The Lady Of The Red Moon (5)

Because the gap between them simply couldn’t be bridged, Saik unconsciously greeted her in formal speech.

“I am Saik, the vice-commander of the Red Moon. Pleased to meet you.”

Liris looked a little startled, opened her eyes wide, and hastily bowed her head.

“I’m Liris. I’m nothing but a slave, so please speak informally.”

Saik watched her gestures and movements closely. Even in her embarrassment, she bore a grace equal to that of a thoroughly trained noble lady. Still, he had no intention of telling Kaisten that. After all, this woman had been sent as a night servant slave to his commander. Mentioning her origins would only make things awkward and wound her.

“I will step away from the fortress for a moment. I’ll escort the knights who brought Liris to Korum and buy some necessary items.”

“Understood. Then which knights will escort you…”

“I’ll go alone.”

He answered naturally. Saik knew that unless it was a cleansing operation, it was safer for his commander to travel alone.

“Um, but… Commander.”

He spoke carefully.

“They’re terribly curious about her. What should I tell them?”

He skirted the question, but he did need something to calm troops who were noisy enough to disrupt training. Kaisten glanced at Liris, clicked his tongue, and said, “Tell them she’s ugly.”

Ignoring how her shoulders sank a little at that, Saik replied, “Very wise.”

The mid-sized town of Korum was the closest of the Sinal strongholds to the Red Moon. Supplies bound for the fortress all passed through here, and valuable monster remains were brought in, so despite the harsh surroundings, a fairly large commercial district had grown up.

The knights, including O’Neil, had not once spoken to Kaisten on the ride to Korum. They were frightened by the lethargy he’d shown the day before and by the hard expression on his face as he carried a woman wrapped in a cloak before him. After two hours’ riding, they arrived in Korum and finally relaxed, feeling that they were at last away from the deadly scent of monsters near the Red Moon.

“Your Grace, thank you for your kindness.”

O’Neil bowed deeply to Kaisten. Though he had business in Korum, he was genuinely grateful Kaisten had escorted them himself. Kaisten only inclined his head in return. O’Neil glanced at Liris standing beside him. While Kaisten checked the location of the shop, O’Neil bowed his head slightly; only her amber eyes witnessed the small pitiable curve of emotion hidden from others. Then, he turned away.

As members of the Emperor’s direct order, they would return to the palace to report on their duties. The losses at the Red Moon were regrettable, but it was almost a blessing that it ended like this. Her escort had been a mission that had risked every life involved.

Lightened but somewhat regretful, O’Neil led his knights away. It would be difficult to learn what would happen next. Yet it was the whole reason they had brought her to the Red Moon in the first place. All they could do was hope the Emperor’s plan succeeded.

Only after O’Neil and the knights had fully left did Kaisten move off with Liris. He saw the fortress guards check him and dash to the lord’s keep, but he went straight to the shop he intended.

He was entering a women’s clothing shop for the first time, too.

A woman in her thirties, who appeared to be the shop owner, bowed hastily.

“Your Grace. Is there anything you need in our shop?”

“I’m here to buy clothes for this woman. I don’t know much about such things, so please prepare what you think best.”

The owner’s eyes finally fell on Liris behind him. A woman! An actual woman! The lord of the great territory Sinal and commander of the Red Moon had brought a woman! The owner gaped in amazement; Kaisten frowned at her slack mouth.

“An answer?”

“Ah! Yes, yes. Don’t worry. We’ll prepare everything perfectly.”

Satisfied, he nodded once and left Liris in the shop. It would be easier for women to select clothes together. As he stepped out, he met the mid-forties man who came running, sweating—Viscount Newman, lord of Korum.

“You’ve come?”

He caught his breath but bowed respectfully. Apart from being the nominal lord of Sinal, he was like a guardian to the people here. They regarded him with gratitude and reverence for fiercely protecting their land. Never in the Empire’s history had the once-trampled northern border become so prosperous.

“You arrived at the right time.”

He took a sack from a magic bag hanging from the saddle and set it on the ground. Viscount Newman opened it quickly and stared at him in astonishment.

“Is this the Giant Chimera core?”

“Yes. Handle it as you see fit.”

He spoke bluntly, but the value of that item was not to be taken lightly.

