A day was an extremely short time to prepare for a trip that hadn’t been on the schedule at all.

Not only did I have to pack up my laboratory, but also all the belongings at Brellof Mansion, so Jerin and many others were frantically busy without a moment to spare.

Moreover, Zen hadn’t left my side even for a second since Ascan’s visit.

Watching Zen, who followed me like a shadow, I asked,

“Where is Father right now?”

Zen’s expressionless face subtly scrunched up. Though he didn’t show strong emotion, he answered with a tone of clear dissatisfaction.

“He is currently away on official business in the provinces.”

“It can’t be helped. I’ll have to explain the situation to him through a letter.”

I immediately sat down at my desk and began writing the letter to Orland first.

It had only been a short while since I resolved not to cause him any more worry.

Knowing I’d already caused him great distress over something that happened ten years ago, I’d been careful—but things in this world rarely go as planned.

No matter what I said, Orland wouldn’t fully ease his mind, so I detailed the entire situation as thoroughly as possible to minimize his concern.

After finishing the lengthy letter, I handed it to Zen.

I could have sent it via messenger bird or someone else, but I knew Zen and Orland had their own separate channel for exchanging messages.

“I know going through you is the fastest way. Please deliver this letter I wrote to Father.”

Zen looked at me with surprise, apparently unaware I’d figured this out, but soon resignedly accepted the letter.

As Zen silently walked away to deliver the letter as quickly as possible, he stopped abruptly, as if deciding something.

“Did you say Ascan?”

I looked up at the sound of his low voice.

Zen continued,

“If that fight earlier had gone on any longer, I would have lost. It keeps bothering me that you’re leaving for a place where I can’t guarantee your safety one hundred percent.”

“It’s fine.”

Without the slightest hesitation, my reply prompted Zen to object again.

“But what if I’m in a situation where I can’t protect you…?”

“Trust me.”

“…!”

Zen stared at me with slightly trembling pupils.

He was an exceptional bodyguard. But I wasn’t naively relying entirely on him for my safety.

Things were different now from ten years ago.

I wasn’t acting recklessly or impulsively—I was confident Calua Empire wouldn’t dare touch me lightly.

Resting my chin on interlaced fingers, I gazed steadily at Zen.

“You’ve been watching beside me all this time—you know. Countless people in the world desire the weapons I’ve created. Surely that’s why the Emperor of Calua Empire wishes to meet me.”

It wasn’t just Calua Empire. Arwen Empire, to which I belonged, and even Lazent Empire, where I’d made past mistakes—countless factions wanted me.

The number of nations that had offered me asylum was beyond counting.

“It’s not like ten years ago, where kidnapping me would let them steal my weapons. I can protect my own safety. Want to test it? Even if you attacked me right here, Zen, you’d find it hard to kill me.”

I smiled faintly and tapped my finger twice lightly on the desk.

Chrrrrrr—

Instantly, the mahogany desk opened, revealing various explosives inside—K39 and others that would detonate like grenades once the safety pins were removed.

And that wasn’t the only defense installed in my room.

Even if, by some remote chance, Zen turned traitor and tried to kill me, achieving his goal would be difficult.

Zen, newly reminded of my capabilities, bowed his head with restrained motion.

“Understood. Since I am an entity that moves by command, I will no longer interfere. I will deliver your letter to Master and inform you once I receive his reply.”

“I’m counting on you.”

At my words, Zen bowed politely and left the room.

Truthfully, Zen was so taciturn that even spending all day together, exchanging a single word was difficult.

But when matters concerning my safety arose, his self-assertion proved far stronger than I’d expected—even surprising me.

Knowing his words all stemmed from concern for me, I didn’t feel offended—rather, I felt reassured once more of his loyalty.

With Zen and Orland’s matters settled, mountains of tasks still awaited me before I could leave.

In fact, I wouldn’t have been able to confidently tell Ascan we’d depart tomorrow if I didn’t already have so few responsibilities.

To finish all pending work by tomorrow, I immediately began reviewing the approval documents stacked on my desk.

