better than it was in the beginning.''
Where's your faith?

　I've heard that the empire believes in the six pillars of the gods.
　I don't know what kind of faith it is, but it seems like a bad idea to owe it to them.

''I believe in the Spirit-sama, so don't worry about it.
'Wouldn't that be beneficial?'

　Saara said proudly, but Karis seemed to have doubts about this.
　There must be some kind of intention in reaching out to her.

'It's thanks to Crono-sama's donation.
...I see.

　Karis nodded, but Luca couldn't be trusted that easily.
　I think we should draw a line and be careful with him.

'Come on, before it gets cold.

　Saara set the cup down on the table.
　Luca picked up the cup to make sure Karis had the incense tea in her mouth.
　As she drank the incense tea, a tangy sensation tingled on the tip of her tongue.

''Well it's not bad.''

　It feels as if the heat is spreading from my stomach.
　Maybe it's a drink to warm the body.

'According to the priest, it's going to be cold this year.

　After all, that's how they taught me how to make it.
　But you can't survive in the Bethel Mountains if you're making noise in this level of cold.

You're a pussycat.

　I was just letting my honest opinion slip out, but Saara gave a bitter smile.



　Luca and his friends finished their meal and drove the cart to the frontier village.
　Saara was the guru and Luca and Karis were the cargo.
　A short time after they left Sylvania, Karis opened her mouth.

'It's a beautiful day, isn't it?'
Well....

　Luca ministered as he embroidered.
　He might be a surprisingly brazen character, since he called out to me even though I told him he didn't have to get involved in anything unnecessary while embroidering.
　Suddenly, I was hit with a thrusting shock.
　When I looked up, I saw a minotaur approaching me.

I'm not sure what to expect. Do you have something to do with the city?
"I've been asked to go shopping, you know.

　
　I could hear the words used by the human and the cry at the same time, but this was because he was using a spell tool to communicate his will.

'Is your daughter behind you a new villager?' (Bum?)

　When Hassan looked down at her, Karis shook her body in small increments.
　She didn't think there was any need to be frightened since the language was understood, but she couldn't seem to suppress her fear.

''Ah, these two will serve Crono-sama as maids.
Did you say migrant? (Bum?)

　'If you're a migrant, it's still better,' Luca spat in his mind.

'We're strangers, you know. He's taken care of us.'
I'm supposed to be on your side. (Bum?)

　Hahsan exhaled through his nose with a buh-uh.
　Apparently, the people in the pioneer village, including Saara, have a reasonable relationship with the sub-humans.
　Karis, speaking of which, she's lying on her back and shaking with a purr.
　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to work as a maid at this rate.

Haha, so do we. I'm sure Mr. Crono wants us to know that we're not strangers.
"...so that's what it is...

　That's what you're aiming for, said Luca, nodding at the same time as Hassan.
　Of course, there will be the aspect of hostage, though.

''I'd like to talk to you some more, but.......''
We can always talk about it.

　Saara began to move the wagon.
　After a moment, Karis looked up and stared at Hassan's back.
　Then she let out a grand sigh when his back was out of sight.

'Did I startle you?'
Who is he?
They live in a frontier village. They said they came before us and built a harbor.

　'I see,' said Luca, nodding as he embroidered.

'There are elves in the pioneer village, too.
"...elves.

　Karis muttered with a divine look on her face.

'Are you okay?'
I was surprised at first, though. Once you get to know them, they're a pleasant bunch.

　Luca resumed his embroidery, and after a moment, Saara opened her mouth.

'Ah, the village is in sight.
What about it?

　I heard Karis' voice, but Luca continued to embroider in silence.

'Luca-san, Luca-san!

　Karis bashes me on the arm and brings me back to reality.
　We want to avoid getting involved in anything unnecessary, but reality (Karis) doesn't take our convenience into account.

'You're doing embroidery, don't slap me,'
'Look beyond that!

