The word "enter" from the executive office still lingered somewhere deep in her chest. Three days had passed since then. Every morning, Misaki went out to the northern fields to check the drainage ditches, exchanged words with the farmers, and reported her progress to Gilbert each evening. Her reports to Lucian were always meticulously prepared as usual. The green manure had been plowed in. The second section of the eastern drainage ditch was ready for construction. Mina had begun teaching the farmers' children the steps of seed planting. And this morning, that report had become reality. "[excited]Misaki-sama! Look, here!" Mina crouched down and gently turned over the soil with trembling fingertips. From the clay-brown earth, two thin green shoots lifted their delicate heads. A pale green color. Small lives reaching straight upward, seeking light. Misaki knelt on the spot. (They sprouted. They really sprouted.) Her chest warmed from within. Three weeks of mud and exhaustion and the anxiety of "will this really work" dissolved like snow before those two shoots. "[gentle]I'm so glad... truly so glad." "Right? They're growing properly, aren't they!?" Her bright brown eyes glistened faintly with tears. The freckles on Mina's cheeks caught the morning light. Misaki smiled and placed her dirt-covered palm on Mina's head. "Yes. If things go well like this, we'll really be able to harvest in autumn." At that moment, she heard the sound of hooves behind her. She turned around. An unfamiliar carriage stood before the gates of Glesia Manor. Unfamiliar didn't begin to cover it—she'd never seen anything like it in this village. A deep purple-indigo canopy with a gold crest. Four horses. The doors had ornate metal fittings. The coachman was saying something as he descended from his seat. Then a man stepped down. He had long golden hair loosely tied back. A well-tailored light gray jacket. A brooch on his chest that glimmered in the sunlight. And above all—his face, when he turned, was far too perfect. The moment their eyes met, he smiled. White teeth. A flawless smile. He looked like a man who had stepped out of a painting. Mina whispered softly, "...Who is that?" Misaki felt exactly the same way. --- Gilbert came rushing over and greeted the man at the entrance. "Julius De Sorel, sir. This is quite unexpected, with no prior notice..." "Please forgive my sudden visit, Gilbert. I remembered that I had been remiss in my greetings on this beautiful spring morning." Julius De Sorel—the young lord of the neighboring Sorel territory, Gilbert explained later. About sixty kilometers southwest of Glesia Manor. A wealthy domain in the hilly region that produced wine and fruit trees. He had strong connections with the merchant guilds along the Mildis River, Gilbert had mentioned during dinner on the second day. When Lucian appeared in the reception room, his expression was his usual iron mask. His silver eyes glanced at Julius, then went still. "Sorel. What is your business?" "[sarcastic]Greetings, Glesia. It's been a while since we last met." Julius showed no sign of being unsettled. If anything, he seemed to be enjoying himself. His gaze shifted smoothly toward Misaki. "Are you the rumored lady candidate?" He said it lightly and gave a small bow. "I am Julius De Sorel. Word of Glesia territory's restoration has reached even Sorel. I've come to offer my congratulations." Misaki answered, "Ah, I'm Sakurai Misaki," while her heart skipped a beat internally. (He's... really radiant, isn't he?) If Lucian carried the air of perpetual winter, Julius was like early summer sunlight. Just his approach made things feel warmer. She found herself genuinely impressed that such a perfect face could smile so naturally. Gilbert began preparing tea, and the four of them settled in the reception room—or so it should have been. Julius said "By the way," and turned toward Misaki with a thin smile still in place. "I saw the northern fields earlier. The drainage ditch design was magnificent. Was that your idea?" "Yes. The soil was clay-based with poor drainage, so I calculated the slope..." "You calculated the slope? Remarkable. Sorel territory has a similar problem in one of our sections, but my land manager hasn't been able to solve it." Misaki's ears perked up. (A land management problem? Sorel is hilly, so...) "Doesn't Sorel's terrain have slopes that would make drainage easier? Isn't the real problem water retention?" "Oh, how astute."Julius narrowed his eyes slightly. "Fruit trees need a certain amount of moisture in their roots, but we have sections where water drains too quickly during dry seasons." "Then have you tried intercropping grapes with wheat? The roots have different depths, so they can share the moisture layers in the soil. If you combined it with Glesia's wheat, there's potential for both crops' yields to stabilize—" Before she knew it, she was leaning forward. Her mind was already running calculations. A combination of Sorel's fruit orchards and Glesia's wheat. If they could establish trade routes, they could create a complementary model that addressed each other's weaknesses. It was fascinating. This could really be fascinating— Julius was smiling gently. With that perfect smile. "I never expected to find someone capable of such discussion in this remote region. If you would come to Sorel territory, I could provide as much farmland, budget, and labor as you could want." Misaki's mouth was beginning to say, "W-well, that's a bit..." when a faint sound came from the hallway. --- That afternoon, Mina came to the executive office in an unusually flustered state. She stood before the door, took a deep breath, and raised her hand to knock—then stopped. Another deep breath. She raised her hand again—and stopped. Martha, who was sweeping the hallway, glanced at her with a "what are you doing?" expression, but Mina paid no attention and took a third deep breath