If Maria had been asked if she wanted to return to Mercia when she first arrived in Iberia, the answer would undoubtedly have been yes.

But now, things have changed. Maria no longer has that desire.

Not to mention that her identity is fake—though the system guarantees her safety—Maria feels that going back would likely be very dangerous. As a young woman returning alone, she would certainly draw unwanted attention.

Of course, aside from considerations of her safety, there's also the matter of her emotions.

Maria had already agreed to Simon's proposal, so she naturally felt for him. She isn’t the type of woman to shirk responsibility. Since she had...