At the gate

"No," Bactrian shook his head with a small smile. "You are correct," he admitted right away.

"And you are not angry?" Leon asked while putting on a small, cheeky smile on his own.

"Why would I be?" Bactrian leaned his head over his shoulder with a confused expression all over his face. He then glanced over at Sarah, only to see her pouting and desperately trying to hide the fact. "Oh, I see," he said with a small, sympathetic smile before shaking his head. "But no. The only feeling I have towards this kingdom is gratitude."

'Damn,' Leon raised one of his eyebrows only to turn his eyes towards Sarah.

"If you feel gratitude towards this kingdom, then why…" Sarah jumped on the opportunity, eagerly hoping she could find some rhetorical support from the officer.

'He really set her up well,' Leon finished his earlier thought.