That night, Sera took her medicine kit to apply some ointment to her wound. She slid down the sleeve of her shirt from her shoulder, the fabric brushing slowly against her skin as she exposed the injury.
At home, Sera wore the clothes she packed in her luggage. The only time she allowed herself to remember her reality—the world where she came from, the life that now felt like a distant dream she could almost touch but never return to.
She was wearing modern-day sleepwear, soft fabric clinging lightly to her form. She took a mirror from her luggage to clearly see the wound since the bronze mirror is not clear enough for her, its reflection dull and distorted compared to the sharp clarity she was used to.
Her table was now filled with her things from her luggage. Her clothes, makeup, skin care, hygiene essentials, and her chocolate candies were scattered across the surface as fragments of a life paused in time.
Then she remembered General Rin eating all her last chocolate bar.
What a glutton.
She looked at her things and exhaled, her shoulders sinking slightly as the reality of her situation pressed down on her.
"These will only last a short time. After that, no more. I miss shopping." Her voice was quiet, almost swallowed by the stillness of the room, laced with a longing she couldn't quite hide.
She looked at her wound to brush off her sadness. The wound is not that deep, but the sting lingered every time she moved. She was about to apply the ointment when she heard a movement outside.
The recent fights had somehow awakened her senses as an assassin, sharpening her awareness until even the faintest sound cut through the silence like a blade.
She stopped what she was doing and stood up, her body going still, alert. She stepped outside her room to inspect for trespassers, then noticed a silhouette in the gazebo.
The man was sitting silently, like waiting for her to approach, unmoving, as if he had been there long before she noticed him.
She took her robe and went out of the garden, wrapping it loosely around herself without much thought. She approached the man and was surprised.
It was Azron.
Why is he here?
The moon was full, making the whole garden bright, casting silver light over everything. The star jasmine flowers swayed in the night air, and the scent was relaxing, almost intoxicating, softening the sharp edge of her alertness.
She stared at him for a few seconds, longer than she intended. Azron lifted his head and looked at her, standing still and looking confused, his gaze steady, unreadable—but lingering.
Sera noticed his gaze and snapped out. She walked slowly towards the gazebo, suddenly aware of every step she took, of the way her robe shifted with her movement.
"Good…evening." She greeted him as she sat across from him, trying to be polite, though her voice carried a slight hesitation.
His gaze fixated on her frame, and brought him a subtle surprise. Her hair was damp and flowed carelessly over her shoulders, catching the moonlight. Her robe was just casually put on and not fastened through her body, the fabric parting slightly with every small movement. Her natural beauty screamed silently in her image, effortless and unguarded in a way that unsettled him. She was indeed different from all the women he knew.
How can she step out of the house with just a robe on? He thought as he looked at her from head to toe, his eyes lingering a fraction longer than they should.
Sera felt the judgment from his gaze and held her robe tightly, realizing her outfit was improper in front of him. The sudden awareness made heat creep up her neck, her fingers gripping the fabric as if it could shield her from his eyes.
The quietness between them was almost suffocating, thick and heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts neither of them dared to voice.
Why is he here? She kept asking in her mind while waiting for him to talk, her patience thinning with every passing second.
Though they always spent time together in the government office, having Azron in her home gave a different vibe. It felt personal…intimate in a way she wasn't prepared for…and deeply awkward.
The awkwardness made Sera uneasy, and she kept shaking her feet, the small movement betraying her tension. She was about to stand up when Azron stretched his arms to give her a small porcelain jar, his movement smooth, deliberate.
Sera looked at the item in his hand and slowly took it while glancing at him. She realized it was for her wound, and something in her expression softened despite herself.
"Thank you." She said, her voice quieter now, wondering if he was guilty about being too cruel to her during the fight.
She glanced at the porcelain jar in her hands. She didn't expect him to even think about her wound. She always thought he was too cold to even notice, too distant to care about something so small.
"How do you find your new home?" Azron finally spoke, making her lift her head in surprise and look at him, his voice low and steady, breaking the tension like a sudden crack through still air.
"It's…beautiful. Thank you." She answered, meeting his gaze briefly before looking away, unsure why holding his eyes felt strangely difficult.
Then everything went quiet again, the silence stretching longer this time, heavier.
She waited for him to leave, but Azron didn't stand up, his presence lingering, unmoving, as if he had no intention of going anywhere.
"Can I offer you something?…uhmm…tea?" She asked, an excuse to leave him and to breathe from the awkwardness, her words coming out faster than she intended.
Azron nodded in agreement.
Sera immediately stood up and ran back to the house, almost too quickly, as if escaping him.
She closed the door behind her and peeked at the window to check if he was leaving, but he was not, still seated, still waiting.
What's wrong with him? Please leave already.
Noticing that he was not leaving, she ran to the kitchen and looked for a drink to offer but she couldn't find any. She wasn't able to brew tea leaves for the past few days, and the emptiness of the tea jars only added to her frustration.
Ever since her luggage was returned, the only beverage she drank was the coffee she packed in her luggage. She packed enough to last for a month, but she has been so frugal with it since she cannot find coffee from this land, each packet carefully saved.
She took a packet of black coffee and a mug…her coffee mug, but before she could prepare it, she doubted, her hand hovering for a moment.
Maybe he'll find these strange?…since these things can't be found here.