　Luca tucked his sewing kit into his pouch and stared in the direction Karis was pointing.

''.........''

　I gulp.
　Can I say that I was taken aback?
　A pioneer village, he said, but this was outrageous.
　What spread out in front of me was a city.
　Wooden houses line the streets.
　There are minotaurs and elves, but no one seems to care about that.

'It's a nice village, isn't it?'
Yes.

　Karis nodded, but Luca couldn't say anything.
　Children ran around and women chatted around the well.
　That's the happiness I couldn't get for myself.
　Why should I have to sacrifice myself for these people, Luca bit his lip.



　Luca's anger didn't go away after eating Saara's food or taking a bath.
　Why did he have to sacrifice himself?
　What did those people, those people back home, do for him?
　I wanted them to say a kind word, even if it was pity or pity.
　If they had spoken kind words to me, I would have obeyed their orders to be a concubine.
　That was all I needed, but no one spoke a kind word to me.
　I thought embroidery would drown my anger, but I couldn't.
　The anger comes from within me.

'What's going on?'
...nothing.

　She answered Karis as she embroidered.
　She seemed to have regained some of her energy after seeing the fields in the pioneer village.
　That makes me angry.
　This woman is self-absorbed.
　She believes that if she becomes a concubine, the frontier village will be protected.
　How could she come up with such a happy idea?
　Why is it that she can only hold a grudge against others in similar circumstances?
　If only I could be as self-absorbed as this woman, how happy I would be if I could accept my sacrifice with joy.

'It's been a good village, hasn't it?'
Well....

　Luca's mind is filled with images of happy children and women ... and families.
　He will now be consumed as a laborer.
　He must spend his life as a concubine of a powerful man.
　There is nothing in it for my benefit.
　I am a tool to keep my tribe from being damaged.

'Wow, I'm going to bed now,'

　Karis crawled into bed to escape.

"....d*mn it. Why would they do that to me?

　Luca muttered softly and bit his lip.

*

　The next day, when Luca and Karis went outside after breakfast, the box carriage was still in front of the mercenary guild.
　They had the opportunity to ride the box carriage on the way to the port from the Bethel Mountains, but it was a far more magnificent substitute than that.
　I looked next to him and saw that Karis had opened her mouth like an idiot.
　I wasn't sure if I should tell her to keep her mouth shut, when Sif and Kane emerged from behind the boxcarriage.

'Yo, you two. You look like you're in good shape.''
What's in this carriage?
It was given to me by Master Crono. He came all the way from the Bethel Mountains to do me the courtesy of coming here.

　Kane lightly cowered his shoulders and answered Karis' question.

'I sent the necessities of life to the Marquis' residence.
Thank you.

　Karis thanked him, though it was only fair to give him a parting gift.

''Well that, and it is Your Duran who is about to open the door.

　Kane pointed with his thumb, and the man who was about to open the boxcarriage door stopped moving.
　The sword he carried from his waist and his demeanor suggests he is a warrior.

'He's got a sword hanging around, but this is just in case. After all, it's been three years since the bandit last appeared.
Yes.

　Kane said in an easygoing tone, but Karis looked uneasy.

''Well hello hello,''
"Ah, ah, gee, I'm Duran, the gentleman. I usually work as a clerk in the Marquis' mansion. Nice to meet you.

　Duran turned to Kane and bowed his head at Kane's prompting.

'It's nice to meet you too,'
Nice to meet you.

　Karis bowed her head, and Luca followed suit.

'Well, we'll be leaving, but have you forgotten anything?
Yes, no.
No.

　When Duran opens the door, the interior of the box carriage is exposed.
　When you see the leather chairs installed facing each other, you can't help but wag your tongue inwardly at the care and attention to detail of the work.
　Just by looking at the stitching, you can tell how much time and effort the craftsman who made the chair took to make it.
　If this is something that was made in response to Crono's intentions, it's quite a feat.



