After returning inside and sitting down on a sofa on the tower's ground floor, Zane served tea and light snacks to Sabrina and Pierre, insisting Pierre sit next to Sabrina despite Pierre's strong resistance to Zane's hospitality. Sabrina immediately drank her tea without suspicion, while Pierre seemed cautious. Afterward,
"Alright, I now know who lives in this tower. Since this tower is outside the city and doesn't fall under Heinz City jurisdiction, I won't pursue the matter any further. You don't need to pay taxes to the city ruler, and feel free to conduct trade in the city," Sabrina replied.
"Thank you, Lady Sabrina," Zane replied, bowing and placing his hand on his chest like a nobleman.
"Um... Lady Sabrina, Master Zane, forgive me, but we need to leave and head back to the mansion," Pierre interjected.
"Very well, come on, Pierre," Sabrina said, setting down her cup, then standing up.
Sabrina bowed before Zane, then walked toward the door with Pierre, followed by Zane from behind. Once outside the door, Sabrina turned back and looked at Zane standing inside.
"Pardon me, but if I were to visit often, or if I invited you to my mansion, would you be willing? Not as the land-lord's daughter, but as a friend," Sabrina asked.
"Huh... what's the Lady saying?" Pierre asked, feeling uneasy about Zane.
"With pleasure, Milady," Zane replied politely.
"Thank you, Master Zane," Sabrina replied.
Sabrina looked at Zane and smiled briefly before her face turned red, then she turned and walked back to her horse. Pierre bowed to take his leave, then,
"Please forgive the rudeness and intrusion from our Lady, Master Zane," Pierre said.
"It's no trouble at all, Master Pierre. I'm happy to have someone visit my residence," Zane replied.
"Right. Once again, my apologies. Good day, Master Zane," Pierre replied.
Pierre immediately turned and jogged to catch up with Sabrina, who was already mounted on her horse. Before riding off, Sabrina turned and waved to Zane, who immediately returned the wave, then closed the tower door. After closing the door, Zane leaned against it and exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Huf... I was just about to go into town to buy some magic crystals and maybe find some meat for lunch. Turns out I was being investigated, huh," Zane wondered.
Zane rolled up his shirt sleeve. He looked at his arm; a freshly closed scar, looking like a sealed seam, was clearly visible on his arm. That wound was the one that had previously been on Sabrina's arm. Zane hadn't actually healed the wound but had transferred Sabrina's injury to himself. He did the same for the townsfolk suffering from any illness. Due to the zombie healing factor in his body, any ailment could be transferred into his body and cured. Zane clenched his palm and opened it again.
"Alright, let's head to town. I want to shop, but before that, I should sell some of my farm produce," Zane said, walking toward the back door.
***
Meanwhile, Sabrina, spurring her horse back through the city gates, kept looking back at the tower standing tall and emitting smoke on the hill.
"Master Zane, huh? What an interesting man," she thought to herself, smiling with a flushed face.
Sabrina turned back to face forward, entering the city gate. She seemed to be smiling to herself on her horse. When she reached the gate, two guards saluted her, and she greeted them both cheerfully, which made them wonder. Then Pierre urged his horse next to Sabrina's.
"Milady, we must return home immediately. You need to get ready for your birthday party. Please don't wander around the city again," Pierre urged.
"I know... stop reminding me about that," Sabrina snapped, and the smile vanished from her beautiful face.
"Very well, Milady, I'm just reminding you. Your father has invited several young nobles from the kingdom to potentially match you with," Pierre replied.
"Ugh... I know... I don't want to be matched up... but it seems I don't have a choice," Sabrina said with disappointment.
Then Sabrina looked once more toward the tower, which seemed far away on the hill but was still visible from inside the city. Suddenly, Sabrina stopped and turned sideways to look at Pierre. Of course, Pierre, seeing Sabrina stop her horse, immediately halted.
"Pierre, please go back to the tower and give an invitation to Master Zane for him to come to my birthday party at the mansion," Sabrina said cheerfully.
"Eh... but... would the lord agree? Shouldn't we speak with the lord first?" Pierre asked.
"It's my party, isn't it? I want to invite him. Hurry back there and tell him he's invited to attend my birthday party," Sabrina answered enthusiastically.
Pierre didn't say a word. He just kept staring at Sabrina as if she had suddenly grown two heads. Sabrina, seeing Pierre dumbfounded, clapped her hands right in front of Pierre's face, which startled Pierre half to death and almost made him fall off his horse.
"Why are you staring? Go do it quickly," Sabrina commanded.
"Y-yes, Milady," Pierre replied.
Pierre immediately turned his horse around and spurred it to ride back out of the city. Meanwhile, Sabrina continued her journey home to her mansion. She looked cheerful and was imagining pleasant things for that night.
***
Meanwhile, Zane came out of the tower carrying two sacks of corn and a box of grapes. He loaded them onto the ready-to-go horse-drawn cart, which was kept in a building next to the tower that looked like a stable and garage. After loading everything, he immediately pulled the horse's reins to exit the cart garage. After closing the wooden garage door, he jumped up onto the cart and took the reins. But just as he was about to head to town,
"Master,"
Zane saw Pierre on horseback stop right in front of him. Zane climbed back down, then approached Pierre.
"Is something wrong, Master Pierre?" Zane asked, confused.
"Were you going to town, Master?" Pierre asked, seeing the cart full of farm produce behind Zane.
"Yes, I was. What is it?" Zane asked.
"Well, Master, may I accompany you? I need to speak with you," Pierre replied.
"Hm... alright, let's go together," Zane replied.
Zane returned to his cart and climbed up. He started driving his horse away from his garage, and Pierre rode his horse beside Zane.
"Master, you are invited by Lady Sabrina to attend her 18th birthday party at the mansion tonight. I will give you the formal invitation later, but I'm informing you verbally now and will arrange a carriage to pick you up this afternoon," Pierre said.
"Huh... Lady Sabrina's birthday party?" Zane mused, thinking while resting his hand on his chin.
"She is hoping you will attend," Pierre said.
"I see. Very well, I will come. Please deliver the invitation at the tower. Thank you, Master Pierre," Zane replied politely.
"Very well, Master, thank you. I'll take my leave now," Pierre replied politely.
"Go ahead, Master Pierre," Zane replied politely.
Pierre immediately spurred his horse, leaving Zane, who was slowly driving his cart because he was pulling a load. When he saw Pierre far ahead,
"Hmm... Lady Sabrina's birthday party. So she's just turned 18. I thought she was only about 15. Turns out I was wrong, huh," Zane wondered to himself, smiling as he continued toward the city with his cart.