As Lana whispered her agreement to wait, Roland’s heart stirred. Moved by her words and the vulnerability she showed, he reached forward and gently cupped her cheek.
Their eyes met hers wide and uncertain, his intense yet warm.
Then, slowly, he leaned in.
Lana’s breath caught as Roland wrapped her arms to give a hug.
Lana felt her heart thump wildly, her fingers clenching his tunic as his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.
His tongue grazed her lips, seeking entrance, and as she parted them instinctively, he deepened the kiss. A warm shiver ran down her spine. She had never experienced something so intense, so enveloping. Her legs trembled, and her breath came in short, quiet gasps as his hands steadied her.
Roland pulled back slightly, just enough to see her flushed face and glazed eyes.
He smiled, his voice low and teasing. "You should stay."
"NO!" Lana blurted out, stepping back quickly, her face burning. She shook her head furiously, eyes wide like a startled deer. "You... you bad wolf! I’m not staying here tonight!"
Roland chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his head. "Alright, alright. I got carried away."
She turned away quickly, embarrassed, but her steps were shaky. Roland watched in silence as she donned her cloak, her blue hair swaying like silk in the breeze. Her posture was proud, her aura noble—but he could still see the faint tremble in her fingers.
As she mounted her beast and rode off, Roland stood there, arms crossed and expression quietly melancholic.
"Such is life..." he murmured, exhaling with a helpless smile.
Then he turned, stretching his limbs. "Let’s go, Roland. You’ve still got a manor full of wives who’ll probably kill you if you come home late."
With a deep breath and a final glance at the trail Lana vanished down, he made his way back heart just a little heavier, but oddly lighter too.
Returning home,Roland saw his worried wives who gathered around him.This sweetened his heart and relayed them the events.
After knowing that the evil doer has been taken care,they finally calmed down.
A bright sunny day dawned over Weiss Manor as a colorful entourage of carriages and guards made their way through the village gates. The lead merchant, a man dressed in elegant yet practical robes with gold-trimmed cuffs and a feathered cap, stepped down from his carriage.
As Roland approached the gate with Roan and Orren beside him, the merchant gave a polite bow.
"Lord Roland Weiss," he greeted warmly, "I am Loreno Vask, trade representative from the Vandemir Empire, under the recommendation of Lady Lana. She spoke highly of you and said you may possess products worth more than gold itself."
Roland returned the bow, a genuine smile on his face. "Welcome to Weiss Barony, Master Loreno. If it’s Lana’s introduction, then I can expect your goods are worth seeing."
Loreno chuckled, "And I hope you find the same from us. While we’re still considered ’new blood’ in the merchant circles of the empire, our patrons and backers are not lacking. But we’re in search of something unique to make our mark."
Roland led them inside, exchanging small talk along the way. He waved the servants aside and guided Loreno himself to a private chamber used for business meetings. A polished oak table was already prepared, and atop it sat a sealed bottle of his barony’s pride the Apus Valley Honey Wine.
"This," Roland said with a flourish, pouring a glass, "is something I’ve been working on. We call it Sunset Bloom. Sweet and warm with a soft finish."
Loreno raised the glass, took a sniff, then a sip. His brows lifted in pleasant surprise.
"This... this is marvelous!" he exclaimed. "It’s light at first, but then it builds, lingers... the taste of wild honey, the faintest touch of elderflower. I can feel the craftsmanship. This would sell for a fortune in imperial courts!"
Roland smiled wryly. "That’s what I hoped. Though, I was planning to price the barrel at one gold coin."
Loreno paused mid-sip. He looked up, startled. "My lord... forgive my boldness, but that price is far too low."
Roland raised a brow. "Too low?"
"Yes! This quality of wine... nobles would easily pay fifty to seventy-five gold coins per barrel. It’s not just taste...it’s status. If nobles see this in every common tavern, they’ll turn away even if they love the flavor."
He turned to Roan, who stood stiffly with his arms crossed. But as Roland narrowed his gaze, he noticed the man’s legs were trembling slightly.
’He’s shocked too... he’s just pretending not to be,’ Roland thought, barely holding in a sigh. ’And I nearly gave it away for peanuts...’
Coughing to clear his throat and mask his own embarrassment, Roland nodded slowly. "You make a fair point, Loreno. However, I also want this to be something the common folk can enjoy."
Loreno set the glass down gently and leaned in. "Then I suggest a tiered system. Keep your finest and say this Sunset Bloom as a noble-exclusive item. We’ll market it as a rare delicacy, by reservation only. The rest of your blends, perhaps with slightly simpler notes, can be sold affordably to inns and local trade."
Roland’s eyes glinted.
"Yes... that can work. We’ll test the market with several batches. I’ll send a sample set with you.First send it to nobles and ask what they look like. Whichever one performs best in noble circles will become our prestige item. For the rest, I’ll entrust your team to distribute and gather feedback."
Loreno nodded with a wide grin. "It shall be done. Truly, Lord Roland, you’re no mere noble, your business acumen is exceptional."
Roland laughed, waving his hand. "And you, Master Loreno, are quite a silver tongue yourself. I’m beginning to like you already."
"You flatter me, Lord Weiss."
With laughter echoing in the chamber and wine gently swirling in polished glasses, a new partnership was forged—one that could shape the future of Weiss Barony beyond even Roland’s original vision.
After finalizing the trade routes and securing deals with Loreno’s merchant group, Roland finally found a moment to breathe.
It felt like a mountain had lifted from his shoulders.