She tried to look again in the kitchen, but there was no other drink to offer him…and she didn't want him to stay in her house longer, so she just went on and prepared the coffee. Thankfully, she had already prepared hot water earlier.
Azron gazed at her, stepping out of the garden, holding a black mug towards him. His eyebrows furrowed upward, curious about what she was holding, his attention fixed entirely on her.
She handed him the mug with hot coffee in it.
Azron took the mug and stared at it, turning it slightly in his hand.
This is too much water for tea. Why is this black? He thought.
He smelled it and looked at Sera. The aroma was different from any drink he's had before. The scent was nutty and fruity, unfamiliar yet strangely inviting.
Sera looked at Azron, not drinking the coffee, her patience thinning.
"It's not poisoned." She immediately spoke while waving her hand in front of him.
But Azron's gaze went deeper when she mentioned the word poison, something dark flickering behind his eyes. Afraid he would misunderstand, she took the coffee from his hand and drank a sip, then returned it back to him. Her gesture left him surprised. He looked at the coffee mug having a trace of her lips, his grip tightening slightly.
Out of curiosity, he drank from the mug and tasted the coffee. The taste was different. It was bitter, yet it had a kick, sharp and awakening. He actually liked it more than he expected.
He checked the mug, curious about its shape and material, his attention lingering on it longer than necessary.
He continued on drinking the coffee. The taste was addictive, each sip pulling him in further. While Sera just looked at him, enjoying it, her eyes studied his reactions.
He emptied the mug and was satisfied with the beverage, a subtle warmth settling in his chest.
"Do you know how to ride horses?" He asked while putting the mug on the table.
Sera nodded her answer, her movements small, controlled.
"Good." Azron stood up. " Thanks for the…" He looked at the mug on the table. "…black tea."
Azron walked when Sera suddenly stopped him.
"Wait, Lord Azron."
He stopped and turned around to face her, his silhouette framed by moonlight.
"I just wanted to say…I know you still don't trust me. But I promise I don't have any ill intentions towards you or anyone around here." She looked at him with sincerity, her eyes steady, unguarded. "I swear….and…thank you for letting me go with you outside the city. I really appreciate it."
Azron just stared at her and didn't utter a word. His eyes navigated her loosened robe, revealing her sleepwear. The silk shone under the moonlight, soft and delicate. The wind swept through her, making the silk rise, revealing a portion of her skin for a moment—bare, luminous under the pale light.
"Don't go around wearing…just that." He said as he averted his eyes from her, his voice slightly tighter than before.
Sera looked down her body and saw the skin on her chest showing. She immediately tightened her robe to cover her body fully, her heartbeat quickening.
Azron noticed her and swallowed down, forcing his gaze away. "I had Wang prepare armor and a sword for you. You can start reporting to the military grounds for now, to prepare yourself. No need to go to the government office anymore."
Then Azron jumped and climbed the wall out of her house, his movements swift and controlled.
Sera's eyes followed his swift movements and understood. He sneaked his way in and out, afraid of gossip.
His comment about her outfit made her shake her head. In the modern times, her sleepwear was modest, but here, it's improper.
I should just stick to what this place can tolerate. She thought as she entered her home.
She lay down and thought about his gesture of giving her armor and a weapon. And checking if she can ride a horse.
Was he worried I might find it hard to travel? He's actually sweet and warm, despite his cold and strict appearance.
She smiled and went to sleep after applying the medicine that Azron gave on her wound.
Meanwhile the four generals are having a drink in the military grounds. The night stretched wide and quiet above them, the faint glow of lanterns flickering against steel and stone. The air carried the lingering scent of sweat, dust, and iron from the day's training.
General Jidu was awfully quiet, his mind still stuck on the fight he had with Sera, every clash replaying in sharp detail—the way she moved, the precision of her strikes, the moment he realized he had underestimated her.
General Dan noticed him. "What's wrong?" He asked as he poured Jidu another bowl of wine, the liquid catching the light as it rippled.
"His pride was hurt. He held back, not to hurt Sera. But it turns out she was really skilled. Have you seen how she blocked his Lordship's attacks? She's really something. And for a woman…it's impressive." General Rin spoke, his tone casual but edged with disbelief, his eyes narrowing slightly as if still trying to make sense of her.
The other three generals stared at General Rin, taken aback by his bold comment, the air tightening briefly with unspoken tension.
"Lord Azron stepped in to show us such a dangerous person is inside the City. That we brought a lethal person inside. Making her live inside the Mansion and even gave her freedom around his family." General Wang spoke, his voice steady, but there was a weight behind it, a quiet caution that lingered.
General Dan held her bowl, his expression thoughtful. "But he was the one who brought her here."
"And he wanted us to learn from that mistake. To be careful from now on….to not be deceived by…beautiful, weak looking women." General Jidu spoke as he drank his cup, his grip tightening slightly, the sting of the fight still fresh in his pride.
"But she saved his family though. If she wasn't there…Grand Ersi and Madam Han would probably be killed." General Dan said, his voice quieter now, the gravity of that truth settling over them.
The three generals nodded in agreement, their earlier tension easing into reluctant respect. Their bowls empty, they dispersed and went back to their posts, each carrying their own thoughts about the woman who had disrupted their certainty—and their Lord's judgment.