Adam shuddered at Ethan’s words.

"What do you want with me and my sister?" he asked, like a skittish animal that had been beaten enough and now bit at anyone who dared come close.

"Talent. You’re a talented young man, and your sister has a gift for mana. I want her to become Alice’s apprentice," Ethan replied, his hands resting on Alice’s slim, delicate waist as she sat on his lap.

Adam’s sister also possessed a Rank A talent, one focused on magic above all else.

If she could learn from Alice, Goldenveil would stand to gain greatly.

"It’s fine if you don’t want to. I won’t force you into anything, but it’s for the best for you and your sister."

Adam’s gaze wavered as he looked at the beauty sitting on Ethan’s lap.

She was, without a doubt, the most breathtaking woman he had ever seen, her divine face radiating nothing but warmth and kindness.

"All right..." he finally said, turning to his sister. "Veronica... introduce yourself to Lord Ethan."

"G-greetings... Lord Ethan..."

The young woman, barely nineteen years old, took a trembling step forward, her voice hoarse and weak.

She bowed with difficulty, the motion drawing a faint smile from Ethan.

The instant she caught sight of that smile on such a handsome face, color flooded her hollow cheeks.

She quickly averted her gaze, bony fingers clutching the hem of her red dress.

Ethan held no interest in her current form. Still, he wondered just how beautiful she might become once properly fed.

Noticing Veronica’s struggle to walk, Alice moved with grace, extending a slender hand as her mana rippled softly through the air.

A heartbeat later, a startled squeal slipped from the young woman’s lips as invisible currents lifted her off the ground, carrying her gently through the air until she settled right into Alice’s lap.

The golden beauty wrapped her in a warm embrace, the soft swell of her bosom cushioning Veronica’s trembling frame.

Even though they were essentially the same age, Alice was thrilled to finally have an apprentice, her eyes shining with joy.

Adam was clearly uneasy seeing his sister pressed so close to Ethan and his two women, but in the end, he forced himself to stay calm.

His sister mattered more than anything else.

Veronica said nothing, simply melting into Alice’s gentle caresses as her face flushed a deeper red.

It was just like how her mother used to hold her, before that damned Lord killed her.

"T-thank you..." she whispered in a weak voice. "For avenging my parents..."

"I just did what I was supposed to do."

Ethan smiled and gave the horse’s belly a light tap. The animal resumed its path with steady strides, hooves rolling into a patient rhythm.

If it had been any ordinary horse, the weight of four people would have been too much.

Luckily, the aura and mana of this world made such creatures far more powerful than their common counterparts from Earth.

’System... you can generate drops capable of awakening mana or aura in animals, correct?’ Ethan asked mentally.

[Correct. Just use the luck system for that.]

At that, Ethan’s smile widened.

He wouldn’t waste the primary wish slot, of course, but after the reset in another sixty spins, he would try his luck with the two secondary wish slots.

He wanted to see just how powerful this horse could become.

And so the journey continued slowly along the rugged trail.

By the time they arrived in Windmere, the sun was already almost setting, and many strange glances landed on them as the gates opened with a heavy creak.

All the people already knew what was coming: they would have to abandon their homes and move to Goldenveil, and the thought clearly didn’t sit well with many of them.

Goldenveil didn’t even seem that much stronger than they were. Why had their Lord given up so easily?

Not even the words of the guards who had been on the wall, those who had seen their lord’s own gutted body, could calm the most skeptical and least loyal among the crowd. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

But it was only natural.

Among more than a thousand people, it would be strange if every single one simply accepted reality without question.

Ethan noticed all these looks and just sighed, his horse plodding steadily toward the Windmere Lord’s mansion.

Evelyn was the first to dismount, landing with a nimble leap.

Ethan followed suit, then reached up to take Alice’s hands and guide her down from the saddle.

She slipped into his arms with ease, her soft curves pressing briefly against him before her feet met the ground.

In the end, only the trembling Veronica remained atop the horse.

"Come." Ethan smiled, offering her his hand.

The skeletal woman nodded, cheeks flushed crimson as placed her fragile hand in his. With a gentle pull, she tumbled into his arms before he lowered her carefully to the ground.

She was so light that he honestly wouldn’t have doubted it if someone told him she hadn’t eaten a thing in a month.

He glanced sideways at Adam, who stood with slumped shoulders, his face full o shame.

"You did your best." Ethan ruffled the young man’s hair, and Adam’s teeth clenched.

Out of anger at himself, of course, not at Ethan.

With a sigh, Ethan turned and walked toward the mansion.

The door swung open at his approach, revealing Aerick’s beautiful, mature wife.

She bowed deeply to Ethan. Upon spotting the red-haired woman not far behind him, her hands flew to her mouth in shock.

"My goodness, dear, how long has it been since you’ve eaten?"

She didn’t give Veronica a chance to even answer, her strong maternal instincts kicking in at once.

"Come on in, no one goes hungry in my house! Baron Ethan, Baroness Evelyn, Baroness Alice, come in, quick!"

The woman pulled Veronica inside without waiting for any sort of reply.

"B-Baroness?" Alice stammered at being called by that title, her eyes going wide.

"Well, what else would a baron’s wife be, if not a baroness?" Ethan said with a smile.

"B-but... I... I’m not a noble."

Her gaze fell, and Ethan stroked her golden hair.

"I’m the one who decides that."

He leaned down and captured her lips in a tender kiss.

Honestly, for Alice’s worth, baronies were nothing. If they knew of her talent, kings and emperors would offer entire duchies just for the chance to have her.

And even that would still be cheap for a SS talent.