Evening slowly descended across Asheville Territory.
The western skies burned beneath fading crimson sunlight while cold winds drifted softly across the rolling hills and forests surrounding the outer villages. Long shadows stretched across dirt roads beneath the dim glow of distant lantern fires while farmers gradually returned from fields carrying tools and harvest baskets beneath the approaching dusk.
The inspection journey had nearly ended.
After traveling throughout the territory all day—
Helping villages.
Inspecting roads.
Stabilizing problems.
Reina and Kel finally began returning toward the Asheville Estate.
Several household knights quietly followed behind them while horses moved steadily along the stone road cutting through the western settlements.
The atmosphere felt calm.
Tired.
Peaceful.
Until—
They stopped near another village.
Unlike the earlier settlements, this one appeared wealthier.
Larger storage houses.
Better roads.
More active merchant movement.
And strangely—
Too many people watching quietly from windows.
Kel noticed immediately.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly muttered:
"The atmosphere feels unpleasant."
Kel calmly observed the surroundings.
"…The village structure is controlled too tightly."
Meanwhile—
Reina slowly dismounted her horse near the village center while several villagers immediately approached respectfully.
At the front—
The village chief himself appeared quickly.
A middle-aged man wearing expensive clothing far too luxurious for ordinary village leadership. Gold rings decorated nearly every finger while oily black hair rested slicked backward beneath the dim lantern light.
The moment he saw Reina—
His eyes changed.
Kel noticed instantly.
And internally—
His expression became colder.
Because the man's gaze didn't carry respect.
It carried greed.
The village chief bowed deeply afterward.
"Lady Matriarch."
His voice sounded overly sweet.
"We are deeply honored by your presence."
Reina calmly nodded politely.
Like always.
Professional.
Controlled.
"Is the village functioning properly?"
The chief immediately smiled wider.
"Perfectly, Lady Matriarch."
Too quickly.
Too rehearsed.
Reina quietly continued:
"Any food shortages?"
"No."
"Bandit issues?"
"No."
"Beast attacks?"
"None."
Kel silently observed from nearby afterward.
Every answer came too smoothly.
Meanwhile—
The chief's eyes continuously drifted toward Reina herself.
Toward her figure.
Her face.
Her body.
And each time—
The hidden disgust inside Kel quietly deepened.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly muttered:
"He reeks of filth."
Kel calmly replied internally.
"I know."
Meanwhile—
The village chief suddenly smiled again afterward.
"Lady Matriarch…"
His tone lowered slightly.
"It would truly bless our village if you honored us by staying tonight."
Reina blinked once.
The chief continued eagerly.
"With your knights present as well."
Another bow followed.
"We would happily prepare everything necessary to properly pay tribute toward our ruler."
The surrounding atmosphere subtly shifted afterward.
Several nearby villagers looked uncomfortable.
The household knights quietly frowned slightly.
And Reina herself became thoughtful briefly.
Because refusing village hospitality too harshly could appear politically cold.
Yet something about the invitation felt wrong.
Then suddenly—
Kel quietly stepped beside one nearby knight afterward.
Before anyone fully noticed—
He casually wrapped one arm around the knight's shoulders like a tired attendant whispering casually.
The knight immediately stiffened.
Because despite appearing relaxed—
Kel's eyes remained completely cold.
Then quietly—
Kel spoke.
"Tell the Matriarch…"
His voice remained calm.
"…that tonight she must attend the noble gathering to secure trade gains and rising treaty values."
The knight blinked confusedly.
Kel continued smoothly.
"Otherwise House Asheville risks future economic disadvantages."
The knight looked even more confused.
"But Lord Herald…"
He lowered his voice awkwardly.
"…we aren't lacking funds…"
Kel calmly looked toward him afterward.
The knight instantly froze.
Then quietly—
Kel repeated:
"Just tell her exactly what I said."
The knight immediately straightened.
"…Understood."
Meanwhile—
The village chief still stood near Reina smiling politely.
Yet his eyes continued drifting repeatedly toward her body beneath the evening lantern lights.
Kel noticed every single glance.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly sighed.
"You're restraining yourself surprisingly well."
Kel remained silent internally.
Because honestly—
If this happened inside the Dragon Realm…
The man would already be dead.
Then—
The knight finally approached Reina afterward.
"Lady Matriarch."
Reina turned slightly toward him.
The knight awkwardly repeated Kel's fabricated warning:
"Lord Herald reminded me that tonight's gathering is important for securing future treaty gains and rising trade values…"
Another pause.
"…and missing it could reduce future profits."
The village chief heard everything clearly.
And instantly—
His expression subtly changed.
Disappointment.
Frustration.
Hidden irritation.
Yet he quickly forced another smile afterward.
"Ah…"
He laughed awkwardly.
"Of course."
"Important work should never be delayed."
The man bowed again politely.
"We understand completely."
His eyes however—
Still carried something unpleasant beneath that fake smile.
Then he continued:
"Please don't worry about our disappointment."
Another oily grin followed.
"We'll gladly host Lady Matriarch another time whenever her schedule allows."
Reina quietly observed him afterward.
Then calmly replied:
"I apologize."
Her silver eyes remained composed.
"But I must attend tonight's gathering."
Another small nod followed.
"I hope the village doesn't feel insulted."
The chief immediately bowed again.
"Never."
Yet the tension beneath his expression remained visible now.
Kel quietly watched everything from nearby afterward.
And internally—
His suspicion deepened further.
Because the villagers themselves looked nervous.
Not welcoming.
Not celebratory.
Afraid.
Meanwhile—
Reina eventually returned toward her horse afterward while the knights reorganized around her.
Kel calmly walked beside her once more.
But before leaving—
He quietly stopped near two household knights standing at the rear formation.
Without even turning fully—
He calmly instructed:
"Background check the village chief."
Both knights immediately straightened.
Kel's voice remained low.
"I want the report before nightfall."
The knights instantly understood.
"…Yes, Lord Herald."
Then silently—
The two separated from the formation afterward and disappeared deeper into the village shadows to investigate.
Meanwhile—
Reina quietly mounted her horse once more.
The evening winds moved softly through her silver hair while lantern lights flickered across the village streets beneath the deepening dusk.
Then finally—
The group resumed traveling back toward the Asheville Estate.
Silence followed for several minutes afterward.
Only horse hooves echoed softly against the road.
Then eventually—
Reina quietly spoke.
"You noticed something wrong."
Not a question.
A statement.
Kel calmly rode beside her beneath the darkening sky.
"The village atmosphere was unnatural."
Reina's silver eyes narrowed slightly.
"The chief?"
Kel nodded once.
"He answered too perfectly."
Another pause.
"And the villagers looked uncomfortable around him."
The cold evening winds drifted quietly between them afterward.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly asked:
"You think corruption?"
Kel calmly observed the fading village behind them in the distance.
"…Possibly worse."
Meanwhile—
Reina quietly lowered her gaze slightly afterward.
Because she trusted Kel's instincts completely now.
If he felt suspicious—
Then something truly existed beneath the surface.
The silver-haired matriarch eventually looked toward him again.
And softly—
She asked:
"…Did you stop me from staying there because of him?"
Kel remained silent briefly.
The evening sky darkened further above them while distant lantern lights flickered across the roads ahead.
Then finally—
He calmly answered:
"Yes."
Simple.
Direct.
Absolute.
And strangely—
The answer itself made Reina's heartbeat quietly quicken again beneath the cold evening winds