Riding on a Remu that was running under the blistering heat of the sun was not a simple order that anyone who came to this land can handle. One had to get rid of the hot wind and sand that entered their nose and mouth while withstanding the shaking of the Remu as it ran. Even the old soldiers that had eventually settled in Endeavor had shaken their heads and adamantly said how “It is crazy to run in the desert for such a long time,” and that “there was no way a woman can hold on in such conditions.”

Entering the shade provided by the dunes was a completely different experience compared to the hot winds that they had breathed in throughout the whole ride. Instead, cool energy seems to surround them here. Thanks to the low humidity of the desert, unconscious people soon woke up one by one to enjoy the cooling of their bodies.

“Water…”

“Same here, please…”

Soon, the sounds of people asking for water filled the place. Hurriedly, the women opened the lids of the buckets of water that their husbands or owners brought.

“What? Is this all that you’ve got?”

Cinder, who had finally woken up, accepted Brian’s bucket of water, only to shout in an irritated voice.

“That’s all the amount of water we have for today. So save it.”

“…This is all that’s left for today? It’s not even sunset yet.”

“Yes, it is. Plus, since we’ll have to run for 3 more days, you’d better lie down and save your strength. Make yourself at home.”

“Haa…”

Cinder, who had wanted to voice out another rebuttal, decided to instead pick up the bucket and down the remaining drop of water into her mouth and wait for him to figure out the situation. Without another word, she lay down back onto the sand and fell asleep.

Brian smiled, taking off his clothes and covered her up, preventing her temperature from dropping even more. Brian was not the only one who did that, many of the other newly married men had paid careful attention to their companions so that they will not have a hard time.

Brian gave Lachlan an emotionless smile as he looked at him without uttering a single word.

“I know I’m happy but… I think the same goes for everyone as well. I’ve never thought I’d be able to get a wife in such a manner.”

Brian commented as he continued covering the sleeping Cinder with his clothes. Even though it has only been a day since they have met, Brian seemed to like Cinder very much.

Sitting next to her, Brian kept his eyes on the faintly sleeping Cinder. Judging from his behaviour, he would likely be the first to visit the church when he returned to Endeavour.

***

Endeavour was the first city to ever be built in Saul.

Unlike Bernst who gets sent all the women prisoners and the families of soldiers every day, it has been a long time since women were sent to Endeavour.

When Endeavour had protested, Ramedes had only replied saying how “There were already many women who had been sent to Endeavour.” and as a result, “Women should be sent to Bernst for the time being.”

These statements did not make sense when taking the number of female prisoners who had passed on before even arriving at Saul during the early stages of their settlement.

It is very obvious what the intentions of the home country were. Despite gold, coal, and other mines having been found in Endeavour, extra pressure is being put on them to produce results as such results cannot be found in the hands of the home country. Threatening that if gold is not given, women are too not let go.

There was no idea how long such a confrontation would last, but even a fool would know that the home country would win.

The number of foreign women entering Endeavour is not much anyway, plus, considering the probability of dangerous information being leaked about the city… paired with the fact native women are forbidden in Endeavour unless they marry into the city. Hence why Endeavour, in the end, had no other choice but to ask for women.

The old settlers were aware of the fact that women were more essential to the city than gold and coal. After all, women were needed to survive on this land, not just simply to unleash their desires. They were beings who can eat, talk, sleep, and spend time together with others.

Endeavour’s men have experienced just how much their lives have changed with and without them.

When news, from a spy that was planted in Alex’s gang, which had attacked a ship from the home country, causing them to be stranded, broke out and a notice had been sent.

[ They seemed to have obtained information on not only the supplies but also information from their home country. They are readying to depart for Endeavour’s land. ]

Almost immediately, Lachlan led Endeavour’s elite soldiers out to the said location upon receiving such news.

The fugitives that are to be wiped out one day are heading towards Endeavour’s land. There was no thought in Lachlan’s mind about capturing them.

While Endeavour was still in a state of confusion, Alex had managed to gain control of one side of the harbour and started acting out. When Lachlan took office and sent Alex to prison, he had simply brought his way out by giving money to the jailer. Alex gathered those who were originally under him and those who had wanted to flee Endeavour to escape Lachlan and quickly gained power.

Not only that, but a few months later, when Lachlan went out to take a look at one of the gold mines, Alex’s gang had ended up attacking a farm nearby Endeavour. They had looted, killed livestock and the owner of said farm, and dragged out the owner’s wife and daughters.

“Kill them as soon as you find them”

“Yes sir.”

Brian, who is usually one who has something to said against cruel treatments, did not oppose any of Lachlan’s commands or decisions.

After all, these were things that had to be done to ensure the safety of Endeavour and those living in it. When the time came, he would be the one who inevitably put a bullet through their heads.