I had to ensure organizations authorized to use magical engineering weapons received proper supplies even in my absence. Also, wherever usage periods had expired, every single item had to be recovered without exception.

Moreover, all appointments and schedules booked from today onward were canceled.

Though I felt sorry for those who’d waited long to meet me, I had no choice but to notify them to reschedule for another day.

Thus, without sleeping a wink, the day passed.

With dark circles heavily shadowing my eyes, I stepped out of the laboratory.

At the entrance, travel bags packed as I’d instructed were waiting. But their number was unexpectedly large, catching me off guard.

One, two, three, four, five?

Seeing five enormous travel bags prepared, I stared at Jerin in astonishment.

Noticing my gaze, Jerin widened her eyes matter-of-factly and said,

“We don’t know how long you’ll stay—this much is necessary. I wanted to pack even more, but I stopped here in case you’d dislike it.”

“Well, even so…”

This wasn’t travel—it was practically moving.

Five bags filled with accessories and dresses Jerin had packed for me, plus the separate bag I’d prepared for magical engineering weapons, totaled ten bags.

‘I feel like an absurdly extravagant noble young lady.’

As I scratched my cheek in embarrassment, I noticed masked figures gathering at the entrance of my laboratory, which had been badly damaged by yesterday’s intrusion.

At first I didn’t recognize them, but they seemed to be Helsion’s personal guard.

One among them spurred his horse forward, kicking up white dust as he rode toward me.

Though his face was again masked, his raven-black hair and abyss-like golden eyes unmistakably revealed him as Ascan.

Approaching close, Ascan glanced at the mountain of luggage around me and asked,

“You’re taking all of this?”

“Well, yes. I guess.”

He seemed to eye me slightly warily, as if caught red-handed, but said nothing further.

Under his orders, my bags were loaded into a plainly designed carriage.

Ascan had prepared three carriages in total.

One for luggage, another for those accompanying me, and the last for me to ride in.

As I moved to enter my carriage, I sensed Jerin closely following behind me. Turning with a puzzled expression, I asked,

“You’re coming with me?”

It was quite a long journey to Calua Empire.

I hadn’t planned to bring Jerin, not wanting to burden her unnecessarily—so her volunteering to come caught me off guard.

Jerin looked at me with resolute determination and said,

“You wouldn’t know, Miss. How much I regretted not following you ten years ago… This time, I absolutely won’t let you go alone.”

I hadn’t realized until now that Jerin harbored such thoughts.

My heart swelled unexpectedly. Former employees who’d suffered under Original Tanashia had long feared and avoided me.

Now, it was unmistakably clear that Jerin’s gaze toward me had changed.

Touched, I was momentarily speechless—but Jerin smiled faintly, as if understanding everything unspoken, and gently pushed my back.

“Don’t look at me like that, Miss. I just want to repay you for all the kindness you’ve shown me.”

“I didn’t expect this… Thank you.”

At my sincere words, Jerin, flustered, hurriedly helped me into the carriage and walked toward the carriage designated for staff.

Thus, a few maids attending to me, Jerin, and several swordsmen handpicked by Zen for exceptional skill—all were ready to depart.

Quietly observing, Ascan spoke once preparations were complete.

“Let’s depart.”

Just as the coachman was about to drive off, I opened the window and called to Ascan.

“I’d like to talk for a moment.”

Whether he’d originally intended to drag me forcibly to Calua Empire or not, now that I was willingly going, our relationship had no choice but to be amicable.

Ascan nodded at my request and halted the carriage. Then, dismounting his horse, he climbed aboard my carriage.

Feeling Zen’s intensely wary gaze as Ascan and I sat alone together in the carriage, I looked at Zen and said firmly,

“We have important matters to discuss privately.”

Though Zen looked displeased, thanks to our conversation yesterday, he lowered his head in acknowledgment.

Thus, the carriage set off, with Zen riding his horse right beside us, guarding vigilantly.

I closed the window and looked at Ascan seated across from me.

Though masked, allowing me to see only his eyes, I sensed he was watching me with the same indifferent gaze as when we first met.

“What is it you wish to say?”

His tone was extremely businesslike.

