"Looks like my concerns were completely unwarranted. Given your powers and wits, there's no way that you would be manipulated by someone like Aike," Yuran said with a faint smile.

However, Lana remained silent with a contemplative look on her face. Despite what she had just said, it was clear that she did have certain qualms, after all. If the Dario Family really was as powerful as Yuran proclaimed, then she would definitely have to be on her guard.

"No, I believe that your concerns are warranted," Lana said after a brief, contemplative silence. "I have no interest in joining your freeman organization, but if you and your lackeys want to follow me, then do as you please."

Yuran's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this.

"It can't hurt to have a few more lackeys," Lana said as she pursed her lips.

In addition to his elation, Yuran was also feeling a little perplexed. "Why have you suddenly decided to accept us?"

"Why are you asking so many questions?" Lana countered with a cold expression. "If you want to change your mind, then piss off back to Fort Roten."

"You're mistaken, Madam, we have no intention of changing our minds," Yuran hurriedly explained.

"Good," Lana said. "Seeing as you're my subordinate now, I think you should stop referring to me as madam."

"Yes, Commander Lana!" Yuran immediately said as he stood up straight, readily embracing his role as Lana's subordinate.

"If you've made up your mind, then come with me to Intelar," Lana instructed.

"Certainly, Commander Lana," Yuran replied with a nod, following which a slightly awkward look appeared on his face. "Also, I have another request."

"What is it this time?!" Lana asked with an exasperated expression, and she was on the verge of putting an end to Yuran's life.

"Please don't tell Aike that my brothers and I are freemen of Fort Roten," Yuran said in a careful voice.

"Do you think I'm an idiot? Of course I won't go around telling people that!" Lana snapped.

Yuran nodded sheepishly in response and didn't dare to say anything further. He was unable to make heads or tails of Lana's violent mood swings.

On the surface, it seemed that Lana was in a foul mood as Yuran had worn down her patience, but in reality, she was actually frustrated by the fact that it seemed like everyone dared to plot against her. In addition to that, she was being forced to stoop to the same level as the likes of Aike and Yuran, and the thought of the potential mind games that she would have to play with them certainly wasn't helping her mood.

...

Aike and Quinton were both quite relieved to see Lana return safe and sound.

They had thought that Lana would turn down the offer from Yuran and his group to follow her, and the fact that Lana was intending to take them with her truly came as a surprise to the two of them.

"Ms. Lana, are you really planning to take these people with you?" Aike asked as he cast a perplexed gaze toward Lana.

"If they want to follow me, then let them do as they please. I can't stop them," Lana said with a resigned expression.

"These are not good people, Ms. Lana. On the surface, they're telling you that they're willing to serve you and do your bidding, but there's no telling what they're actually thinking," Quinton cautioned with a concerned expression.

"So what? Does it look like I'd be afraid of them?" Lana asked with an indifferent expression.

Despite the short time they had spent together, Aike knew that this expression indicated that Lana was not in a good mood, so he knew that it was best to speak as little as possible at a time like this.

Quinton was naturally aware of this as well, so he didn't speak any further on the subject.

Given how fearsome a magician Lana was, it seemed that they really didn't need to be too concerned for her.

However, Quinton was still keeping his own wits about him, and he realized that Yuran and Lana had to have come to some type of agreement, considering that Lana was initially unwilling to take Yuran with her, but had suddenly changed her mind after their conversation.

"By the way, I didn't get a chance to ask you what you've come to Kenon for. What could such a rural town possibly have that would attract the young master of the Dario Family?" Lana asked as she turned to Aike.

"I just came out to get away from home more than anything," Aike sighed.

Quinton's lips twitched slightly in amusement upon hearing this, but he was able to suppress his own laughter.

Meanwhile, Lana was watching Aike with an inquisitive expression, waiting for further elaboration.

"My father is constantly introducing noblewomen from all manners of different families to me. I've already fled from Fasencia Tower to Intelar, but he's still unwilling to let me off the hook," Aike said with a troubled expression.

However, despite his expression, it was clear that there was an element of gloating to his words.

Quinton was quite a shrewd individual, and he knew that showing off like this would only leave a negative impression on someone like Lana. Thus, he hurriedly cleared his throat quietly as a cautionary gesture toward Aike.

Aike immediately realized his mistake, but it was already too late.

However, Lana's expression remained unchanged, and she merely nodded in response, pretending to have not understood what Aike was implying.

Aike couldn't help but be struck by a hint of disappointment once again upon seeing this, and his envy toward this man by the name of Erwin was only growing.

"So you fled all the way to this town to hide from your father?" Lana asked.

"That's right," Aike replied with a smile. "I happened to meet Quinton on the way here as well."