　Luca sat on the door side of the front seat as Karis sat in the back seat by the window.

'I'll close it,'

　As soon as Duran closed the door, he headed for the guru's table.
　The box carriage started to move after a short pause.
　It was a pleasant ride, a far cry from the wagon.
　I can embroider on this one, Luca pulled out his sewing kit from the pouch.
　When she looked up, she saw Karis looking out with an innocent expression like a child.
　She was exhausted when she came to Sylvania, so this must be unusual.
　After a moment of frolicking, Karis fell asleep.

'You're a good sleeper,'

　Luca muttered as he embroidered.

*

　The trip in the box carriage was smooth itself.
　I was nervous when I rubbed against another carriage, but I soon got used to it.
　The more carriage traffic that you get used to right away means that this area.......Crono's territory must be very safe.
　It's almost finished, though, and Luca rested his hand.
　When it's completed, you won't be able to embroider for a while.
　No, it's possible that I won't be able to do it again.
　There's not much thread left that I took out of my hometown, and I don't know if I can get new ones.
　I should have asked if I could get some money for it.
　He clicks his tongue and says, "I don't think I'm the kind of person who would beg for it and buy it.

''Well you sleep well by the way.

　When I looked up, Karis was asleep, leaning against the window.
　Suddenly, the speed of the boxcarriage changes to a slower one.
　The speed gradually slows down.
　I looked out the window and saw a beast-headed human body deformity... a race called werewolves... staring at me.
　He held a spear in his hand and wore armor.
　It's a piece of equipment comparable to or even better than a top-notch mercenary.
　For now, I waved my hand at the werewolf, and he waved his hand at me.

''Well it doesn't sound like you're a bad guy.''

　The boxcarriage stopped and the impact was felt.
　It woke Karis up.
　And the moment his eyes met the werewolf's, bam, he moved away from the window.
　Well, if the werewolf's face was suddenly in front of her, she would be surprised.

'You needn't be frightened,'
What?
Are you delirious?
Oh, yes.

　Karis patted her chest as she asked more questions back.
　The werewolf signaled outside the window, and the boxcarriage began to move again.
　Luca resumed his embroidery, but after a moment he looked up.
　He heard the faint sound of a kern, kern.

'What's wrong?'
I heard a noise.
Sound?

　Karis closed her eyes.

'Well it looks like it's right around the corner.

　Right there, I mean, I can already see it, Luca tilted his gaze.
　Then he saw the castle and the four towers that surrounded it.
　The boxcarriage passed through the gate and entered the castle grounds.
　It slowed down a bit and came to a complete stop in front of the castle.
　As Duran opened the door, Karis cowered as he opened the door.
　You don't have to be so frightened, Luca tucked his sewing kit into the pouch.

Did I scare you?
No, no!

　Karis replied in a supercilious voice, waving her hands from side to side.

'Please, come down.'
....
Yes, sir.

　Luca was silent and Karis answered in a supercilious voice and got off the boxcarriage.

'Crono, what about you, Master?'
He'll be here soon.

　Immediately after Duran answered, the doors of the castle opened.
　The one who came out was a woman.
　She wore a pure white apron over a black dress.
　The woman held the door and bowed reverently.
　Then a young man with one eye appeared leisurely.
　Perhaps he was Crono.
　You will find that you will be able to get a lot more than just a few of these.

''Well then, I'll take it.''

　Duran bowed and went away in a boxcarriage as if he had finished his business.
　In the meantime, the young man is approaching.
　The woman, however, closed the door and followed him.

''How do you do, I'm the lord of the Marquess of Erakis and Count Caddo I'm Crono.

　Crono stopped and said in a soft tone of voice.
　As far as I'm concerned, he's not a good guy, Luca looked at him sullenly.
　Well, even if he was a lord, it's no wonder he could mend his appearance.

''Excuse me, but how old are you?''
I'm 21 years old.

