Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest
Chapter 167 - 4: Boundless Prospects

Chapter 167: Chapter 4: Boundless Prospects

She was stunned on the spot, hands covering her mouth, looking as though she was in a dream.

"Don’t you want to?" Roman turned around, sat in the chair Sanna had previously occupied, placed her on his lap, wrapped his arms around her, and asked in a gentle whisper.

"Don’t want to become my chamberlain?"

She leaned against his chest, her keen senses feeling the flow of his breath and the words as he spoke, brushing against her ear.

Those magnetic voices clearly echoed beside her ear, like electric eels zipping through her ears, making her entire body feel a tingling soreness—she probably had astonishingly red cheeks.

Her skin was a healthy wheat color, which now seemed to deepen, reminiscent of walking on the beach under the scorching sun.

Yes!

That was exactly the feeling!

She was enduring the straightforward and passionate favor of the sun, which made her movements somewhat coy and shy.

"Master, why?" Kao exclaimed incredulously. "No... I’m not questioning your decision; I just mean Sanna, she..."

He couldn’t understand why Sanna would receive such an honor.

Roman placed his palm on Sanna’s face, she shyly closed her eyes, feeling the roughness of his hand abrade her skin slightly. Her nose was gently pinched, making it hard to breathe, forcing her to breathe with her mouth and she soon discovered her cheeks were being pinched too. His strong thumb and forefinger gently pressed, and her green lips puckered up together, plump, as if she was making a funny face.

Her skin was very elastic, typical for girls her age. Roman found it hard to let go.

He grew increasingly fond of this little fisher girl, caressing her collagen-filled, healthy, and rosy cheeks, then bent down to passionately kiss them twice before he finally had a moment to answer Kao’s question.

"She has become a witch; I need to cultivate her." He took out the Purple Crystal, the crystal inside was brimming with a bizarre and magnificent scene, a reflection of the magical power surging within Sanna.

Only an awakened witch could transform an inconspicuous fisher girl into a Five Star Angel Envoy.

Upon hearing this, Gwivelle immediately exclaimed, "Really?!"

"Mm-hmm!"

Roman was in an excellent mood, having desired but not acquired for the past year. Now, having suddenly obtained a hidden dragon and phoenix, who in the world could stop him!

These two youngsters were part of the grand plan of his future extraordinary strategy.

He must nurture them well!

"Sanna! Answer the master quickly! Hurry!" Kao, in pain, sat up and shouted at Sanna, disregarding his decorum. Seeing his sister bewildered and missing the opportunity infuriated him so much that he wanted to throw something at her, but she was sitting on the master’s lap, and he couldn’t lay a hand on her.

The abrupt and harsh voice quickly pulled Sanna back to reality from her astonishment at being a witch.

"Master, I’m willing!"

She had always dreamed of being a chamberlain like Gwivelle, envied her leisurely ease and adoration. It was only because of Kao that she was freed from her life as a slave, not having to overwork, yet Kao treated her that way.

She had been lost for a long time, as if trapped in the eerie Black Forest, but now she finally found her way. She lifted her face, gazing into those crimson eyes, recalling that moment in the chilling night of the Ghost Forest, remembering that warmth.

"Can I treat you like Gwivelle does?" she asked.

"Of course."

"Can I call you Roman?"

"You can."

"Do I get my own room?"

"You will."

"So I just need to listen to you from now on?"

"You must only be loyal to me!"

"Can I eat white bread to my heart’s content?"

"Miss, there’s no limit to that item."

"What if Kao bullies me? It really hurts when he hits me."

"If he does it without any reason, I’ll help you beat him. Whatever pain he gives you, I’ll make sure he feels twice as much."

He patiently and tirelessly answered each and every trivial question.

In her eyes, he seemed to be glowing all over.

If Kao was the snow in the gutter, one could feel a certain discomfort just by getting close.

Then he was undoubtedly the sun, its outline bright and radiant yet so universally loving and generous.

Sanna slipped from his arm, turned around to face him, and threw her arms tightly around his neck, her dense, brown-black hair mingling with his slender brown hair. They were very close, their cheeks and chests pressed together. Roman was somewhat surprised by her actions, but he also stretched out his hands to embrace her lean and slender waist.

Among her peers, Sanna was considered tall, but next to him, she felt somewhat overshadowed.

"Is it okay for me to do this to you?"

"As long as you don’t break my neck," he replied.

Sanna laughed, her embrace tightening. She remembered the time in the small fishing village when she would open the door for her father returning home at night, bringing with him a gust of salty sea breeze. She used to hug her father’s neck just like this at the doorway, the only way she could encompass the broad-shouldered fisherman, sniffing his sweaty and fishy smell.

Her mother, ever since she was born, the one the villagers called Big Sanna, would sit by the fire, diligently mending ripped sails and fishing nets.

The fire burned bright, the cold wind howled outside, and the waves surged as the house creaked.

Back then, little Sanna always worried the roof would blow away or the house would collapse, but she no longer had to worry about that.

The manor was firm and spacious, the once coveted barley porridge was now the most basic food.

All her desires were fulfilled, Cinderella had become Snow White.

She went to kiss his cheek, but this time, she tasted not the scent of salt and fish but resilient, soft skin, unkept yet never weathered by the sea.

Suddenly, Sanna wanted to cry, not because of receiving gifts, but due to unbidden emotions that surged up. She thought she had forgotten, but she hadn’t; she just couldn’t consider more when she didn’t feel secure.

She suddenly no longer hated Kao, or perhaps she didn’t hate his actions as much as she did before, but understood him more.

They quietly embraced for a moment until Gwivelle tugged at Roman’s sleeve.

Witch of Calamity spoke a bit sulkily, "Roman, I want one too."

Roman, with a smile, set Sanna down and then picked up Gwivelle, bringing a satisfied look to her face.

"Can I go out to play with Sanna?" she asked.

"Only if you pass your assignments."

"Okay!" Gwivelle wriggled out of Roman’s embrace and landed on her feet.

She felt doubly joyous because from today, she was no longer alone, no longer the only witch here.

Sanna was not just her friend, but also her kin, her sister—as Mrs. Shasta had referred to her last year.

Only witches living together are not outcasts.

Once Gwivelle landed, Sanna, heedless of the bandage still wrapped around her ankle, grabbed her hand, and the two girls ran out the door, their steps light and breezy, like two butterflies dancing, the only inconsistency being their thick winter clothes.

Roman sat in his chair, his gaze tender as he watched their figures disappear from view.

"Master, what will happen to Sanna?" Kao asked, always using this title to show his respect.

"Her potential is boundless," Roman rose to his feet. "Kao, her future achievements might surpass yours because you are too easily killed."

Kao lay in bed, his sword wounds aching faintly as he watched Roman leave, pondering over those words. A cold smile played across his normally stern face, like a weight had been lifted.

"Pirate leader, ’Bone Breaker,’ Jon..."

He quietly recited the name of his nemesis, his eyes darkening ominously, bloodlust swirling within, his veins bulging in his arms, nails digging into his flesh.