Ranav led Camilla inside the estate. As they walked, she gazed in awe at the beauty and grandeur surrounding her. The finely maintained gardens, the polished stone paths, and the elegant architecture of the estate left her speechless.
After walking a short distance from the gate, Ranav stopped and turned to her. "I need to tell you something before we go further," he began. "I'm just a guest here. My master is a friend of the countess. We came from a small, distant village. My father is a peasant, and while we do own some farmland, we're far from wealthy. If you choose to come with us, my family can offer you shelter but not luxuries."
Camilla listened intently, her wide eyes hinting at nervousness.
"I wanted to be clear," Ranav continued. "You might have mistaken me for someone rich because I gave you those two extra silver coins. That wasn't even my money… it belonged to my master."
He paused, his gaze steady. "If you don't want to stay with a family like mine, I'll understand. I'm happy to bring you along, and we can afford one more meal. But if you'd rather find another way, now's your chance to say so."
Camilla hesitated, glancing down at her toes. "I... I don't want to live in hiding anymore," she said timidly. "I can't stay in this city. I'll go anywhere you're willing to take me. I'm poor too. Except for a little money, I have nothing left. And you seem like a good person, and your family must be kind as well."
Ranav chuckled softly. "Then follow me. After breakfast, we'll set off on our journey."
As they resumed walking, Ranav suddenly noticed the small bag in her hand. "Is that all you brought with you?" he asked.
Camilla blushed. "Yes. Those goons destroyed everything else before I returned home. The landlord forced me to leave in a hurry, so I only managed to take some money, a few small pieces of jewelry, and a fresh set of clothes. They all fit in this bag."
Ranav nodded thoughtfully. "I understand. But listen carefully. We're about to enter the count's house, and I'll introduce you as my maternal cousin. Tell everyone that you currently work at the healing center. Say you met me there yesterday and I invited you to visit my village, Dhela. That's all true. Just leave out the part about the market and the goons."
He paused to make sure she understood. "And one more thing… you'll call me your younger brother. It's a good excuse for why you recognized me so easily yesterday. Can you remember all of this?"
"Yes," Camilla said with a firm nod. "I'll remember."
"Good. Let's go." Ranav led her toward the house with renewed confidence.
Inside, Ranav spotted Nanima and the countess sitting in the main hall, engaged in a deep discussion.
"Good morning, Master. Good morning, Aunt Vedika," Ranav greeted them politely.
The countess looked up with a warm smile. "Good morning, Ranav. I thought you had gone out for training." Her gaze shifted to Camilla, lingering curiously.
Ranav quickly introduced her. "Master, Aunt Vedika, this is Camilla, my cousin. I met her unexpectedly at the healing center yesterday. She works there, and I invited her to visit our village."
Camilla bowed slightly, clasping her hands. "Junior Camilla pays her respects."
Nanima and the countess exchanged glances before asking Camilla a series of questions about her family. When they learned that both her parents had passed away and that she'd been forced to work at a young age, their expressions softened with sympathy.
Ranav sensed an opportunity to excuse himself. "Master, I'd like to check on Midnight at the ranch. Before I go, I'll show Camilla to my room so she can rest. If you'll excuse us…"
"Go ahead," Nanima replied with a nod.
Ranav gestured for Camilla to follow him upstairs. Upon reaching his room, he opened the door and stepped aside. "This is my room. You should freshen up and rest while I'm gone."
He pointed toward the bathroom. "There's running water in there. Take a proper bath and wear your best set of clothes. Don't worry about preserving them… I'll buy you new ones when we reach home. For now, you need to look presentable for the count's house and the journey."
Camilla hesitated, embarrassed. "I only have one good set of nice clothes left…"
"Then wear it," Ranav said with a reassuring smile. "Use the facilities here. I don't have such luxuries back home either, so make the most of it." With that, he left the room, closing the door behind him.
Ranav made his way to Paramita's door and knocked. After a moment, she opened it, looking surprised.
"I thought it was a maid coming to call me for breakfast," she said. "What brings you here?"
"I'm heading to the ranch to see Midnight," Ranav explained. "If you have time, I'd like you to join me."
Paramita smiled. "Sure. Just give me a minute." She closed the door, and Ranav waited patiently until she returned.
"Let's go," she said, leading the way.
As they walked, she asked, "When are you heading home?"
"After breakfast," Ranav replied. "The old village chief is bringing his carriage to take us back."
"You could use one of our carriages instead," Paramita suggested. "They're far more comfortable."
Ranav shook his head. "There's no need. The old village chief is like a half master to me. He taught me swordsmanship. I have no reservations about using his carriage."
Paramita raised an eyebrow. "I saw you using light sword once at school, but I didn't know you were trained in swordsmanship too. You could get some pointers from Grandpa Khan while you're here… he's an incredible swordsman."
Ranav smiled faintly. "I've already got too much on my plate. I only learned swordsmanship to prepare for situations where I might run out of mana in a prolonged fight. You should try it too. Even basic training can make your body stronger."
They soon reached the ranch, where Ranav brought out Midnight and Paramita retrieved her own horse, Lucky. They played with the animals for a while, and Ranav took the opportunity to instruct Midnight to obey Paramita in his absence.
When Ranav returned to his room, he was momentarily startled. Camilla was sitting on a chair, her appearance transformed by the fresh clothes and a proper bath. She looked like a completely different person.
"You look nice," he said warmly before heading to the bathroom to freshen up himself. After changing into a clean set of clothes, he rejoined Camilla and led her downstairs for breakfast.
As they ate, a maid informed them that Tenali Raman had arrived to pick them up. Ranav grabbed his small bag, as well as Camilla's, and walked outside. Nanima was already waiting for them.
After bidding farewell to the countess and Paramita, they boarded the carriage. Ranav, Nanima, Camilla, and Tenali Raman settled in comfortably as the carriage began its journey toward Dhela.