　He looked at Karis with a guffaw.
　He thought the question was too blunt, but Crono answered with a sly smile.
　Karis let out a small breath, as if relieved to hear that she was twenty-one years old.

'Where are your parents?'
"My father is in the southern frontier the Areos Mountains, if you know what I mean?　Well, anyway, I'm a lord at the foot of it, and my mother is sick...

　When Crono slurred his words, Karis made an expression that resembled pity.
　It's not hard to understand how he feels, but if he's mending his appearance, he's been tricked into it.
　When I was wondering what to do, the woman deliberately cleared her throat.

''I'm Alyssa, the head maid. I've been asked to educate Karis-san and Luca-san for a while from today.
Oh, I'm Charis.
Yes, sir.

　Alyssa smiled softly as Caris raised her hand.

'Your education will begin tomorrow,'
Alyssa, look after me.
Yes, sir.

　When Crono called out to her, Alyssa's mouth broke into a happy smile.
　Her glazed expression made it clear that the two were not mere squires.

''I will show you to your room. Please, come this way.

　Alyssa led the way into the castle.
　As we walked up the stairs at the end of the hall and down a long corridor, Karis opened her mouth.

'It's an amazing castle,'
It's not a castle. It's a castle house.
Jokan?
'Yes, it doesn't function as a castle, as habitability is a priority. But that's just a take-away.

　Alyssa answered Karis' question in a calm tone. It would be humble to go out of your way to refuse to be received.
　Thanks to that, it's hard to feel that we're being laughed at for our ignorance, too.

''This will be the room for the two of you.

　Alyssa stopped in the middle of the hallway and opened the door.
　They may not have indicated it beforehand, but the arrangement of the furniture was very similar to that of the mercenary guild.
　There was a bed and vanity table by the wall, a chest of drawers by the window, a table and chairs in the center, and two wooden boxes on top of it.
　This crate seemed to be a gift from Sif.

'What about that crate?'
I got it from Mr. Sif.
What's in it?
Come on, you're done.

　Alyssa smiled as she answered Karis' question.

'Your education will begin tomorrow.
Oh, um!

　Karis stops her and Alyssa as she tries to turn on her heel.

'How can I help you?'
What kind of person is Master Crono?

　Alyssa's cheeks twitched for a moment, as if it was a very bad question.


Good.

　Karis patted her chest, but Luca was not reassured.

*

　The dining room was silent.
　However, if you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of hammers, birds chirping, and what seems to be calls.
　They did not interfere with Luca, and he did not interfere with them either.
　She embroiders in a comfortable silence.
　A few days have passed since she started working as a maid.
　There have been some small mistakes, but considering that she is a newcomer, I think it's a fair point.
　The human relations are going well for the most part.
　Maybe it's because he's a former soldier, but his coworkers don't pry into our past or interfere in any way that's unnecessary.
　It's the same with Alyssa, and she keeps a reasonable distance from me.
　It was the same comfortable indifference that is now enveloping the diner.
　But there are two things that are bothering me.
　One is Karis.
　It's not that she's unfit to be a maid.
　Quite the opposite.
　I think she is apparently too familiar with the idea of being a maid.
　It's tempting to suspect that she's forgotten Sif's orders.
　And she often looks at me as if she wants to say something.
　Maybe he's thinking that he should try to be more open with his colleagues or something.
　It's none of my business.
　Don't worry about it, I get along with my co-workers I'm just trying to get information about Crono but I do.
　The other thing is Crono.
　He told me to approach him so that I could be his concubine, but I haven't had the opportunity to make contact with him.
　As I was trying to figure out how to make contact, I heard a clatter.
　I looked up and saw Crono standing on the other side of the table.

'Hey, are you alone?'
Yeah, yeah.
Can I sit?
You're more than welcome to try.

　'Thanks,' said Crono, sitting down in a chair.

'What can I do for you?'
'I don't have any particular business with you, but I heard you're on your own a lot. I thought I'd give you a shout as my employer.
Hi.

