Inside the castle, a strikingly beautiful girl with bright, determined eyes stood before a massive wing structure, crafted from countless feathers, glued and stitched with care. Today was the day she would fly.Beside her stood Fiona, her maid and close companion, equally young but visibly anxious. Fiona admired Alice deeply, but her obsession with flying had become a source of constant worry."Miss Alice," Fiona said, her voice trembling, "how about I try flying first? Just to test it… then you can try."Her face had gone pale. Though Fiona was beautiful in her own right, Alice’s radiance overshadowed her, especially in moments like this.Alice shook her head with a playful smile. "No way, Fiona. I’m not letting you steal the fun. This time, I’ll fly. No one can stop me."She turned, arms outstretched. "Quickly, help me put the wings on."Fiona hesitated, then tried once more. "Miss Alice, please reconsider. You’ve tried five times already… each one ended in failure. You were i

At the dining table, three figures sat together, Duke Alaric, his daughter Alice, and the wandering knight Aaron.The table was adorned with a vibrant spread of Verdia Kingdom’s native fruits, some familiar, others exotic.Aaron reached for a fruit that resembled a lychee from his previous life, though it was larger and more vibrant. He peeled the skin and took a bite.The sweetness flooded his mouth, and for a moment, he was dazed, a memory stirred, distant and bittersweet.Across the table, Duke Alaric sipped coconut water, then scooped out the soft flesh. As he ate, his gaze drifted to Aaron.This fruit had always seemed useless… yet Aaron had unlocked its value. Perhaps curiosity was the key his people lacked.He shook off the thought and asked,"Aaron, how long will it take to create a parachute?"Aaron blinked, returning to the present."Lord Duke, as I mentioned before, parachutes are only useful when jumping from high places. I’ve never built one for human use, so I can’t give

Inside a lavish carriage, a fat young man dressed in golden robes lounged comfortably. Each of his fingers bore heavy gold rings, and a thick gold necklace hung around his neck. One glance was enough to know, he was rich, and he flaunted it.Seated on his lap was a maid, delicately feeding him slices of fruit. As he chewed lazily, one of his hands roamed beneath her clothes, fondling her breasts with increasing pressure.Suddenly, he asked,"When will we reach the castle?"His grip tightened, making the maid flinch and moan softly in pain. But she gritted her teeth and replied, "Lord Gloden, we’ll arrive within the time it takes to burn an incense stick."Gloden, the only son of Lord Theodore, had been spoiled since birth. Arrogant, indulgent, and unchecked, his behavior was tolerated, if not feared. The maid, like many in his service, had no choice but to endure his whims.Behind his carriage, two more followed closely, flanked by knights on horseback, their armor gleaming in the a

Two hours passed, and the scorching sun beat down relentlessly.Aaron wiped his brow, the heat beginning to wear on him. They hadn’t brought any supplies, and the wooden barrel was already filled with dead fish.He turned to Edrin and said,"Let’s head back now."Edrin chuckled, wiping the sweat from his forehead."Hey Aaron, I’ve got to admit, this is the first time I’ve actually enjoyed fishing."He glanced up at the blazing sun and added with a sheepish grin,"Though I hate to admit it… I’m getting thirsty. Let’s return."Aaron nodded, gripping the oars as the skiff gently turned toward the shore.The sea behind them shimmered, calm and quiet.Half an hour later, they returned to shore, the skiff gently bumping against the dock as they secured it.Aaron glanced at the barrel filled with fish and said,"Where should we sell these? Also, let’s bring one more barrel next time."Edrin nodded."Agreed. But Aaron… are you sure you want to split the money evenly?"Aaron waved his hand d

Aaron looked at Edrin and asked,"Is there any difference?"Edrin smiled knowingly."Let’s go in the evening. I’m sure you’ll learn something. For now, how about we continue fishing?"Aaron nodded."Okay then.".....Meanwhile…Torvald had just left the Open Restaurant when he was surrounded by masked men in a narrow alley.The leader stepped forward, voice low and sharp."Torvald, when are you selling the shop?"Torvald’s irritation flared."Didn’t I tell you, I need two weeks."The masked man laughed hoarsely, his tone laced with menace."Fine. Two weeks. That’s all you get. Any later… and we’ll pay Lily a visit at her tailor shop."Torvald’s eyes turned red with fury.His voice dropped to a chilling whisper."Don’t disturb me for the next two weeks."The masked men vanished into the shadows, leaving Torvald alone.He clenched his fists, trembling, not from fear, but from helpless rage.They were Lord Alaric’s guards......Torvald took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm