“Hah… Fine, I know you’re not that kind of man,” said Tanya with a sigh. “Still, my sister here is a bit reckless.”

“I agree," Lucas said.

“After getting attacked by some people, she carelessly asked for help from a stranger.”

Lucas understood Tanya’s feelings.

What if the person she asked for help had malicious intent, and instead of helping, they robbed them? Lucas thought.

“Yeah… When she came running to me, she was panicking and desperate. At first, I thought it was some kind of play to lure me somewhere and then robbed me.”

“You are very cautious, huh?”

“Better safe than sorry.”

“Of course… Thank you for saving me.” Tanya moved her hand, she opened and closed her palm, and looked at her bandaged arms. “What did you do to me? I feel great already.”

Lucas smiled. “It’s a special medicine and treatment from my country. You should be fine by tomorrow morning. Do you feel any pain?”

“No, I feel great.”

“That’s great! The medicine I gave you will heal your wound again when you get hurt… for a few times.”

“Is it some sort of magic?”

“Well… Not really.”

“I won’t pry any further. I owe you my life. I’m Tanya and this girl here is my twin sister, Tasya.”

“I'm Lucas,” said Lucas, introducing himself and omitting his last name.

“Thank you, Lucas. If it weren’t for your treatment I would be dead,” said Tanya, with a heartfelt expression.

“I was doing my job. Your sister paid me to get you to the city and get a treatment for you.”

“She paid you?”

“Yes,”–Lucas reached his pocket and pulled out a ring–” she gave me this. Well, she said the ring is worth a lot.”

A shocked expression could be seen on Tanya’s face.

“Ahaha,” laughed Tanya, “did she give you those?”

“Yes.”

“Right… It is worth a lot, the ring is full of history and was made with the finest jewel made by a well-known jeweller at that time.”

Lucas was piqued by the statement, from just a glance, he knew the ring was expensive and of great quality. But, he did not know that there was a history to the ring.

“Is this ring… a family heirloom?” asked Lucas.

“Well… Not really… It is something that Tasya hold dearly, and the fact that she was able to give that without a second thought…”–Tanya caressed Tasya’s head–“I don't know…”

Lucas was left speechless, the ring he was given as payment had a deep history for the sisters. Lucas, even though he was taught to be heartless as a leader, had a soft spot for his sisters, especially Lucy. He understood the feelings between the sisters in front of him, doing everything to save her sibling. A sibling's life is worth more than billions of gold for Lucas.

As he waited for the meat to be cooked, Tanya was caressing her sister’s head, as if she was lullabying her. A sound was heard, and a growling sound came from the direction of the sister. Lucas looked at them and he saw Tanya's face had turned red, and then a growling sound was heard again. She is hungry, Lucas thought.

Lucas looked at the meats and they were already cooked. “Here you go…” Lucas gave some of the meat skewers to Tanya.

“Th-thank you,” said Tanya as she was embarrassed by the sound of her stomach.

Tasya ate the food well, and her face brightened up. Lucas put another meat on the fire to be cooked and ate the rest of the cooked meat. Soon after, Tasya woke up from her sleep.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Smells good…” Tasya said as she rubbed her eyes.

“Evening, princess~,” said Tanya.

“AH! Tanya, how is your wound!? Are you okay!? Do you feel hurt!?” Tasya said frantically, she looked and observed Tanya’s bandaged limbs in a hurry.

“Calm down, Tasya!” Tanya held Tasya firmly with her hand. Dumbfounded, Tasya stopped and looked directly at Tanya. “Look! I’m fine and eating, right now,” continued Tanya.

“Right… You’re better now!” Tasya said.

Tasya was about to hug Tanya but she stopped after realising that Tanya was still hurt and bandaged.

“I’m better thanks to you.”

“Hmmm… Me? Why?”

“The man you brought here has healed me.”

“Ah! Right, where is h– ah there you are. Thank you, for saving my sister,” said Tasya to Lucas.

“No problem, You paid me to help your sister, so I did what I could.”

“I’m Tasya. This is Ta–”

“He already knows who I am,” said Tanya.

“Oh, right. Both of you must have had a conversation while I was asleep.”

“Yep.”

“I’m Lucas,” said Lucas.