　Apparently, my actions were coded to Crono.

'Is that embroidery?'
Yes,
That's great.
Thank you.

　Is it really that big of a deal?　Luca nodded his head inwardly.

'I can't copy you,'
Can you embroider?
I haven't had a chance to do it since school, so maybe I can't do it now.

　Then Crono smiled shyly.
　If this was an act, then big deal.

'Does Luca like embroidery?'
I don't hate it.

　What's the point of answering honestly, I poke at myself in my mind.
　I mean, it's a weird question, even though I would normally think that I would like it if I was embroidering.

'What's wrong with embroidery?'
Yeah, actually...

　Crono pulled a wallet out of his pocket.
　It's a pretty old wallet.
　Why wouldn't he buy a new one when he owns such a luxurious boxcarriage?

'My wallet is in shambles, so I thought I'd have it made.
I can't.

　You answer immediately and immediately realize your blunder.
　In a situation like this, it's less horrible to say you're sorry.
　But Crono is unperturbed.

'Can't you?'
No, I don't have any fabric and coloured thread.

　I tell him why I can't, relieved that I didn't displease him.
　That crate contained a mirror, a comb, a change of clothes, and an immediate living allowance, but it didn't contain cloth and colored thread.
　The immediate living expenses - I can buy as much as I want by cutting up ten gold coins, but I want to keep them for emergencies.

'Oh, I see. Of course, I'll pay for the materials.
Oh, thank you.

　Luca looks at Crono sullenly.
　I don't think he's a bad person, but he's smelly.
　My instincts tell me that I should be wary.

''What's wrong?''
No, no.
'Is it because it's not what they say it is that they're being warned?
.....

　Luca gasped, and Crono laughed.
　What a smile of a do-gooder, if you will.

'So, what did you say about me?'
...womanizing.

　That's terrible!" chuckled Crono.
　He said, though, that his coworkers were kind and courageous, besides being a womanizer.
　He also said that there were other things that gave him creepy, cold eyes.

'But that's not what Luca was hearing either.

　Gulp, Luca grunted.
　It was unwise.
　Why didn't we think that they were gathering information about us too?

'I heard you were frustrated and not pretty?
Who told you that?
No, no one said that.

　The blood on my head instantly receded.
　They had put a sickle on me.
　The moment I realized that, Crono seemed like a hell of a jerk.

'Are you the one?'
Yes.

　Luca was miffed and said back.

'Are you the one who's bare?
Hmmm, what do you think?

　Crono crossed his arms and tilted his head.

'So why have you been asking around about me so much?'
I was ordered to be your mistress.

　Luca confided the truth in desperation.

'Oh, I knew it,'
If you expected it, don't bother asking me, you're a dick.
I don't want to hear it from him, just for the record.

　I think I'm being rude I think I'm being rude I think I'm raging, but Crono is unperturbed.

'What did Sif say?'
He said he didn't want to lose his current treatment.
'I'm not going to change the way I'm treated without doing this!

　Crono said blurting out.
　I thought he might be a good guy, but I've already decided in my mind that he's a jerk.
　I shouldn't revise my assessment so easily.

''Hmmm, does that mean you mean it?''
I mean it. 'I mean it.' 'The power of vermin extermination and the Confederacy of Tribes is essential to the protection of the merchants.

　It doesn't seem like he's lying, but it feels like he's hiding something.
　I have the feeling that he's going to boast that he wasn't asked.

'You're hiding something from me, aren't you?
Yeah, sure.
....

　Crono is unfazed by the glare.

'After all, you can't treat the people who are on your side until the end with no disrespect, can you?
I knew it?　To the end?　.........!

　He gulped.
　This guy is going to make the Confederation of Tribes an asset.
　And he's going to use it up too.

''You.........
'For the record, I don't expect you to be on my side all the way down to the women and children, do I?

