"Four Faces of God? How utterly dull." Negary rose from his throne.
"But since they've extended a hand to me, I should return the gesture." Negary's figure slowly faded. "I'll leave this matter to you, Granny Sie."
"Yes, Lord Negary. Hehehe!"
Interkami, Scoro Territory.
The young Miss Morlis stood by the attic window of the castle, watching the knights drilling on the grass below. She propped her cheek on one hand and let her mind wander in boredom.
Originally, she could still hold salons with other noble ladies in the bustling city, chatting with poets and musicians about life and ideals. But the war had destroyed everything.
Viscount Scoro's family had returned to their own territory, and Morlis could only follow them, leaving behind the city's splendor and returning to the Scoro Territory she considered nothing more than the countryside.
There were only knights drilling every day in preparation for battle, and farmers busy with fieldwork every day. There was no entertainment whatsoever. She felt as if she were going mad.
"Hm?" Morlis suddenly noticed something happening in the distance. A young boy seemed to have been peeking at the knights' training outside the castle. After being discovered, several knights seized him, tied his hands with rope, hung him from a tree nearby, and began whipping him with horsewhips.
"Amy, that boy is too pitiful. Go claim him, clean him up, and bring him before me," Morlis said with a curl of her lips.
"Miss, the master said..." the maid Amy said cautiously from the side.
"Go. Listen to me." Morlis interrupted Amy and ordered domineeringly, "Otherwise, I'll reward you with a few lashes too."
Before long, the beaten boy was brought to Morlis's attic.
Seeing the boy's pitiful appearance—several red welts on his body and ill-fitting sackcloth clothes—Morlis