Episode 57

My mouth felt as if it were glued shut, refusing to open properly.

“…….”

I wondered if I had misheard just now.

Engagement?

‘Between Chris and me?’

Something buzzed around my ears like a bee, filling my mind with noise.

I swallowed, trying to push that buzzing away, but my expression kept slipping.

“Your Grace, I…”

Chris, who had been watching my expression carefully, spoke up, his gaze never leaving mine.

“If you dislike the idea, I won’t force it.”

His clear, deep eyes stared at me, their meaning unreadable.

Somehow, my heart pounded with an unsettling force.

Chris’s lips parted slowly.

“You said you would cooperate with me.”

“…I did.”

“And in that process, I don’t want you to be defamed or suffer losses.”

“So, you want to get engaged to me for that reason?”

“That’s part of it…”

Chris paused, hesitating over his words.

The silence stretched in a strangely meaningful way. I had the absurd notion that he might be feeling shy.

Unspoken words danced on the edge of my lips.

‘If you put it that way, I might misunderstand.’

…Would it be okay to misunderstand?

I couldn’t bring myself to ask, so I lowered my head, avoiding his gaze.

Finally, Chris answered in a calm voice.

“That way, you won’t have to bear any unnecessary stigma.”

“I see.”

“It’s perfectly natural for a fiancée to visit her fiancé’s residence.”

“…….”

“If it’s known that I initiated the proposal, things would go more smoothly.”

I felt a jolt of surprise. I had the impulse to ask Chris the question he so often asked me.

‘Why go to such lengths?’

Why would you go so far for me?

But even before I opened my mouth, I already knew the answer. It was simply who Chris was.

He doesn’t cast aside those who have taken his hand, and he treats those under his protection with utmost respect.

And since I had taken his hand, it was only natural that I fell under that rule.

‘Even so…’

It was no small matter for the Grand Duke of Elzerian to propose to a lady of the Reinhardt family.

‘It may be acceptable here in the capital, but in the North…’

That was precisely why we had kept our relationship limited to a pretense of romance.

In the North, the name Reinhardt was enough to provoke strong resentment.

‘Even just pretending to be in a romantic relationship with me already puts Chris at some risk.’

And that wasn’t all.

Until now, it had seemed as if I was the one approaching him, so any gossip could be dismissed as mere speculation.

A woman without pride, chasing even a man from an enemy family if his status was high enough.

But now that Chris was reciprocating, things were changing.

I had already overheard a few young ladies whispering that Chris might have feelings for me, too.

‘Goodness, but she’s from an enemy family, isn’t she?’

‘That’s what makes it romantic.’

‘But won’t people in the North disapprove?’

‘Love is meant to blind people, after all.’

I tried to let the rumors go in one ear and out the other, though I couldn’t shake a certain uneasiness. If Chris were to propose an engagement to me under these circumstances…

‘It would be hard to avoid a storm of backlash from the North.’

There’s no way he doesn’t realize that.

Even knowing this, the fact that he wants me close must mean his desire to bring down the Duke’s family is that strong.

Still… an engagement?

‘Why?’

If it were just an alliance, then… this is…

A surge of hope bubbled up within me, and my thoughts spiraled wildly.

Snap!

I flinched. Chris had snapped his fingers to get my attention, and he spoke calmly.

“You don’t need to worry too much.”

“Your Grace…”

“Just decide whether you like it or not. That’s all I ask.”

My mouth went dry.

Before I could answer, the carriage slowly came to a stop, and I heard the coachman’s voice.

“We’ve arrived.”

I looked toward the carriage door, almost as if I’d been saved.

Chris seemed to notice, and he opened the door first, then reached out his hand.

“Oh.”

Instead of taking my hand, he lightly held my waist, helping me down.

A warmth moved slowly up my throat.

“I’ll be nearby.”

The coachman spoke, steering the carriage away. There wasn’t much space here to leave it parked.

Nearby, noise poured out of a tavern, the sounds of people gathering and drinking loudly in the middle of the day echoing even outside.

Without hesitation, I opened the door to the old tavern and stepped inside.

“Mindia.”

Before Chris could stop me, I walked toward the bar.