“Ah, I think… this should be sent to Sinal Castle.”

Sinal had a branch of the Mage Tower, and the chimera core was an extremely rare magical material they would covet.

“Good. If possible, exchange a large amount for boundary stones.”

Boundary stones, long deployed across the territory, played the greatest role in detecting and defending against monster incursions. Even if relatively inexpensive, they were magical items and had to be replenished when used, costing significant funds—funds Kaisten did not skimp on.

“Yes. This should provide a few months’ reserve.”

Kaisten nodded in satisfaction at Newman’s answer.

“However…”

Newman glanced at the shop Kaisten had come from.

“What brings you to that shop?”

As far as Newman knew, there were no women at the Red Moon. Kaisten wasn’t the sort to take a maiden from the town as his own. So his answer surprised him.

“There’s a woman now.”

“Yes?”

Newman couldn’t help asking. Thinking the lord of Korum should know, Kaisten answered plainly.

“His Majesty sent a female slave. She will remain at the fortress, so there will likely be many needs.”

“Ah… I see.”

He thought wryly that perhaps the Emperor intended a match. Even as a subject, he found the Emperor’s decision astonishing.

“Then there will be many other needs besides clothing.”

Kaisten looked at Newman quietly when Newman spoke as if he knew something. Newman smiled gently.

“I’ll tell my wife to prepare everything carefully.”

After a brief silence, Kaisten nodded and turned away. The viscount’s smile irked him for some reason, but pleased to have one less bother, he pretended not to notice.

Because Viscount Newman and his wife had packed a great many items, Kaisten looked at them with some embarrassment.

“It seems women need quite a lot of things.”

Liris also looked a little embarrassed. There was no reason a slave would need so many things. Most were luxuries at a glance: tea sets, a dressing table, and several bright, pretty dresses that were clearly unsuitable for a slave.

“Our castle has a few more magic bags; there should be no problem taking them.”

Kaisten nodded at Newman’s words. He checked the time, clicked his tongue, and muttered that things had taken longer than expected.

“I’ll return tomorrow.”

Viscount Newman brightened and nodded.

“Please do.”

Newman, thrilled at a chance to host him for dinner, ran out to the parlor. Liris, standing quietly beside Kaisten, watched him.

“I’m sorry. Because of me…”

Kaisten watched her quietly. Liris wore a pale blue women’s cloak pulled up over her head instead of the black cloak he’d wrapped around her that morning, and she bit her lower lip. His hand, unthinkingly, touched her lip.

“Don’t.”

His tone was blunt, but his touch on her lips was gentle.

“It looks like it’ll bleed.”

“Ah…”

He looked at her parted lips and withdrew his hand.

“Are your legs all right?”

Liris glanced down at her leg without thinking.

“It seems you’ve never ridden a horse before.”

He had noticed her awkward way of walking earlier. It wasn’t only because of riding; as a man he didn’t know what condition a woman would be in after her first night. Had he known, he wouldn’t have brought her all the way here by horse today.

“It aches a little, but I think it’ll be okay soon, Master.”

At her tentative words, Kaisten shook his head.

“Tomorrow will be worse.”

He led Liris to the parlor sofa and sat her down.

“Sit and rest.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Liris smiled gratefully at him. He watched her face in silence, then nodded after a while and sat on the sofa beside her, leaning back. Unexpectedly, a sweet scent rose from her, and as he wondered whether all women smelled so pleasant, Liris slipped her hand between her open robe and began rubbing her thigh.

Indeed, as he’d said, the inner muscles would likely ache more tomorrow. She tapped and kneaded it with her fists to relieve it a little, which Kaisten watched and commented on as if finding it pathetic.

“That’s not nearly enough.”

She seemed to glance at him as if to ask, “Is that so?”

Kaisten pushed her upper body down on the sofa, placed her leg on his knee, bent one knee, and kneaded the inside of her thigh firmly.

“This much will loosen it a bit at least.”

He was so absorbed he didn’t notice how flustered Liris was. A slave reclining comfortably on a sofa with her leg on her master’s knee receiving a massage. Where had such a thing ever happened? Even so, the inner muscles he worked on hurt but felt so relieving that she couldn’t help a soft groan.

At the sound of her moan, Kaisten’s hand faltered.