He spoke in a casual, even amiable tone, and Grace Miller's wary gaze finally softened a little. Her reaction was perfectly normal—though she had just escaped the tiger’s den, she had now entered the wolf’s lair. As a weak woman, there was truly little she could do.

There was no answer from Grace Miller, but her stomach let out a loud growl. Adam Carter chuckled, stood up, pushed open the door, and walked down the mountain.

Section Five: Exchange

Grace Miller was anxious, originally thinking that the first thing Adam Carter would do upon entering was to impatiently take her.

She knew her fate was already sealed, but hadn’t expected Adam Carter to show no urgency for such things, and instead to leave the room. Although this made her even more uneasy, she was able to set her worries aside for the moment.

Unable to resist, she pushed open the window and looked out. Grace Miller's gaze had grown much gentler. Although this man didn’t look like a good person, at least he still seemed like a man.

Closing the window and sitting down, Grace Miller took out half a piece of jade from her bosom, staring at it blankly. As she closed her eyes, pearl-like tears slid down her jade-white cheeks.

When she opened her eyes again, her face was already set with determination. She murmured to herself, “No matter what, I must escape from here.”

She didn’t have to wait long before the door sounded and Adam Carter pushed it open and walked in again.

Grace Miller hurriedly hid the half piece of jade. Adam Carter strolled in, carrying a basket in his hand, and smiled, “Looks like we’re in luck—there’s still food in the kitchen down the mountain.”

Adam Carter reached out and lifted the cloth covering the basket. A delicious aroma wafted out, and Grace Miller momentarily forgot about escaping, her appetite instantly awakened.

The food in the mountain stronghold actually looked quite good.

She had been tossed about all day, escaping the tiger’s den only to fall into the wolf’s lair, and hadn’t had a single bite to eat—she was already starving. After being snatched away to the stronghold, she didn’t dare leave the room, and could only anxiously await her unpredictable fate. Everyone she saw had a different face but the same ferocity. Only the man before her gave her a slight sense of reassurance.

Yet, remembering his earlier display of bravery—rushing in on horseback, bow drawn—Grace Miller never would have imagined that, without his bow and arrows, he would seem so gentle and scholarly.

Adam Carter drew a short knife from his boot, took out a roasted wild boar’s foreleg from the basket—still steaming, with a rich aroma.

He sliced off a piece of meat and handed it to Grace Miller, then took out a small dish of salt from the basket and passed it to her as well. “Dip it in salt—it tastes better.”

Grace Miller was a little moved. She had always encountered men who were rough and loud; someone as attentive and considerate as Adam Carter was rare. She accepted the salt dish and the meat, took a few bites, and found it delicious, the flavor lingering in her mouth. Grace Miller was truly famished, and in no time, the piece of meat was gone.

Before she could ask, Adam Carter had already sliced off another piece and handed it over. “Take your time, there’s no rush.”

A warmth rose in Grace Miller's heart, and she suddenly remembered something. “I still don’t know your name, sir.”

“Sir?” Adam Carter was taken aback. “They all call me Adam Carter, or Young Master.”

“Adam Carter?” Grace Miller didn’t understand the meaning behind the name, and murmured it a few times, quietly eating her meat.

The two sat in silence. Adam Carter gazed at Grace Miller's profile, finding her beauty breathtaking, a feast for the eyes, and so he didn’t eat much himself.

After eating two pieces of meat, Grace Miller declined Adam Carter's further offer, and simply sat on the mat on the floor nearby. When Adam Carter finished eating, she took the initiative to tidy up the leftovers.

Adam Carter thought to himself that ancient women seemed much more diligent than those of his own time. After Grace Miller finished cleaning up the dishes, she saw Adam Carter take off his boots, and her heart trembled. She got up, fetched a basin of water, placed it at Adam Carter's feet, bent down, and said softly, “Young Master, you’ve had a long day. Let me serve you and help you wash.”

Adam Carter was a bit unaccustomed to this. Of course, he’d had foot baths before, but having such a beautiful woman wash his feet made him feel almost overwhelmed by the honor.

Though life in ancient times was inconvenient, it certainly had its perks, Adam Carter thought with a sigh. In the past, he’d always been busy, rushing about, never imagining there could be such peaceful moments in life.

Soaking his feet in the water was already a pleasure, but when Grace Miller gently extended her jade-like arms and carefully began to wash his feet, Adam Carter felt so comfortable he nearly swooned.

Adam Carter didn’t know if all women of this era were like this, but he found her delicate hands soft and smooth against his feet, full of tenderness. Though there was no massage to speak of, it was still an indescribable delight.

A faint feminine fragrance drifted to his nose. Adam Carter let out a gentle sigh, feeling that if life could always be like this, he would have nothing more to ask for. Then he thought he was being a bit unambitious, so he shook his head and opened his eyes—only to see two drops of water fall into the basin, sending out ripples unnoticed by anyone.

Adam Carter's heart trembled, realizing those were Grace Miller's tears. He didn’t understand why she was crying—if she felt wronged, why would she take the initiative to wash a man’s feet?

When Grace Miller finally looked up, her face was already dry. She went out to pour away the water, then returned and lowered her voice, “Master Xiao, shall we rest?”

Adam Carter had never expected things between them to progress so quickly. In his mind, Grace Miller would mostly resist, or at best be half-willing, half-reluctant. He hadn’t expected that ancient women could be so direct, open, and straightforward.

“So, shall we rest?” Adam Carter actually hesitated.