And the tracking of such individuals and groups was not difficult.

“They can’t possibly have an extremely capable navigator. I mean, look at that, can’t you see that we can’t get far by travelling along the shoreline? However, once we move through the dunes, we won’t be able to see it that easily. So, keep a keen eye out for them.”

At Lachlan’s command, everyone moved quickly. The moment they had sighted a ship with women jumping off of it, Lachlan knew just what information Alex’s gang had obtained. Information that would allow Alex to figure out when ships that only carry female prisoners from the home country would come in.

‘However, it’s weird for them to act out when it’s so far away…’

It is well-known that women were very precious, however, it was not known the reason as to why they were so eager to attack that ship, so much so that they risked entering Endeavour’s territory. In the end, Alex’s gang had ended up attacking the ship at night before proceeding to buy and sell the women they caught.

As expected, Alex’s gang was unable to overcome the elite Endeavour soldiers. Upon inspection, to check on the ease of handling of the survivors, Lachlan had chanced upon a woman who was pressing a gun to her chin.

‘Should I just leave her be?’

He thought. After all, a person who loses their will to live in a day will not be able to survive for long in this land. Then, there would be no issue with her taking her own life. It can even be considered salvation. Lachlan thought, yet, his body unconsciously moved forward the moment he saw the platinum white hair that shone brightly in the moonlight.

In a split second, he was beside her. Catching and twisting the gun, it fired. If he had been any second later, the white hair would fall to the ground stained red.

This cannot possibly be true.

When Lachlan noticed the woman trembling in front of him, he thought that he himself was crazy. He grabbed hold of her chin and turned it to face him as he took in her facial appearance.

“You…!”

Lachlan recalled a story that his mother, the indigenous ruler and owner of this land, had told him.

Death stays in the desert. Death is wicked and cunning. When he finds someone to stick to, he or she will never be able to let go of it.

Lachlan laughed at the memory of such a story as he wondered what would happen should death approach him. No matter what situation he was to be put in, he believed that he could avoid it.

Looking at the woman’s face, he realised how arrogant it was to think in such a manner. Death really did come in such a way that is indescribable and he is unable to let go of it.

A woman who is to be killed, but one he can never kill.

A woman who will kill his city. Yet, in the past, was the woman who had saved him.

Deertes. And she was right in front of him.

“Mr Lachlan.”

“…”

Brian called out to him again, this time in a much lower voice. Standing in front of him with a concerned expression, he asked again more carefully.

“…Have you taken care of it?”

Brian asked, despite his body turned and faced in another direction. Several bodies may be rolling around on the beach where Alex’s group had attacked. Among them, Lachlan wrote the name of the platinum-haired forest fairy, whose arrival here was in itself a huge sin as he glanced silently at Brian’s behaviour.

“I was on my way to marrying Richard Fraser, the governor of Bernst, at the suggestion of the king.”

When he had heard that Count Russell’s Deertes had come to Saul to marry Richard Fraser, governor of Bernst, Lachlan had felt as if the goddess herself had brought death onto Endeavour.

Endeavour and Bernst were no longer cities that collaborated under the name of Ramedes. The small rift between the home country ever since Lachlan took office as the governor of Endeavour five years ago had continued growing larger and larger ever since Richard, the king’s illegitimate son, took over Bernst as the governor last year.

When Lachlan, who was not even treated as a human being due to the native blood flowing through his veins, had taken office, many people in Endeavour and even the home country had lamented saying how “The corrupted country ended up falling into the hands of the indigenous people.”

However, after his inauguration, Endeavour has been making frighteningly large progress. Surprised by the result, the home country granted Lachlan the title “Lord,” which he had yet to be given.

As Endeavour’s power grew by the masses, it started to reject orders that came from the home country. The home country was embarrassed by the protests that sparked in the once docile city but they could not raise their hands against it and stop it. Eventually, Endeavour managed to finally pay off all the taxes set by the agreement with the home country and accepted all the problems sent from Ramedes.

Moreover, Endeavour’s wool handicrafts and minerals have now become items that are well-sought after by those in the home country. It was only then when the home country finally decides to turn their heads onto another target. Since development and progress is possible to such a large extent in the Endeavour, which was thought to merely be a location where prisoners would be brought to, then wouldn’t Bernst, the other city that was to be abandoned, be able to reach such heights as well?

Hence, this time around, the home country had put their hopes and anticipation on Bernst, as much as Lachlan had for Endeavour, as both continued to grow exponentially.

Then, Richard Fraser was sent to Bernst.

The home country provided all kinds of support. Yet, Bernst was not growing as quickly as the home country had expected. As compared to other places, or more specifically, Endeavour.