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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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The long shadows stretching from the eaves gradually disappeared as dusk settled over the sky.
Andrei locked the guild doors and headed to his office, Fiore trailing behind him with a sullen expression.
“You said Father asked you? Why?”
When Allen had requested to entrust Anya to him, Andrei had countered by requesting Fiore. There were several reasons for this.
“Didn’t you say the guild environment was uncomfortable?”
Fiore glared out the window, her gaze fixed on the now-absent Allen.
“Did that brat snitch on me?”
“Don’t misunderstand. Your voice carries; I could hear you even from outside. Anyway, the Tolbatz manor has a knight’s training ground. It’s comparable to ours.”
“I’m not going.”
Fiore was adamant. She quickly continued,
“Even if it’s on par with the swordsmanship guild, there’s no Father to ask for guidance, no comrades to spar with. And how am I supposed to face Allen every morning? The thought alone is dreadful!”
“And who was it that waited by the front gate every day for Allen?”
Fiore had waited by the front gate every single day when Allen was absent, dealing with Roland and family matters.
“Th-That was because I was annoyed! Annoyed!”
Andrei gazed at Fiore silently. Fiore flinched and averted her gaze. The silence didn’t last long.
“Did you learn anything from your last spar with Allen?”
Fiore’s lips tightened. She had assumed Allen was slacking off by being repeatedly absent. She had vowed to punish him upon his return, but in the end, she was the one who received a harsh lesson.
Allen had returned drastically improved. If it had been due to talent, she would have simply cursed the unfair world and the gods, but…
‘This feels like a difference in experience.’
Allen had attributed his improvement to experience.
Experience wasn’t something intangible like talent. That was why it was even more shocking for Fiore.
A wry smile touched Andrei’s lips as he observed Fiore’s darkened expression.
“You’re currently a frog in a well.”
“What…!”
“And that’s my fault.”
After witnessing the spar between Fiore and Allen, Andrei realized he had inadvertently imprisoned his daughter.
He had cherished and protected her, but as a result, Fiore had grown like a flower in a greenhouse. Outwardly strong, but inwardly fragile, easily broken.
“Father! What are you talking about?!”
“I constantly preach about the importance of experience, yet I haven’t given you any opportunities to gain it. That’s an undeniable mistake on my part.”
Andrei knew better than anyone the importance of experience. He wouldn’t be where he was today if he hadn’t overcome countless trials and tribulations.
His desire to protect Fiore, his selfish desire to keep her by his side, had stunted her growth.
Andrei regretted it.
Fortunately, it wasn’t too late.
“This will be a chance for me to rectify my mistake and for you to regain your momentum.”
“But you were against me becoming a mercenary!”
“Because mercenaries are untrustworthy. I still feel the same way.”
Fiore retorted incredulously,
“And you think the scoundrel Allen is trustworthy?”
“The current Allen? Yes.”
Allen had undoubtedly changed. His talent remained, and he had fueled it with effort, transforming it into genuine skill. The speed of his growth had surprised even Andrei.
Furthermore, Andrei had discreetly investigated Allen. He had discovered that Allen had systematically eliminated his rivals and taken control of the manor.
He had decided to entrust his daughter to Allen, but he had still thoroughly vetted him, as any father would.
“You know better than anyone that Allen has changed.”
It was Fiore who had insulted Jin, calling her a whore to her face when they first met.
Despite her strong opinions, she had been consistently friendly towards Allen since their reunion. Such behavior would have been impossible if Allen had remained the same scoundrel.
“Still, I don’t want to. It’s like working under him.”
Fiore mumbled, flinching under Andrei’s gaze and pouting slightly.
“A knight must sometimes do things they don’t want to for their lord. This is also for Quaran.”
Fiore, who dreamt of knighthood, couldn’t ignore those words. Her ears perked up, and she turned slightly towards Andrei, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.
