The person in charge immediately recognized the red-haired woman in the bead, smiling warmly at her… even without her introducing herself.
He stood stiffly in front of the black-haired girl holding the bead, not daring to move.
“Sephy, can this thing enlarge the image a bit? Lian’s face looks way too small like this.”
“It can… but it’ll require more magic power.”
“Could you help me out?”
“…Fine. How about this?”
“Wow, it can get that big?”
He heard a sigh from the witch inside the bead, followed by the red-haired woman’s repeated amazement.
“Show Iyue how to use it too. I’ve got something to say to the people over there.”
“…Iyue, come here.”
At the witch’s weary call, the elf woman—who had been held at gunpoint by his subordinates—walked over. She gave a slight bow toward the bead.
“Sage, what are your instructions?”
“Do this, then this…”
Following the witch’s directions, the elf took the bead from the black-haired girl and closed her eyes. The person in charge saw a green glow flicker in her hands—
Moments later, the bead shone brightly, projecting a life-sized image of the red-haired noblewoman… along with the small witch sitting beside her.
“Ugh… so many people… I feel sick…”
The witch, with dark circles under her eyes, covered her pale face with her hat and slowly backed out of view, leaving only the red-haired woman waving at the crowd.
“Hello, my dear employees.”
“Is… is this magic? Who is this lady…? Strange, I feel like I saw her portrait not long ago…”
“That was a photograph! We saw it at the company’s photo studio in Fenglin City… Th-that means she’s—”
“Idiots! Put your guns down right now! How dare you point weapons at the Duchess and Lady Iyue!”
The person in charge’s furious shout cut through the chatter. Startled, the guards hurriedly lowered their weapons.
“No way… isn’t she the founder of the company?”
“And Lady Iyue… that name belongs to the famous Ranger…”
“I’ve only been working here five days… I’m going to lose my job…”
“Silence! Await the Duchess’s orders!”
The person in charge couldn’t remember the last time he’d broken out in such a cold sweat. It ran down his temples and soaked into his collar, yet he didn’t dare wipe it away.
Because the Duchess had stood up and was now facing him.
“What are you standing there for? Report.”
Meliya’s casual tone sounded, to him, like an imperial decree.
“Yes. I am Harold Aven, the person in charge of forestry operations in the Jingye Village area of the Jingfeng Forest Region, under the Forestry Development Branch of the Sea of Trees. I will now report.”
He straightened himself, adjusted his uniform, and began speaking in a dry, strained voice.
“This morning, we began operations on this forest according to the land sale contract signed with Jingye Village…”
He explained everything in detail—the contract, the village chief’s request, the forest plot numbers, today’s logging plan—without omitting a single detail.
“…According to the contract, ownership of the forest was fully transferred at the time of signing. No religious or memorial sites were marked within the work area… I believe the Ranger may have had a misunderstanding with the workers…”
As he finished, he couldn’t help but glance at the tree.
It was extraordinary—much larger than the surrounding trees. Its sturdy trunk stood tall, its lush branches swaying gently in the wind… and beneath its shade was a gravestone.
He and the workers had lived in the village for a long time. They could understand some basic elven script. Though they couldn’t recognize the name carved into the stone, they understood it was a grave set up by a wife and daughter for their husband and father.
Out of respect, they hadn’t touched it. He had planned to ask the villagers how to handle it after the logging was finished.
He then looked at the small wooden house. According to the contract, it was to be demolished—but he hadn’t ordered it yet, because the workers had noticed signs that someone had lived there.
All of this led his gaze to the cowboy-hatted elf—the most famous one on the continent.
Seeing the cold emotion in her green eyes, everything clicked.
That damned old man… has he gone mad for money? And those villagers too… letting us cut down a war hero’s forest?!
Harold cursed the village chief and the villagers countless times in his heart—but he knew it was useless.
Because a single sentence from the Duchess could decide the future of him, his workers, and their families.
Without their jobs, they would be expelled from the Sea of Trees by the Ranger Corps.
Thinking of his family, he remembered his wife and daughters. They lived in Jingye Village.
He had worked here for over two years, and many of his subordinates lived here with their families as well.
