As the convoy traveled on, Roline drew a great deal of attention from her new colleagues. It was not merely because she was the only woman in the party, but because of her apparent relationship with their young master.

She had left his room the previous night, then appeared the next morning to swear loyalty to him. The attention directed at her carried more than a little jealousy.

After all, this woman had received the title of a true knight.

The Rowling Family's so-called guard knights were not knights in the formal sense. The title was merely a courtesy; in truth, they were cavalry guards. Yet a woman they had known for only a day—a woman with thoroughly mediocre martial skill—had suddenly obtained the honor they all dreamed of.

Being sent into the backcountry with a discarded young master was miserable enough. Their one remaining hope was that he might someday favor them and elevate them from cavalry guards to honorary knights.

Everyone knew Du Wei would never inherit the countship. At best, he would receive a barony, and Imperial law permitted a baron to recruit only ten honorary knights. In a single day, one precious place had already gone to a woman of unknown origin.

The most comforting explanation was that their thirteen-year-old master did not understand the value of a knightly title and had handed it out as casually as a child playing a game.

And more importantly... the girl was beautiful and possessed a pair of magnificent legs.

They would simply have to accept their bad luck.

Roline could feel the disapproving looks from her new colleagues. Even her two former companions seemed unable to understand her decision. Still, she trusted her instincts.

This new master of hers, this young noble named Du Wei, would not remain ordinary. Pledging herself to him could not be the wrong choice.

When sunset once again painted the sky, Du Wei's convoy had just crossed a broad river by a stone bridge nearly a century old. Green moss covered the rounded stones near the banks, and the clear water reflected a beautiful emerald hue.

The river was called the Emerald River. It also had a more formal name: the Rowling River.

The river crossed southern Cote Province and divided its fertile lands in two. South of the river lay the hereditary territory of the Rowling Family—fully half the province.

Beyond the southern bank stretched a broad plain. In the hilly south, so much level ground was remarkable. Fertile fields, green forests, and farms spread beneath warm sunshine and generous rain. It was among the richest lands in the Empire and one of its most important grain-producing regions.

This plain, too, bore the family's name: the Rowling Plain.

The custom dated back two hundred years, to a great war that had nearly destroyed the Roland Empire. Foreign peoples invaded while rebellion erupted within the declining Empire. Among the heroes who rose during that crisis was a general of the Rowling Family, the only Imperial Marshal the family had produced in more than three centuries.

To secure the celebrated Marshal's loyalty, the Emperor gave him his own sister in marriage. Before a decisive battle, His Majesty pointed his riding crop toward the southern bank of the Emerald River and declared, “Return victorious, and from this day forward, all the lands of Cote Province south of this river shall be yours. This river and this plain will bear your family's name, so that all may remember the Rowling Family's extraordinary service to the Empire!”

The Marshal commanded brilliantly, won the battle, and saved the Empire. He also won the Emperor's promised reward.

The Emerald River became the Rowling River, and the southern plain became the Rowling Plain. Two centuries later, people had forgotten whatever name the plain had borne before. Every Imperial map and official register now used the Rowling name.

Even the low-ranking cavalry guards accompanying Du Wei could not contain their excitement when they crossed the river and set foot on that soil. This was pride, belonging, and devotion to the family.

Look—this was the land of the Rowling Family. Here, their great ancestors had carved the family name into both the history of the Empire and the earth itself.

Inside the carriage, Du Wei noticed the convoy slowing and heard a commotion outside. He opened the window. The knights ahead had removed their hats and were cheering, their recent gloom swept away by heartfelt joy, pride, and reverence.

“We're home! The people of Rowling have returned to our own land!”

Some forgot discipline entirely and galloped back and forth across the black soil. Even their commander made no attempt to restrain them, merely watching with a smile.

Unlike most Imperial houses, the Rowling Family maintained an ancient tradition: its household warriors and knights were recruited from its own territory whenever possible.

Many of Du Wei's guards had been born on the Rowling Plain. Their families had lived there for generations. The family's private soldiers, cavalry guards, and personal retainers were all chosen from among its own people whenever possible, for every family head believed that shared roots ensured loyalty and unity. Alpha, Count Raymond's captain of the guard and Gabriel's first martial instructor, was himself a son of the Rowling Plain.

Though the guards had resented being sent away from the Imperial Capital, the joy of returning home now washed away their dejection.

Watching them shout and gallop, Du Wei thought for a moment and understood. “Ma De, have we crossed the Rowling River?”

“Yes, Master.” Ma De rode up beside the carriage, joy on his face as well. “We're home.”

“Were you born in Cote Province too?”

“Yes. I grew up in the Imperial Capital, but my father was born a subject of the Rowling Family. He tended the family's horses all his life, and I inherited his work.”

After a pause, Ma De studied his young master's expression and lowered his voice. “Master, I should correct something you just said.”

Du Wei smiled. “Go ahead.”

“You asked whether I was from Cote Province. Although the Rowling Plain lies within Cote Province, a true subject of the family would never describe himself that way. We say, ‘I am from the Rowling Plain.’ We take pride in being people of Rowling. Please remember that when speaking to the family's subjects. Calling them merely people of Cote Province may wound them—especially when the words come from the family head's eldest son.”

Du Wei was surprised that even this former stable hand could speak with such solemn pride.

Perhaps he truly had underestimated the family.

Only a genuinely great house could inspire such heartfelt devotion. And if that was so, Du Wei could finally understand Count Raymond's disappointment when the heir upon whom he had placed all his hopes appeared to be an idiot.

As a father, Raymond might have endured a useless son. As head of the family, he could never accept a useless heir. He bore responsibility for the future of everyone who placed such faith in the Rowling name.

Seen that way, his decision to abandon Du Wei and treat him coldly was not beyond understanding.

For a moment, Du Wei sat lost in thought.

Ma De stared in surprise. Since becoming Du Wei's personal servant, he had rarely seen his young master display anything but calm indifference. “Master... shall we continue home?”

“Home...” Du Wei echoed absently.

Then the word struck him with unexpected force.

Home.

For years, what he had lacked most was any sense that he belonged to this world. His coldness and his habit of suppressing emotion came from never truly considering himself part of it. He had watched everything like a spectator standing outside the world, and that distance had hardened his heart.

Home. What a beautiful word.

For the first time, Du Wei felt a strange anticipation at the thought of reaching the Rowling Family's ancestral lands. Could he find a place for himself on the Rowling Plain?

He hoped so.

Returning to his true home was impossible. Perhaps he could still find a new one—somewhere his heart could finally belong. Since he had come to this world, life had to continue.

In the last glow of sunset, Du Wei Rowling opened the carriage door and stepped out of its dark enclosure into the evening light.

The radiance fell across his face as though dispersing every shadow. At last, the young man smiled, and a long-absent emotion returned to his expression.

Anticipation.