He had anticipated it would be effective, but this was beyond his expectations. Andrei suppressed a chuckle and continued,
“The Tolbatz manor is close to Quaran. We inevitably influence each other. A friendly relationship would benefit Quaran. The problem is, the opposite is also true.”
“But we’ve always ignored them, haven’t we?”
Fiore wasn’t foolish. She suspected Andrei was fabricating a reason to persuade her.
“Because there was no cause for conflict. However, the situation has changed, hasn’t it? Dresten has been provoking us. They’re likely trying to compensate for the losses they incurred due to the shift in herring migration. The problem is the relationship between Dresten and Baron Rasino.”
Fiore’s eyes widened as she slapped her palm with her fist.
“Ah, the Baron’s wife’s family…!”
“Exactly. The Dresten Earldom. The current Baron’s wife is the youngest daughter of the current Earl. If the conflict with Dresten escalates, the Tolbatz manor becomes strategically crucial. Its location is perfectly positioned to stab us in the back.”
In the worst-case scenario, Dresten’s fleet could attack the coast while the Baron attacked from the rear. Quaran, caught in a pincer attack, wouldn’t stand a chance. Andrei assessed the situation coldly.
“However, if we can secure Allen’s allegiance, we can launch a counteroffensive.”
Andrei was aware of the strained relationship between Allen and the Baron. Fiore stared at him, dumbfounded.
“Then, the decision to lease the fishing rights to Allen was also…?”
“There’s a reason why we would lease, rather than sell, fishing rights that could become a source of future conflict.”
None of the vassals had initially understood the Lord’s decision. They only understood after Dresten’s provocations intensified and the possibility of leveraging Baron Rasino emerged.
The Lord must have foreseen this. As expected of someone with royal blood. They were truly different.
Gulp.
Fiore swallowed hard as she grasped the implications. Her eyes shone brightly.
“So, this is a mission?”
“A very, very important one. If the fishing rights were to fall into the hands of Earl Dresten, he would use it as an excuse to annex Quaran.”
“And you want me to help Allen so that doesn’t happen?”
Fiore’s excitement quickly faded, replaced by a somber expression. She considered the task too much for her to handle.
Andrei chuckled heartily.
“Do you think I would entrust such a crucial mission to someone who hasn’t even achieved knighthood? Your role is simple. Just stay by Allen’s side. Your presence alone will signal to everyone that Allen and Quaran are closely connected. That alone will be enough to make the Baron wary of Allen.”
This was a mission that required not her swordsmanship, but her status as Andrei’s daughter, a vassal of Quaran. Fiore, who had been gauging Andrei’s reaction, spoke with a darkened expression,
“Isn’t that… using him?”
“Allen is aware of it and has agreed. With his relationship with the Baron deteriorating, he’s likely looking for a new patron. Wouldn’t serving a princess be preferable to a miserly Baron?”
“…”
Fiore remained silent. She realized Andrei was unaware of Allen’s true objective.
Andrei misinterpreted Fiore’s silence.
“Hmm, if you’re truly unwilling, I can’t force you.”
“Wh-What are you going to do?”
“I’ll have to ask another vassal’s daughter. I doubt anyone would accept, though. While we know he’s changed, he’s still seen as a scoundrel by everyone else.”
Andrei inadvertently revealed that what he needed wasn’t a knight, but a woman, but the flustered Fiore didn’t pick up on the subtle difference in wording.
“That wouldn’t be good for Allen either. There’s no other vassal’s daughter as skilled as you. But what can he do? It’s the consequence of his own actions. It’s his karma.”
Andrei, having recovered his composure, stood up. He casually walked out of the office, counting down silently.
‘Three, two…’
He didn’t need to reach one.
“Damn it! Fine, I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”
Andrei released the doorknob and turned around. Fiore was pretending to look at something in the distance.
“Ugh, why does he always make things so difficult for me?”
Andrei chuckled.
‘As expected, it’s a love-hate relationship.’
