Bosuwei Manor.
Hooves thundered along the road. A young nobleman galloped past, a band of Bersuvi knights close behind him.
The people of Besuwei Fief hurriedly bowed. They recognized the young nobleman: Lord Auguste, the duke's eldest son and first heir.
"Lord Auguste." A shapely, pretty woman in a maid's uniform stood at the manor house door with a small basket of bread. She watched Auguste ride toward her, her face shy and expectant. He was powerfully built, like a God of War.
"That's enough for the inspection." Auguste smiled when he saw the maid and waved the Bersuvi knights back to their barracks. He dismounted, handed his reins to a servant, then strode forward and swept an arm around her slender waist.
"Nawenli, didn't I tell you to sleep a little longer?" Auguste leaned close and lowered his voice. "After all, last night was your first time becoming a woman."
Nawenli, a maiden no longer, blushed. "I missed you, Lord Auguste. When I woke up and couldn't see you, I got out of bed."
"I'm the heir, after all. With Father gravely ill, I can't neglect my duties, or Andre will lecture me again." A smile touched Auguste's face. As Nawenli cried out in surprise, he scooped her into his arms. "But now that the work's done, it's time for a little morning exercise with my sweetheart!"
But just as Auguste kicked open the door, he heard a voice.
"Class... sir. I'm glad you're back. There's an important matter I need to report."
Auguste saw Andre, his strategist, waiting inside. He sighed, set Nawenli down, and patted her bottom. "Go back to the bedroom, sweetheart. I'll be there soon."
Once the woman from the Spirit Realm had left, the frivolous look vanished from Auguste's face, though he still sounded