Chris followed slowly behind me. Even without holding a weapon, there was something in his aura that drew glances from some of the tavern patrons, momentarily silencing their chatter.

“Pour that guy another one!”

“Stop cheating, you rat!”

The tavern was rowdy, with people banging their fists on tables and shouting.

When I reached the bar, the bartender gave me a skeptical look.

“…You don’t seem like the type to belong here.”

“So, do you turn away customers here?”

“The drinks here are strong.”

“No, I don’t need a drink.”

“If you’re not drinking, then why are you here? Hm?”

Just as the bartender leaned in and reached for my hood, Chris struck his hand away, standing calmly at my side. He spoke without hesitation.

“I’ll order. Bring us the fermented drink from the apple barrel.”

“…….”

The room grew quiet. I added to Chris’s words.

“Put it on his tab. We won’t be paying for it.”

“Who on earth are you…?”

“Move aside, Dominic.”

A woman who looked like the head cook stepped out from the back. She was sturdy, with an apron casually slung over her, showing a robust build beneath.

She pushed the bartender aside and placed two glasses on the bar, looking straight at me.

“You want something, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“If it’s blood payment you’re after, I’ll have those bastards’ heads hung up for you.”

“There’s no need for that, Captain Marshall of the Blue Wolf Mercenary Guild.”

At the mention of her name, Marshall’s brow twitched. The others watching us shifted uncomfortably.

“So, you came here knowing this was the headquarters.”

“I’m the one who’s surprised. How did you know I’d come?”

“Nobles are always like this. If you mess with them, someone always comes sniffing around.”

Marshall let out a deep sigh.

“Especially since those idiots handled things so recklessly that we couldn’t ignore it.”

“Hm.”

“We’ve already captured two of them. If you want, I’ll hand them over to you.”

I nodded at her words.

“Yes. Seems like there’s been some division within your group.”

“I appreciate you noticing. Some of them don’t like following a female leader, even when they can’t match my strength.”

“I understand.”

“We didn’t accept this job in our guild’s name, you know. Those fools took it on themselves.”

“But surely you don’t expect to avoid responsibility entirely?”

The mercenaries’ eyes turned sharp, and they glared at me. Marshall smirked.

“Are the heads of those two not enough?”

“What would you think, Captain Marshall?”

“If it were me, I’d chase down whoever aimed for my head and tear them apart.”

“Same here.”

“But it was the Duke’s men who targeted you. Do you really want to go after your own family?”

“If they come after me first.”

Marshall paused, then tapped the rim of her glass, eyeing me.

“You’re different from the rumors, Lady Reinhardt.”

“I hear that often.”

I finished speaking and looked at her. She smiled slightly at my gaze.

“So, what do you want?”

“Testimony and evidence. A document from your mercenary guild stating that Sethril Reinhardt ordered the assassination of Mindia Reinhardt. Oh, and if you have any records of other contracts Seth made, that would be even better.”

“Assassination might be too strong a word. He didn’t use that term on the document.”

It seemed Seth had thought things through. But I wasn’t deterred.

“I’m sure you have Sethril Reinhardt’s signature. In cases like this, real names are usually used so neither party can back out.”

“Is that so?”

“All I need is proof that he incited violence.”

Marshall spoke with a dismissive expression.

“If we provide that, it’s essentially the end of our guild. Nobles may do as they please, but we can’t deny that we took action.”

“You’ll be in trouble regardless. Do you really think the Duke will leave your guild alone after you got involved with Seth? They’ll likely take action to remove any loose ends.”

“Isn’t that a bit much?”

“If not, you wouldn’t all be gathered here in broad daylight, as if preparing for an attack.”

Marshall’s icy blue eyes fixed on me. I spoke again.

“You don’t have many options.”

“And if we don’t want to?”

“If you’d rather fight to the death, I won’t stop you. But if you take my side, I might give you what you want.”

“A pampered noble lady claiming to know what warriors want.”

Marshall’s mouth twisted in a smirk as she looked away.

“Very well, then. Grand Duke Elzerian.”

Marshall turned to Chris, acknowledging him formally, as if she had known his identity all along. Chris and I exchanged a quick glance.

Marshall spoke as though she’d been waiting for this.

“Bring us into the Northern army’s ranks.”