Daddy's words made Jane disbelieve her own ears.

Daddy was making her marry an Asian from a different lineage for his own benefit.

Well, Jane was also half Korean, half Asian blood.

Due to the Queen's desire to control the straits of Japan, her father, a Navy Admiral, had a discussion and negotiation with the Japanese Emperor.

The Japanese side wanted their weaponry and mechanical engineering technology. The Queen permitted it, but to extend her influence throughout Southeast Asia, military power needed to be deployed.

For that, the military strategy was Japan.

Weapon factories would be built in Japan. Some territories in Japan would cultivate crops and livestock for provisions.

One strike, cutting down three birds.

However, the Japanese Emperor insisted on a blood contract.

In other words, a hostage was needed. It was also true that when befriending a nation with superior military power, a blood contract was better than a paper one.

Now, Jane was the blood contract. Her father, a servant of the Queen, was someone who would do anything.

The person Jane had to marry was Haruto Murakami, the son of the Murakami lineage, who was also the Prime Minister and a diplomat of Japan.

According to Daddy, he was two years younger than Jane.

Daddy said it would only be a two-year marriage. According to their aims, Japan had to be secured first.

"Even if it's for the Queen," Jane vehemently objected.

In the end, she had to yield to her father's pride.

What was certain was that it might also be due to the promise that she could ask for one wish from the Queen if the mission succeeded.

If the mission was successful, she would be removed from Daddy's lineage. She could live freely.

Two years. Just two years. Ruby Jane.

About a week before the wedding ceremony, Jane had to go and stay at the Murakami estate under the pretext of becoming familiar with the groom's family.

Today, Jane disembarked from the ship, wearing a white naval officer's uniform and a hat.

She also brought her horse, Kuma. The brownish-red Kuma, whom Jane had raised since she was young, was like Jane's brother.

Jane loaded a small box containing some clothes onto Kuma. On Kuma's left side, she hung a German-made pistol, and on the right, a woman's rifle.

Murakami's territory was far from the port where Jane had docked. Riding Kuma at full gallop would take three to four hours, but going leisurely would take seven to eight hours.

Jane went at a leisurely pace. 

She didn't want to tire Kuma, and she wanted to enjoy the scenery of Japan.

Jane had left at five in the morning. The sun was already a horse's height above her head. Jane took out her pocket watch.

It was nine in the morning. At this rate, she would arrive around ten.

Jane asked a person carrying a hoe and coming from a distance in Japanese,

"Excuse me, please. Is Murakami's territory near?"

That person's hairstyle had the front of their head shaved clean, with the back hair gathered and tied. Jane had heard it was called the Traditional mage style.

If my groom is also like this man... Hah... Jane let out a subtle sigh.

"Still a ways to go, miss. This is still the Beni clan's territory. You'll reach Murakami around noon."

Oh. Had her calculations been wrong?

"Thank you very much."

Jane smiled and thanked him, feeling slightly disheartened.

Even though he had been informed in advance, her groom hadn't come to meet her.

Jane continued riding her horse, looking displeased.

Jane's eyes caught sight of something in the distance.

A horse was standing under a large tree, eating young grass.

At the base of the tree, a person with a leopard skin draped over their shoulder was sleeping. Their clothes were brown, like a savage, and they wore long boots. A Kasa hat covered their face as they slept.

Jane placed her hand on her rifle.

Perhaps hearing the sound of her horse's hooves, the person stirred and stretched languidly. The person suddenly sat up, causing their hat to fall off, revealing their face.

A beautiful girl with tousled golden curls, round eyes, plump cheeks, and rosy lips.

If not for her face, Jane would have thought she was a boy.

A girl who wasn't girlish, one might say.

"Hey, I've been bored waiting for you. What time is it already?"

The girl spoke in a slightly husky voice.

She asked with a tone that suggested she was annoyed at having waited for so long.

Jane was dumbfounded, so the girl rolled her eyes and continued in English,

"Sorry, don't you understand Japanese? I asked what time it is."

Her slightly husky voice was even more charming with the English pronunciation.

Jane covered her lips with her hand, looked at her, and chuckled softly.

"I was enjoying the scenery and came leisurely. By the way, why are you waiting for me?"

When Jane spoke in Japanese, the girl frowned.

"You can speak Japanese. Haruto asked me to come pick up my sister-in-law."

Sister-in-law?

The girl's words were straightforward. Jane liked her.

"What relation are you to my husband?"

"I'm his cousin."

Jane was imagining all sorts of appearances for her groom. Hmm, maybe he's like a savage? Or completely bald?

Jane still wanted to tease the girl.

"What's your name?"

Jane asked.

"My name is Roza Beni."

Beni! That was the name of this territory's clan.

Jane inquired a little about the name.

"What does it mean?"

"Quite the curious sister-in-law. Remember this: 'Rosy Rose'."

What a beautiful name. Truly like a thorny red rose.

While she was thinking, the girl said in her slightly husky voice,

"Let's go."

Roza nimbly mounted her horse and urged Jane on.

"Let's go leisurely, Roza Beni."

Jane was excited to travel with the rosy rose.