"He's a decent martial artist for a traveling poet," Lana said as she took a subtle glance at Quinton.

It was clear to Lana that there was no way that Quinton was only a traveling poet, and this had already been made obvious to her during the sequence of events that had unfolded in the Whistling Wind Pub. The fact that Aike had only recently met Quinton only further confirmed her suspicions.

However, she had no intention of exposing Quinton, so she was only issuing a subtle hint to Aike. In her eyes, Quinton most likely didn't harbor any ill will toward Aike. Otherwise, he wouldn't have protected Aike from Yuran and his lackeys earlier.

Despite the subtle hint that Lana had dropped, Quinton's expression remained unchanged.

Aike was naturally rather perplexed, but he couldn't just question Quinton in front of everyone, so he could only save his questions for later.

...

After the group arrived at Intelar, Lana was finally given a glimpse of what the north had to offer.

The mottled and rugged houses with orange tile and yellow brick color schemes, the extremely wide roads, and the air that was so dry that it felt like sandpaper to the nostrils. Everything was so different from her impression of the world.

"So this is the north." Lana spread her arms open with a bright smile as she took in the sights and scenes around her.

Lana's pure blue eyes were glowing with carefree elation, and Aike once again found himself entranced by her beauty. It seemed that no matter what Lana did, Aike would always find himself completely captivated and enamored by her.

"Your presence has truly filled the entire city with uplifting beauty," Quinton said with a corny smile. Regardless of whether he was actually a traveling poet or not, he was definitely a master in the art of flattery.

"Indeed," Aike chimed in with a nod, clearly very much in agreement with this sentiment.

He then turned to Quinton before instructing, "Return to the manor right away and prepare the best room we have for Ms. Lana."

Lana just so happened to overhear this, and she smiled as she said, "There's no need for that, I'll find a place to stay myself."

She knew that Aike's intentions were pure and good, but there was no guarantee that everyone else had her best interests in mind, and she didn't want to live under someone else's supervision.

"Ms. Lana, please just let me treat you to some hospitality," Aike implored.

"Did you not hear what our commander said? She doesn't want to go to your manor!" Yuran said as he stepped forward with a menacing expression.

Aike turned to Yuran with a displeased look in his eyes, yet as soon as their eyes met, he immediately averted his gaze in a sheepish manner. He seemed to have an innate fear toward Yuran, and he didn't dare to speak any further. Even though this was technically his territory, he was still rather scared of this uncouth ruffian.

"I won't visit your manor, but if you'd like to show me some hospitality, then you can take us on a tour of this city," Lana said with a smile.

"Alright," Aike replied with a disappointed expression.

Aike really was very sincere in his invitation for Lana to stay at his family's manor, but he was only thinking about himself and failed to consider the inconveniences that such an arrangement would pose to Lana.

Quinton knew that Aike harbored no sinister or lewd intentions toward Lana, so he quietly informed Aike of what he had done wrong, and only then did he realize his own mistake.

Lana was different from all of the other women who would sell their souls for an invitation to stay at his family's manor, and it was precisely because Lana was so different from the women that Aike had interacted with in the past that everything he did seemed to be wrong.

...

As the only heir to the Dario Family, Aike Dario was naturally an extremely sought-after bachelor in the Fano Dukedom. Countless young noblewomen in the dukedom were fighting to catch his eye and fantasizing about marrying the handsome young noble.

In fact, after learning that Aike had moved from Fasencia Tower to Intelar, many noblewomen had made the move as well, just to be able to meet Aike more often, even if the meeting only consisted of a greeting and a brief chat.

Thus, as Aike was taking Lana on a tour of the city, many of the bystanders were discussing spiritedly among themselves, wondering exactly who the woman riding alongside Aike was.

Soon, all of the young noblewomen who were of the opinion that Lana was their rival in love gathered one after another on the street to see this perceived rival in love.

They had gathered at the scene with the goal of comparing themselves with Lana, and many of them were immediately left feeling extremely inferior as soon as they laid their eyes on Lana's incredible beauty. In the looks department, Lana was unmatched with the exception of Onean.

Seeing as the noblewomen couldn't compare with Lana when it came to looks, they could only find alternative avenues to denounce her.

"Where did this hillbilly come from?"

"I know, right? Look at those awful clothes!"

They were beginning to attack Lana for her dress sense.

"You can tell she's a promiscuous slut just from looking at her!"

"I can't believe Young Master Aike would fall for someone like her."

"Look at him! He's grinning like an idiot!"

In the face of a common enemy, the friendship between these noblewomen was being rapidly strengthened.

As it turned out, the best way to get a bunch of women to unite was to find one more beautiful than them.