“Thank you again, Lucas. I don’t know if the ring was enough to pay for your trouble… If you need anything, just tell me, and I’ll do my best to fulfil everything you ask.”

“It was enough, you don’t have to worry.”

“Alright!”

Lucas, Tasya and Tanya ate the meat Lucas cooked. It was just a simple dish, but it tasted good for the sisters. Tasya then pulled out a pouch and then Tasya did something that Lucas had never seen this world’s people do. Tasya cast water magic to fill up her pouch and drank the water. Lucas already knew that the water cast from the magic power was drinkable, but he never saw anyone in this world use magic to cast drinkable water. Lucas had a theory that because of the power needed to cast a magic spell, a simple spell–drinkable water–would never be practised and the magic was mostly used for combats.

Who taught her that? Lucas thought. The night kept getting darker as the hour went by. Tasya offered to be the lookout when Lucas and Tanya slept, but Lucas told her that she could take the first shift as the lookout and woke Lucas up when her shift ended. Tasya agreed to his proposal.

Morning came and the three of them rode on top of their horses to the nearest city, Petersburg. Lucas escorted the sisters as per his agreement with Tasya. Their journey to the city was uneventful, the pursuers that went after the sisters were never seen again. For the journey to the city, Lucas had prepared himself for an ambush and attack from the people who went after the sisters. He was grateful that the pursuers decided to stop chasing them.

Petersburg went into view, the city had flourished under the leadership of Lucas after the rebellion–at least partially flourished. He had made significant changes to the city administration, security and economy. The smooth transition of the city and the Duchy contributed to the success of Lucas’s reform; It was thanks to the previous Duchess who gave up the Duchy to him and Bianca without any confrontation.

It had been a week since he left the 111th Lilium Army Base, and he forgot to tell anyone that he would be back for longer than it took to go from Petersburg to the Base. He hoped nothing happened when he was gone.

“Lucas, thank you for helping us and escorting us to the city. So, I guess this is where we will part," Tanya said.

The three of them had arrived at the city gate.

“Yes, thank you for the company," Lucas said.

"No, we should be the ones who are grateful. You saved my sister," Tasya said,

"I'm only doing what I was paid for," Lucas smiled warmly.

"Of course. I hope we meet again, my saviour." Tanya slightly bowed her head.

Lucas parted away from Tasya and Tanya. He rode back to the Petersburg Palace, the residence of the ruling noble of Duchy of Novgorod in Petersburg. The Petersburg Palace had been Lucas’s home when he stayed in Petersburg.

As expected, Lucas got an earful from Ella for missing for a week. The Palace was in a panic when they received words that Lucas had left the base but had not arrived at the Palace.

When Max was asked about what they should do, he just said, "Just wait, he'll be back soon,"

Max knew where he was; he could see Lucas's location through his PCD. But, he did not tell them.

It took Lucas a few days to calm down Ella's anger toward him. She forced him to promise her not to do it again.

Back in his office, Lucas was briefed by William about the task Lucas assigned him before he left.

“I’ve found the person you are looking for, My Lord,” reported William. He stood in front of the table Lucas sat on.

Lucas read the document William gave him about the person and the ship. It was indeed the ship he was looking for. “Great. Where can I meet this person?”

“With due respect, My Lord.” William stopped momentarily, hesitant to speak. “I don’t think we should work this man?”

“Why?” asked Lucas.

“This man is… crazy.”

“Crazy?”

“He once went on a voyage with his fleet, but, when he came back here he lost everything.”

“Then, what happened to his ship?”

“I don’t know.”

“So… this guy has no ship?”

“Yes.”

“Is there no ship that has the same specification I’ve mentioned?”

“No, My Lord. Most of the ships in this city are small ship which isn’t capable of seafaring.”

“I’ve been hearing about this a lot. Why did the people here not go far away to the sea?

“That’s because of sea monsters.”

“Sea monsters?”

“Yes, My Lord. Every time a ship went too far into the sea. A sea monster would attack the ship and destroy it. The person I've mentioned before was a rich merchant, he used his ships to trade with villages and towns near the coast. He desired to defeat the monsters and made a fleet of ships to defeat them. In the end, he lost it all.”