Sienna gave a small laugh as Lucien apologized for bringing only a handful of seeds. "You're taking this too seriously. I'll have plenty of things to ask of you in the future, so don't worry about it. You've already helped me more than enough."
"Then I'll do my best to find more useful things for you," Lucien promised.
Before Sienna could reply, Searle, who had stepped out of the room earlier, returned carrying a large wooden box. It was about a meter long, half a meter wide, and thirteen centimeters thick. He held it with extraordinary care, keeping his movements slow and steady, as though even the slightest jolt might damage whatever lay inside.
Sienna watched him approach, her curiosity growing. Searle had never handled an ordinary package with such caution.
She glanced at Lucien. "What's in the box? You look as though you've brought something much more important than seeds."
Lucien smiled. "It's a gift I prepared for you. I hope you'll like it."
