After a long journey, night finally fell.
Albert and his escort arrived at a small village.
Captain Gareth knocked on the carriage door.
"Young Master, we have arrived at a small village. We will rest here for the night."
A few minutes later, the carriage door opened.
Albert stepped out while adjusting his pants, followed by Gwen, whose hair was slightly disheveled and whose cheeks still carried a faint redness.
Captain Gareth seemed to notice what had happened inside, but he didn't particularly mind.
In fact, he looked rather pleased.
He knew how much Gwen's appearance usually invited disgust and rejection from others.
Many people in the past had shown clear unwillingness to even associate with her.
Yet Young Master Albert had accepted her without any visible bias.
To Gareth, who had mentored Gwen for years and treated her like a daughter, this was something truly worth being happy about.
"So we're staying the night here?" Albert asked, sounding a little tired.
He had gotten carried away earlier and ended up spending the entire day playing with Gwen's mouth, teaching her various techniques while she followed his instructions like a dedicated student.
Unfortunately, they couldn't go any further than oral.
Gwen was still wearing her full armor, and removing it only to put it back on quickly in case of trouble would have been too risky.
Thankfully, they hadn't encountered any danger.
Count Spina's territory was relatively safe thanks to his father's strict policy of exterminating bandits and monsters.
Albert noticed a small fence ahead, where a man holding a spear... most likely a village guard stood watch.
The moment the guard saw the noble carriage and the accompanying knights, he rushed back into the village.
A short while later, he returned with an elderly man who appeared to be the village chief.
The village chief's face briefly twisted with disgust upon seeing the group's appearances, but he quickly hid it, well aware that these people could easily harm him if provoked.
However, when his eyes landed on Albert, a sigh of relief escaped him, followed by clear surprise.
It was obvious he had never seen anyone as handsome as Albert before.
His attitude immediately became more respectful.
"Welcome, esteemed noble, to this humble village," the village chief greeted, bowing deeply after recognizing the crest on the carriage.
Albert didn't miss the flicker of disgust that had appeared on the man's face... especially the way it had been directed at his escorts, particularly Gwen.
It irritated him, but he held back from acting like a spoiled child.
He understood the nature of this world well enough.
Still, he decided to teach these people a small lesson.
"We are from the Count Spina household and have decided to rest in this village for the night," Albert said, deliberately adopting the tone of an arrogant and spoiled noble. "Make sure you prepare the best food and accommodation available for us."
As expected, the village chief grew nervous and hurriedly bowed, promising to provide the best lodging and meals they had.
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He led them to a stone house that stood out among the mostly wooden buildings of the village.
"This is the best place we have, Sir Noble. We usually reserve it for important guests. I have already arranged for it to be cleaned so that you may rest comfortably."
"Hmmm… well, whatever," Albert replied with deliberate arrogance. "Since we're only staying for one night, we can endure a place like this. Bring me the best food and wine you have."
"Yes, my Lord!" The village chief bowed again and quickly left.
Once he was gone, Captain Gareth spoke up.
"Young Master, we don't really need them to provide us with food. Count Spina has already prepared everything inside the storage pouch, including food and water."
Albert answered nonchalantly, "Hmph. They need to be punished for showing disgust toward all of you."
The four escorts froze for a moment.
They were deeply moved by their Young Master's unexpected consideration and felt a genuine sense of gratitude.
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After parking the carriage, the group entered the house to inspect it.
The interior was simple... just a table, a few wooden couches, and a single room with a bathroom at the back.
"I will sleep on the couch with Lance and Luke," Captain Gareth suggested with a knowing smile. "Young Master can take the room… along with Gwen."
"Ahem… that does seem like the best arrangement," Albert replied, trying to keep a serious expression.
Unfortunately, a rather lewd smile still slipped onto his face.
Lance looked pleased that his sister would have the opportunity to serve their benefactor's son... especially a Gifter who could help nurture her body.
Gwen herself also felt happy.
Albert genuinely seemed to like her, without even a hint of disgust in his eyes or actions.
The passionate way he looked at her had awakened a new kind of desire within her, and she became even more determined to serve her Young Master to the best of her ability.
A few hours later, night had fully settled.
The village chief returned with several men and women carrying food and wine.
"Sir Noble, this was prepared by the best cook in our village. I hope it will satisfy you," he said, bowing as the others placed the food on the table.
Standing beside him was a group of young women dressed in their finest clothes. They bowed respectfully.
"And these are the most beautiful women our village has to offer," the village chief continued eagerly. "If it pleases you, they can attend to your needs and serve you tonight."
The women appeared to be in their late teens and carried themselves with confidence.
The village chief was well aware of the potential benefits that could come from a noble child being born in their village... especially if that child inherited strong talents.
Albert was the only son of Count Spina and, more importantly, a Gifter.
If someone from their village could form a connection with him, the rewards would be immense.
The women themselves understood this as well.
They hoped not only to bear talented children but also to rise in status by becoming mistresses of a noble household.
Having always been praised as the most beautiful girls in the village, they were confident in their looks and bodies.
Excitement and eagerness filled their expressions… yet none of them noticed the strained smile on Albert's face, nor the way his eyelid twitched as he looked at the "beautiful" women standing before him.