　Guh, Luca grunted.
　Crono might be, but Sif should be ready to use up the residents of the frontier village for his migration plan.
　Once he realized this, he felt fiercely embarrassed.
　I thought I was the only one who was losing money.
　But it wasn't.
　I was taking the same, or even greater, risk as myself.
　And yet Luca only thought of himself and spoke only of resentment and bitterness.

You're a real pain in the ass.
I don't think it's that bad~

　Crono said blurting out.

'I think it's rather terribly preferential.
....

　Luca couldn't say it back on the spur of the moment.
　Staying on his side until the end was just a verbal agreement made between Crono and Sif.
　Believing that, they have accepted more than a thousand different tribes, acknowledged the same rights as the fiefs, and talked to the surrounding lords to ensure that they would not be disadvantaged in other fiefs.
　It could even be said that they are being treated generously considering the treatment the Confederation of Tribes has received so far from the guildmasters of the Free City State group.
　I'm sure that Crono is like a mirror.
　If we show our appreciation, they will respond accordingly.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with the help of your friends and family.
　I'm sure Sif knew Crono was that kind of guy, so he promised to stay on his side until the end.
　And he succeeded in that plan with flying colors.
　Huh?　Luca tilted his head inwardly.
　Sif had said that Crono disliked public life, but he wondered what he was offering his mistress in exchange for that kind of personality.

''Well I have a question for you?''
Like what?
What if?　What will you do for me if I become a mistress?
I don't mind if you let me do it without a trace, but not with strings attached.
You just said a surprisingly prickly line.

　Luca spat.

'Not very good, but I won't pursue it. So, answer the question.
I don't like it when you use your power to do whatever you want with it.

　It's not surprising.
　Three wives, ten or more mistresses behaving as they please, it's out of control.

"Other than that, other than that.
Basically, when the child is born, he or she is recognized. If the other party is a commoner, the child cannot inherit the land, but the child's support and living expenses during the pregnancy will be taken care of. The same applies if you become ill or injured and are unable to work. If you want to concentrate on raising your child, please contact us.
It's pretty generous.
Because I want the woman I love and my children to be happy.

　It was sarcasm, but Crono was good at it.

But if you're making such a promise, we don't have to be concubines.
That's an awful lot of attitude for someone who wants to be a mistress.
Shut up!　I was just a little desperate!

　Luca yelled at Crono and let out a deep sigh.

'You're not going to be a mistress anymore?'
I told you I didn't want any strings attached.
'I don't like it when people mistake my power for their own.

　When Luca questioned him back, Crono said, in a nonchalant manner.
　It seems that he is not only good at mending his exterior, but also has a thick skin.

''If you're going to hit on me, make sure it's Karis.
Like I have a bad personality and if I'm going to go out with you, it should be with a girl like Charis?
Who is this guy?

　I was annoyed with Crono, who made a shiner and said in a backhanded voice.

'My mistress has a daughter named Elena.
So what?
He's got a bit of a harsh personality, but I think that's what makes him so cute.
I don't have the "I think you're pretty" look on my face.

　Crono is laughing, but the wickedness is evident.

'I don't mind your age,'
If that's how you think you're approaching me, you're screwed.

　Luca put his sewing kit away in the pouch and stood up.

'Are you going to go now?'
Yeah, because I feel like I'm gonna hit you if you keep talking.

　Rough footsteps made their way to the doorway of the diner.

'Luca!'
What!
What about the wallet?
'Bring me the cloth and the coloured yarn!　And then we can talk about it!

　Luca yelled at him and left the diner.
　He cursed at Crono using all the words he knew in his mind.

'Huh, Luca?'

　As I turned the corner of the hallway, I ran into Karis.

'Has something good happened to you?'
What?
'No, no, she seemed happy to see me...'
That's impossible.

　Luca said coldly and went to his room.
　By the way, the yarn and cloth were delivered to his room the next day, I'm such a cheap woman!　And it would be some time later that he would be writhing in his bed in a cheap hotel.