Though Ascan had lost his memories, I knew his personality well. So, while handling paperwork all night, I’d prepared something.

“Ahem.”

Clearing my throat unnecessarily, I handed him a document I’d prepared.

Ascan read the document I offered with a puzzled look. Soon, a flash of alarm crossed his golden eyes.

He lifted his head and stared at me, then asked in a slightly exasperated tone,

“You’re seriously demanding compensation from me?”

“Correct.”

The document was densely filled with itemized valuations of every piece of equipment Ascan had damaged during his laboratory intrusion.

It wasn’t just one or two items.

He’d broken many things—but I’d deliberately listed every single one without omission.

It wasn’t merely to save on repair costs for the broken laboratory. Though House Brellof was wealthy, since becoming an arms dealer, I’d never lacked funds.

I simply wanted to create some point of contact with Ascan—even if it meant cheaply exploiting a weakness.

“The damage caused by your weapons attacking me seems greater than what I personally broke.”

Ascan’s statement was an undeniable fact.

Though he’d forced entry, he hadn’t come under cover of deep night, nor had he brought anyone else.

Judging by his prior letter and his initial restraint in not summoning flames, he’d apparently intended to escort me as respectfully as possible.

But with ulterior motives myself, I couldn’t readily admit those facts.

Didn’t you see the sign saying not to enter the entrance recklessly? If you ignored it, you must take responsibility.”

His face was masked, so I couldn’t clearly see—but I did notice his lips move momentarily.

Was he smiling?

Was it a sneer, a bitter smile, or genuine amusement? I couldn’t tell.

‘Ah, I want to see it.’

I longed to remove his mask and face Ascan’s bare expression.

Ascan pointed to the document I’d prepared and murmured,

“For an ordinary person, this is an amount they couldn’t repay even working a lifetime.”

“Exactly. That’s why I’ve thought of an alternative method of repayment.”

“Do tell.”

Though Ascan’s relaxed attitude puzzled me slightly, I didn’t hesitate and stated the repayment method I’d devised last night.

“If you help me with work by my side, I’ll cancel one damaged item per day. How about it?”

“That sounds like you want to keep me close.”

He was sharp as ever.

I swallowed hard and shook my head vigorously.

“Not at all. I just saw your fire-handling ability yesterday and thought you’d be useful…”

But Ascan, as if deciding he no longer needed to listen, carefully folded the document I’d prepared and tucked it into his chest.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll transfer the claimed amount to House Brellof by the end of today.”

“…What?”

It was an enormous sum.

Not just ordinary citizens—even most nobles couldn’t repay it.

I stared at him in shock, but Ascan, as if he’d said all he needed to, decisively flung open the door of the moving carriage.

Whooooosh—

A fierce gust of wind rushed in, but Ascan fearlessly leaped toward the horse he’d ridden earlier and mounted it.

Performing what looked like a circus stunt with casual ease, he seized the reins.

The surrounding guards reacted as if witnessing something utterly routine.

“Ah, Ascan.”

When I called out in alarm, he turned his suddenly icy gaze toward me and warned,

“I haven’t permitted you to call me by name. I don’t know how you learned it, but never call me that again.”

His firm words left me inwardly flustered.

Thinking about it, to him—who’d lost his memories—I was merely a woman he’d just met, casually calling him by name.

“Understood. Then what should I call you?”

Ascan turned his gaze straight ahead and answered curtly,

“Count Artreus, or address me as Commander of the Imperial Guard.”

What?

I could only widen my eyes in shock.

‘So the Count Artreus who recently received a title from Helsion… is Ascan?’

I realized the commander leading the rumored Imperial Guard—and the Calua Empire’s count enjoying Helsion’s full trust—was none other than Ascan.

He was no longer a powerless slave boy.

Trying to exploit a financial weakness against him, now holding the high title of Count and serving as the Emperor’s personal guard commander—was a complete failure.

I stared helplessly at Ascan’s retreating back as he rode away from me on horseback.

‘Then how on earth do I approach him now?’

Facing someone who now lacked nothing in status or power, I felt utterly lost about how to draw near.