Keeping those around her happy leaves her balancing the honour of an adopted family with the duty of paying a debt by whatever means.

Lilia has been working for the Zel family for half a year, and she has enjoyed being the administrator of the design clan. When the clan is called upon to participate in an ancient ritual and the only clan member who is eligible is pregnant, Lilia has to step into the breach to run and hide for three days in order to retain the rights over thousands of acres of land.

The Almoss family has tried everything to get the Zels out of the competition, but finally, it comes down to calling up their eldest son from duty as a forest ranger half a world away and offering him a place with them once again.

When Lilia and Xeric collide, they are each looking out for their own interests, but when he offers her an option, she might be willing to oblige.