Albion, a small town flourishing along the borderlands.
This was once the kingdom’s foremost frontline against the Northern Nomads. Beyond it lay vast stretches of lost land.
It was said that a great empire had once been buried there, later overtaken by the nomads. Even the splendid kingdom of today was merely a part of that empire in those times.
Later, the kingdom conquered the nomads, but the shadow of the Demon Lord descended upon those forsaken castles, and the once-great Imperial Capital became the Demon Lord’s Citadel.
Countless times, the kingdom launched Northern Expeditions to reclaim its ancestral lands, and countless times, they met with bitter defeat.
But war never ceased, and the kingdom never stopped its march to reclaim its homeland.
Thus, Albion became a haven for Adventurers, Mercenaries, and Itinerant Traders.
Countless people arrived in bustling crowds, and countless people left in lonely silence. This small town would never pause for any one person—or even a handful.
Compared to the northern reaches, Albion was hardly cold.
As usual, Anna slung a basket over her arm and went out to shop for ingredients for tonight’s meal.
She thought of the indolent young lady at home and couldn’t help but sigh in relief.
She and Ophelia had caught a ride with a caravan of Itinerant Traders from the north to Albion. They used up all their money to buy a small house, making a home here at last.
But Ophelia was woefully lacking in common sense about daily life.
Ask her to cut vegetables and she’d cut her own fingers. Ask her to sweep, and she had no idea how to even begin. Although she was trying her best to learn, for the time being… Anna had no choice but to shoulder the responsibilities alone.
Home—the home she and Ophelia shared.
Carrots, cabbage, eggs… Anna browsed and selected at the stalls, like a shrewd housewife.
Basket on her arm, she walked ahead, passing a jewelry shop. The dazzling array of accessories in the window made Anna stop.
Her gaze settled on a pair of Rings of Red and Blue Gemstone.
“Ten gold coins… That’s way too expensive.”
The words slipped out of Anna’s mouth.
Ten gold coins—enough to buy a country manor even in the royal capital.
“You have a good eye, miss. That pair was excavated by Adventurers from the Count’s Mansion in the Scarborough ruins—naturally, it’s pricey.”
The shopkeeper glanced at Anna’s attire, thought for a moment, and decided to introduce it anyway to the girl with the royal capital accent.
Scarborough… once the flourishing central capital of the Empire, now the closest major ruin to Albion.
Of course Anna knew; she had even visited there before.
It was now November. About a month and a half remained until Ophelia’s birthday.
If she could give that pair of rings as a gift…
Anna’s fingernails dug into her palm, the pain snapping her out of her daydream.
She wanted them badly, but she had no money.
“How unfortunate.”
She turned and left the jewelry shop.
Thud. She collided head-on with a girl who was walking with her head lowered.
The girl was about the same height as Anna, but a bit fuller in build. She wore somewhat shabby leather armor, and a short sword hung at her waist—clearly an Adventurer… though a down-and-out one.
“Sorry…”
“It’s fine.”
Anna brushed off the girl’s apology and continued walking.
Behind her, she heard the girl’s excited voice from the shop, mixed with the shopkeeper’s helpless sigh.
The girl was probably trying to sell off her spoils, but evidently nothing caught the shopkeeper’s eye.
Excitement turned into tears as the girl, her voice choked, shoved past Anna and ran away, head bowed.
Clang, her short sword clattered to the ground.
“Hey, your sword—”
Anna picked up the sword, wanting to return it, but the girl had already vanished.
Everyone was just struggling to survive.
Anna couldn’t help but think of her own dwindling savings at home.
Even if she and Ophelia saved as much as possible, one day, wouldn’t they eventually run out?
Looks like I need to find a job.
Anna’s mind first turned to her old line of work. Albion’s taverns never lacked for serving girls, but Anna immediately dismissed the idea.
If the young lady at home found out, she would march right down to confront her.
Besides, sneaking around behind her family’s back to do that kind of work… Anna wasn’t even sure she had the nerve anymore.
So, perhaps become an Adventurer.
The thought sprouted in Anna’s mind.
But that was dangerous.
The ruins were crawling with demons—no ordinary threat. Every ruin was soaked with the blood of fallen Adventurers.
Anna didn’t want Ophelia to be in danger again.
But without money, how would they get by?
They couldn’t just put a bowl out on the roadside, could they? Even if she was cute, no one would just give her money.
Albion didn’t have the kind, wealthy gentlemen of the royal capital. The Adventurers and merchants here were true realists.
Without realizing it, Anna had arrived at her own door.
She turned the handle with a click—the door swung open easily… Ophelia had forgotten to lock it again.
How many times had Anna told her? When home alone, she must lock the door…
Anna neatly placed her shoes by the entrance, stepped inside, and stared at the slick, damp floor, the corners of her mouth twitching.
Where was she supposed to step?
“Anna—”
Hearing the sound at the door, Ophelia poked her head out from her room.
“I’m back. The floor, did…?”
“I mopped it this afternoon.”
Mopped, huh.
Anna had thought the house was flooded.
Still, she carefully stepped inside. Water soaked into her socks, dragging at her feet, and she left a trail of tiny footprints behind.
Anna walked up to Ophelia and ruffled her hair.
“Good job, Ophelia.”
She cupped Ophelia’s face and planted a light kiss on her nose.
“Anna works much harder.”
This time, Ophelia kissed Anna’s forehead.
“I’ll make dinner. Ophelia, you go rest a bit longer.”
Anna quickly tied her hair into a high ponytail, donned her apron, and headed for the kitchen.
On the dining table, unexpectedly, was a plate of sliced apples.
The pieces were all uneven, the knife marks jagged, and from sitting out too long, the pale flesh had already turned a deep brown.
Ophelia must have sliced them that afternoon.
“Ophelia, let me see your hands.”
At her words, Ophelia guiltily hid her hands behind her back.
Her gaze darted away.
“Ophelia.”
Anna wouldn’t let her avoid it.
She walked right up to Ophelia, firmly pulling her arms from behind her back. On those delicate white hands, fresh pink knife cuts were clearly visible.
“Ophelia…”
Anna gently touched Ophelia’s wound, and Ophelia, wincing in pain, pulled her hand away, hiding it behind her back again.
“Anna, I…”
“I don’t want to be your burden”—the words stuck in Ophelia’s throat.
“Ophelia, you can rely on me a little more.”
Anna hugged Ophelia gently.
Her chin brushed against Ophelia’s shoulder, as if greedily yearning for her warmth.
“But I want to help you too, Anna. After all… this is our home.”
Our home.
Yes, this was their home.
The pair of Rings of Red and Blue Gemstone surfaced again in Anna’s mind.
“Ophelia… I…”
But no matter how hard she tried, Anna just couldn’t bring herself to ask Ophelia to become an Adventurer with her.