The next few days were relatively peaceful for Francisco. Spending time with Catalina and staying far away from books was the best rest he could have asked for. The library simply contained too much knowledge—so much that he was already planning to copy a few books to take back home, though he wasn't sure if that was even allowed or if some restriction would stop him.

But during those days of calm, there was one person who managed to ruin the tranquility.

A forceful knock slammed against the door, followed by a sharp female voice:

"Francisco! Come out immediately. Do you understand your position? The Empire is already worried about you, and some news I've just heard from the homeland has made your situation even worse. So get out here and give me an explanation—otherwise I won't be able to explain anything to my superiors!"

Francisco sighed wearily.

"It seems my grandfather departure took away whatever deterrence we had against that woman. I was starting to get used to not hearing her voice."

Catalina chuckled."You should still meet her. Otherwise your father's and grandfather's plans might be ruined if she sends a bad report." She paused, her expression darkening. "After all, even if they can't touch us here, there's nothing stopping them back in New Granada."

Francisco frowned, the weight of her words exhausting him further."Wait for me downstairs. I'll come after changing my clothes."

"Hmph. Just be quick," Inez snapped, footsteps echoing as she marched away.

Once she was gone, Francisco looked at Catalina."What are you going to do while I'm studying tomorrow?"

Catalina let out a resigned breath."Karl seems to have started hiring new recruits already. So I'll probably be busy dealing with their wounds."

Francisco nodded."Take some servants with you. I'll be at the university, so I won't have much use for them."

Catalina smiled sweetly."Are you worried about me, Mr. Francisco Gómez?"

Francisco puffed out his chest and answered in an overly authoritative voice,"Of course I am, Miss Catalina Gómez."

Catalina's eyes lit up. Ever since their small wedding in Mompox, they had spent so much time together discovering Europe that they'd grown used to simply calling each other by their first names. Hearing her new surname aloud was rare—but it made her genuinely happy. It meant they were truly a family.

Overcome with emotion, she suddenly lunged forward and kissed him passionately.

A little breathless, Francisco gently pushed her back, blinking in surprise."W–what was that? That was too sudden— not that I'm complaining— it just… huff… caught me off guard."

Catalina smiled mischievously and opened her mouth to tease him, when a loud shout echoed through the house:

"Young master Francisco! Are you going to make me wait all day!?"

Francisco shrugged helplessly and yelled back while changing clothes,"I'm coming! Just wait a moment!"

Downstairs, Inez paced back and forth, visibly irritated. She shot sharp, disdainful glances at Francisco's servants, making them both scared and angry—but none dared to react. Francisco had warned them she was sent by the Spanish Empire, and that alone was enough for them to keep their heads down.

As Inez was on the verge of losing her composure, footsteps came down the stairs. The moment she spotted Francisco, she marched toward him with a fierce glare.

"Can you explain to me," she demanded, "why there are reports saying you helped the Germans develop stronger steam engines? Do you not understand the strategic significance of that machine for our Empire? If they perfect it, they could suppress everyone—including us!"

Francisco rolled his eyes at the exaggerated panic, walked past her, and sat on a stool.

"A mug of beer, please," he told the woman behind the counter. She smiled and nodded.

Inez, clearly furious, stepped directly in front of him."I want an explanation. And where is your grandfather? And the soldiers he used to keep here?"

Francisco blinked, genuinely surprised she knew about the soldiers. He and his grandfather had worked hard to keep that hidden, but apparently she had still found out.

"I only gave them an idea," he said calmly. "I didn't develop a new steam engine. If they succeed, that's because they have the talent—not because of me. As for my grandfather… I don't know where he is. He's a mercenary now, and since I'm going back to New Granada soon, I can't exactly chase him around to ask where he works."

Inez looked at Francisco with narrowed eyes.Something didn't add up.

The story of his grandfather simply disappearing—a man who had been thrilled to meet his long-lost grandson—was suspicious. But the truth was that the Empire had never ordered her to investigate Krugger. She had never reported him. If she had, the Duke of Lerma would have been the first to suffer the consequences. And since Krugger was German there was no way to investigate him, there was also no evidence he intended anything against Spain.

After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke.

"Can you prepare a report for me? Something I can send to the court? It might help them believe your version of events."

Francisco rolled his eyes.He already knew how it would end—the priests would probably toss it straight into the fire for being heretical mechanical nonsense—but he still nodded.

"Don't worry. I'll write one for you."

Inez exhaled sharply."Thank you. Though I am still very upset with your actions. You must understand that your family is under the Empire's protection. You don't seem to realize that their soldiers could—"

Francisco's expression darkened instantly.

"Are you trying to threaten my family, Miss Inez?"

The cold tone froze the entire tavern.Without hesitation, Francisco drew a pistol from behind his coat and pointed it directly at her. A few people gasped; the rest held their breath, petrified.

"You should remember your position," he said in an icy whisper."You're nothing more than a pawn. What do you think will happen to you if anything happens to my family while I'm here?"

A murmur rippled across the room, but nobody moved.

Inez closed her eyes for a second. Fear flickered on her face—but determination remained.

"For the Empire," she replied quietly, firmly, "I am willing to die, young man. Are you willing to sacrifice your family for your pride?"

Francisco hesitated.He hadn't expected that level of devotion. Inez's loyalty to Spain was absolute—terrifyingly so. It made him reassess the Empire as a whole… and it made him wary. If his father's plan in New Granada truly succeeded, someone like Inez would not hesitate to kill him out of loyalty or vengeance.

He would need countermeasures. Serious ones.

The standoff lasted only a few minutes, but for the onlookers it felt like an eternity. One wrong breath and blood would stain the floor.

Finally, Francisco lowered the pistol with visible frustration.

"Fine. Have it your way," he muttered. "But do not threaten my family again. If anything happens to them—anything at all—I won't stop until Spain is nothing but ruins."

He turned away, walked back to the counter, and downed half the mug the moment it arrived. The bitterness of the drink couldn't compete with the bitterness twisting in his chest as he replayed what had just happened.

Even though Inez tried to maintain a strong front, her legs were trembling.Even for an agent of the Empire, having death stare her in the face was deeply unsettling. She drew a slow, steadying breath, shot Francisco a fierce glare, and walked toward her room.

Under normal circumstances, the stiff, awkward way she moved would have looked almost comical.But after what had just happened, no one dared laugh—not even Francisco's servants, who normally despised her. They could only watch in silence, their expressions a mixture of respect and unease.

After a few moments, Francisco placed a coin on the counter, paid for his drink, and stepped outside.

He needed to be alone.

He walked without direction, unsure how long he'd been wandering. Back in New Granada, he had grown used to facing danger with a weapon in hand—his first instinct was always to draw it.

But this time… this time he had discovered something, though he couldn't yet name it. All he knew was that, for the first time in his life, having a weapon had been useless against the words of another person.

And that frustrated him more than any battlefield.

He didn't know how long he walked like that, lost in thought, until he finally found himself at the camp. It was clearly far emptier than the first time he'd visited. Only a few new recruits were training under Karl and some of the veteran soldiers. Still half-absentminded, Francisco made his way toward the commander tent.

Karl spotted him and ordered his men to continue training while he headed into the tent. Inside, Francisco was staring at a painting of his grandfather—younger, full of vitality, with the expression of a man eager to conquer the world.

Karl stopped behind him and said,"I never knew him when he was young, but I heard he was terrifying. He always fought like a madman, earned Friedrich the Great's respect, even scared some knights who saw him in battle."

Francisco kept his eyes on the painting and spoke quietly,"I envy his courage, you know… his strength, and his ability to do whatever he wanted without fear of the consequences."

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