They had already cut down most of the Ranger’s forest… and the black-haired girl was clearly someone close enough to the Duchess to address her by name.
And he had just ordered guns pointed at them.
“We were only following the contract… Please, look at it!”
Knowing his chances were slim, he still tried desperately to defend himself. At his signal, a bespectacled worker handed over the signed magic contract.
“I understand,” Meliya said after glancing at it, nodding slightly.
But as her smile grew, a chill ran through everyone present.
“You pointed guns at my Lian and Iyue earlier, didn’t you? You’re all fired. Go report to the regional head in the Jingfeng Forest Region to process your dismissal.”
“How can you—!”
The worker holding the contract tried to protest, but Harold grabbed him and forced his head down.
“Yes. We will follow your orders, Duchess.”
“It’s over…”
The workers and guards groaned in despair. Some collapsed to the ground in shock.
“Lian, are you satisfied?”
Meliya’s gaze lingered only briefly on the crowd before turning warm and gentle toward Lian.
“Me? I’m annoyed they wouldn’t listen, but it’s up to you. You’re their boss.”
Lian waved it off casually. These people hadn’t posed any real threat to her—and if Harold was telling the truth, someone else deserved punishment.
“Meliya.”
“Yes?”
Iyue spoke up.
“They didn’t know this was my home. They were just carrying out the contract and protecting the workers.”
Meliya paused and looked at her.
“So what are you suggesting?”
“It’s not their fault. Your punishment is too harsh.”
She glanced at the frightened workers. Over the years, she had seen too many faces like theirs.
A soft sigh came from the communication bead.
“As expected of you, my Iyue… my great hero. Even when hurt, you still follow your moral compass.”
“…”
“But doesn’t that make life exhausting?”
Meliya smiled meaningfully, then looked back at Harold.
“Fine. I accept your suggestion. None of you need to report for dismissal.”
Everyone looked up in disbelief.
“But…” she continued, “you still acted against my friends and cut down her forest. All guards and employees will forfeit this month’s salary. Harold Aven—you are demoted one rank. Report to your superior yourself.”
“Yes—yes!”
Harold bowed repeatedly in relief. Losing pay and rank was nothing compared to losing his job. His subordinates also relaxed.
“Well then, Lian… sorry for the trouble. If you show ‘Silver Moon,’ the regional heads and directors should treat you properly.”
“You could’ve said that earlier…”
Lian sighed at her wife’s playful expression.
“I have other matters to attend to. We’ll talk later.”
Meliya’s image faded, and once the communication ended, the workers and guards finally breathed in relief.
“I thought we were done for…”
“Still lost a month’s pay…”
“That’s better than being expelled!”
After packing up, they apologized to Iyue and Lian, then withdrew.
“What a mess… at least the house and your mother are fine.”
Lian gently patted Iyue’s shoulder.
“Want to go back to the village? This shouldn’t just be left like this.”
Iyue said nothing. She walked into the house.
Inside, everything looked almost unchanged—simple furniture, a fireplace, a small stool.
But something felt off.
There was barely any dust.
After nineteen years, that shouldn’t be possible—unless someone had been cleaning regularly.
She stepped outside again, standing before the tree.
“I’m back… Mother. Father.”
The rustling leaves seemed to respond.
After a while, she picked up a fallen leaf, put it in her pocket, and put her hat back on.
“Let’s go, Lian En. Thanks for waiting.”
“Where to?”
“Back to the village, then to Fenglin City. We still have work to do.”
“What about your home—”
“It’s fine. Compared to everything else… this is enough.”
She walked ahead before Lian could respond.
As they neared the village, loud shouting erupted.
“It’s just training! Nothing’s wrong!”
A group of guards and workers were confronting a patrol unit at the village entrance—an all-female group of elves with bows and magic flowing along their strings.
“The Ranger Corps…” Lian muttered.
“Yes. Let’s avoid them,” Iyue said.
But before they could slip away, the patrol captain spotted them.
“Wait… that person looks familiar—”
She ran over, eyes widening the moment she saw Iyue.
“L-Lady Iyue?!”
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