The Eastern Mountain Range, descending along the empire’s borders, was characterized by rugged and deep mountains. Consequently, the territories in that region often lacked arable land, and they weren’t very prosperous. Due to the perception of being at the empire’s edge, these areas were often regarded as remote and unremarkable. This assessment extended to the Doan Family, which held the land along the eastern mountain slopes. That’s why despite having been a prominent family for over two centuries, they, like most eastern clans, weren’t widely recognized.

“It’s a real headache.”

Martian muttered with a tired expression. Viscount Martian Doan, she was the current head of the Doan Family and was constantly struggling to manage the family smoothly.

Since arable land was scarce within their territory, the main source of income for the family was timber. The repeated cycles of hot and cold weather resulted in sturdy and beautifully patterned trees in this region, which were sold at high prices for crafting fine furniture. Contrary to public perception, this also allowed Eastern families to lead a decent lifestyle.

However, timber was a challenging commodity, unlike crops that could be harvested annually. Once a tree was cut down, it took a minimum of seven years for a new tree to grow. If trees were planted solely for short-term demand, the situation could change by the time they were ready to be sold. Alternatively, focusing only on immediate income and harvesting trees could lead to a halt in funds circulation.

Martian sighed, placing documents down on her desk.

“Why does managing a single territory have to involve so much deliberation…”

Balancing the immediate need for earnings with securing assets for the future was always difficult. She reached out and picked up the teacup that was lying on her desk. The tea had been left cold for quite some time, losing its flavor.

“Ron, bring the tea again.”

Martian set the teacup back on the table as she spoke to the man standing behind her. He was tall and had a slender, well-proportioned frame, but his deep skin tone indicated that he wasn’t from the empire. That was a characteristic of the former foreigners who were well-known for their piracy.

Ron tidied up the serving dishes on the table with familiarity. 

As she brought up a new set of documents, she said, “The tea is meant to be good for waking up. So, bring it while it’s still hot since I’ll be sipping it slowly.”

“Understood, My Lord.”

His response was respectful, but the tone was a bit rigid. Martian chuckled upon noticing him serving tea like an ordinary servant.

Ron had entered the mansion as a child. Found in distress due to his skin color and without any aid, it was Martiane who discovered and brought him to the mansion. Of course, back then, there was no profound reason for her actions. She was young herself, and it was merely an impulsive act of sympathy.

However, Martian’s mother, the previous head of the Doan Family, decided to take Ron into the mansion, and he had grown up by Martian’s side ever since, running errands and doing odd jobs. He remained Martian’s exclusive servant to this day.

But he wasn’t just an ordinary servant. Seeing Ron gathering the dishes and teacups, Martian spoke up.

“Are you doing what I told you properly?”

“…Yes.”

“Then let’s check.”

She leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. She could take a short break since she’d be working again soon anyway. It was a known fact that taking intermittent breaks during work increased efficiency. When Ron hesitated for a moment, she urged him on.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Ron set aside what he was holding and began to undo his pants. Revealing a lewd leather restraint where underwear should have been. The restraint, constricting his genitals, was tightly bound with strings, looking rather suffocating. She reached out and grasped the restraint with her hand. Inside the restraint, the space was tight, as if something confined was becoming slightly excited.

“I don’t think I did something to get you excited… What did you do behind my back?”

“Ugh, I… I haven’t done anything, hnng…”

She tightened her grip on the leather restraint even more. Ron’s body twitched, and a moan escaped his lips. Martian soon released her grip and slowly stroked it. With the gentle stimulation, Ron’s lower region responded almost instantly.

While Ron was her personal servant, he was also her lover. Over a decade-long relationship, he had been trained to react easily to such stimuli. Ron let out a moan. Due to his arousal, the restraint made his private part feel increasingly constrained. A mixture of excitement and pain alternated.

Suddenly, Martian withdrew her hand.

“Now that I’ve checked, go to the kitchen. It’s been twenty years since you came here; you can’t possibly fail at fetching tea, can you?”

Her study, where she worked, was located on the top floor of the mansion, while the kitchen, where they brewed tea, was on the ground floor. Going back and forth between the two floors in his current aroused state was awkward, but Ron lowered his head and replied, “I’ll be right back.” 

Martian chuckled lightly.

“Sure, Ron. Just make sure to return before I finish processing those five documents.”

* * *

Since the change in succession laws granting priority to the eldest child regardless of gender, women in the Doan Family had begun to inherit the position of Viscount. As they always bore daughters first, the title always went to the eldest daughter.

While it wasn’t uncommon for females to inherit titles now, it was a rare occurrence a few generations ago. Most noble families, if they had a male heir, would often force their elder female siblings to renounce their rights. A female inheriting the title was a symbol that the family had no male heir, and in the male-dominated aristocracy, such families were often mocked.

Those working in the Doan Family had endured both external sympathy and ridicule. With numerous external threats, the people within the Family had grown resilient. They worked for the family generation after generation, leading to a deep sense of pride and loyalty towards the Viscount.

Hannah, the head chef of the kitchen, was also one of those individuals. She spoke to Ron, who had come to collect the tea as if giving advice.

“You should learn how to brew tea. You’re getting older, and you have no remarkable skills.”