before finally knocking. "Lucian-sama, do you have a moment?" "What is it?" "Well, in the reception room, Misaki-sama was... talking with Sorel-sama, and she looked so happy... about farming, and her eyes were sparkling—" "So what?" Lucian's voice was completely emotionless. Mina peeked into the room. Lucian was facing his desk, processing documents. As he moved papers from right to left, his right hand was gradually gripping the edge of the documents tighter. The paper was slightly crumpled. "...I just thought I should inform you." "Understood. You're dismissed." Mina left the room. Out in the hallway, she sighed alone. "Ugh..." --- From the next morning, Lucian's demeanor changed. When Misaki knocked on the executive office door with her progress report, she heard "I'm busy" through the door. (What...?) Three days ago, he'd said "enter." Now it was "I'm busy." Misaki stared at the door. She searched her memory for what she might have done. She hadn't said anything to anger him. There shouldn't be any problems with the report's contents. (Why so suddenly...?) With no answer, she turned back down the hallway. Dinner was strange too. Lucian didn't look at Misaki once. His gaze stayed on his food, responding only briefly to Gilbert's attempts at conversation. When Misaki commented on the soup, his face didn't turn toward her. Gilbert was desperately trying to provide topics. Talk of the weather. The water level of the Lente River. News that the blacksmith Thomas was making progress on farm tool repairs. Lucian responded to everything in three words or less, methodically wasting Gilbert's efforts. Misaki asked Gilbert quietly halfway through her soup: "[whispers]Did I do something wrong?" "W-well, that is..." Gilbert's words trailed off awkwardly. At that moment, quick footsteps approached from the hallway. The door opened slightly, and pale green short hair appeared. "[whispers]Oh, Misaki-sama. Lucian-sama is jealou—" In the next instant, Gilbert's hand moved swiftly, grabbing Mina by the scruff of her neck. He quietly but firmly dragged her back outside and closed the door with a soft pat. Silence returned to the dining room. Misaki took another sip of soup. Across from her, Lucian continued tearing black bread without looking her way. (What was that just now...?) --- Julius extended his stay. On the third night, after dinner, he invited Misaki to the courtyard, saying "I've brought some Sorel wine, if you'd like to join me." She had no reason to refuse, so she went with him. There was a small stone bench in the courtyard. The stone walls of Glesia Manor glowed white in the moonlight, and the dried grass of the neglected herb garden at the courtyard's edge swayed in the breeze. Julius poured wine into two glasses. Deep red from Sorel territory. "The moon is beautiful tonight." "It is." Misaki took a sip of wine. It was indeed delicious. She felt she could understand the authenticity of Sorel's fruit agriculture from that single taste. Julius set his glass down quietly. Then, slowly, he turned toward Misaki. Moonlight illuminated his golden hair. His perfect profile looked soft in the night air. "Misaki. It's a waste for someone with your talent to be buried in such a remote place." "..." "Come to Sorel territory. I can provide extensive farmland and generous funding. An environment where you can try everything you want to do." Julius's hand rested on top of hers. Her heart did skip a beat—that much was certain. This man's smile was truly perfect, his voice gentle, his words beautiful. And yet. (Something's... off.) The sense of wrongness wouldn't fade. Her heart was racing, but at the same time, something was catching. Julius's smile was too perfect. Like he was reading from a script, without a single deviation. As if—he'd calculated this entire conversation from the start. "But I've already started something here in Glesia territory, so..." "I'm not rushing you. I simply want you to remember this." Julius withdrew his hand with a gentle smile. That composure was what frightened her. --- That night, Misaki woke thirsty and went into the hallway. As she descended to the first floor to fetch a water pitcher, she noticed something. The library door was slightly ajar. A faint lantern light spilled from within. (Someone...?) Misaki stopped. Gilbert went to bed early at night, she'd been told. Same with Martha. Lucian did come to the library sometimes, but Misaki had heard that Gilbert was away today—something about business at his family home. She gently pushed the door open. In the lantern light, Julius stood before the bookshelves. He pulled a bundle of documents from the shelf, his eyes scanning it, then returned it. He took another bundle. "[cold]What are you doing?" Julius turned around. His expression didn't waver. Not for a moment. "[sarcastic]Ah, I startled you. I was somewhat interested in history. I couldn't sleep, you see." It was a perfect smile with a perfect excuse. But Misaki had seen what he'd been holding. The farmland ledger—a record of all Glesia territory's farmland with its area and condition. And another book: the Land Reclamation Incentive Ordinance. The detailed regulations of that system where uncultivated land developed into farmland within three years would have half its taxes waived for five years. (Why would Julius...?) Something stirred in her chest. Not quite anxiety, but something closer to certainty. This man hadn't come just to offer congratulations. He'd come to investigate something from the start. "Good night." Julius took the lantern and left the library quietly, his footsteps making no sound as he disappeared down the hallway. Misaki remained alone in the library. She stared at the book spines, trying to organize her thoughts. But they wouldn't organize. Only the sense that something was "wrong" remained clear. --- The next morning, Lucian summoned Misaki to his executive office. When she opened th