He recalled Fiore’s behavior, constantly acting as if she couldn’t stand Allen while simultaneously refusing to leave his side.
She seemed to believe she hated Allen, but Andrei saw something more than just hatred. The problem was that she herself wasn’t aware of it, but spending time with him would inevitably reveal the truth.
Allen was the son of a knight who would inherit the manor, and he possessed the talent to surpass Fiore.
His notoriety as a scoundrel overshadowed his merits, but who in this world was truly perfect?
Fiore was a prime example. Few families would be willing to betroth their heir to a woman who wielded a sword. That was probably why she was still unmarried, despite being well past marriageable age.
In that sense, Allen, who supported her, was the abnormal one. In fact, that was what had swayed Andrei’s decision.
‘A proper couple complements each other’s shortcomings.’
Of course, he wouldn’t force her. Fiore’s continued singlehood was a testament to Andrei’s respect for his daughter’s choices.
Andrei defined his role as simply helping Fiore realize her true feelings.
However,
‘Why did he only tell me about that…?’
Ever since she learned of Allen’s ambition to become a Grand Lord, a secret only she knew, Fiore’s heart had been pounding pleasantly. The memory of his rough hand gripping her breast flashed through her mind.
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While the father and daughter were pursuing their respective agendas, I entered the brothel. The brothel, which I hadn’t visited in a while, was more crowded than before. This was likely another effect of the Lord’s ability.
That wasn’t the only change. Jaken, who usually manned the counter, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a new armchair, and Jin was lounging in it, observing the patrons.
It seemed she had taken Jaken’s place in the interim. As expected of the future matriarch of Quaran’s underworld.
“Jin.”
“Oh my, Master Allen? It’s been a while. I thought you’d stopped coming. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Despite her polite words, Jin’s tone was undeniably curt. She reminded me of a sulking Anya.
“I came to see you.”
“Don’t tell me you’re here for my services? Sigh, what am I to do? I’ve actually retired from that line of work. I’m focusing on management now.”
Jin puffed up her chest, feigning regret. Then, after glancing around, she leaned against me, lightly placing her hand on my shoulder. Her sweet breath tickled my ear.
“However, if Master Allen were to ‘request’ it, I might reconsider…”
She had picked up some seductive skills during her time at the brothel.
I was momentarily tempted. I gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. Her ashen skin, ebony hair, and dark, blue-tinged eyes were like pearls from the deep sea.
Jin’s eyes flickered nervously, her seductive demeanor momentarily forgotten. Her eyelids fluttered closed, and her full lips pouted slightly. I gently pushed her forehead with my index finger.
“Am I not to your liking?”
The sweet atmosphere instantly turned frigid. Her half-closed eyes flashed dangerously. It seemed her pride had been wounded by my repeated rejections. I shook my head.
“That’s absurd. I’d love to lock you in my room and keep you all to myself, for my pleasure alone. However, I don’t think it’s the right time.”
Perhaps I had been too blunt. Her ashen skin flushed a delicate pink. She averted her gaze.
“Not the right time…?”
“Neither of us has the leisure to be concerned with romantic pursuits.”
I couldn’t risk indulging her, lest she do something impulsive again. I had learned my lesson.
Once is enough.
Fiore, a mere extra, and Jin, a named character with significant plot relevance, were on completely different levels. I couldn’t interfere with her role before it was time.
However, I wouldn’t have to wait long. If all went according to plan, Jin would soon pay the price for her clumsy seduction.
Jin stepped back, a displeased expression on her face.
“Then, what is the purpose of your visit?”
“I came to ask a favor, or rather, to propose a deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
“My sister will be entering Quaran Castle soon. I would like you to protect her. Would that be possible?”
While Anya would be safe under the Lord of Quaran’s protection, nothing in this world was absolute. I needed someone to watch over her, just in case.
“That depends on the compensation.”
“I’ll assist you with your revenge.”
The moment I finished speaking, Jin’s eyes narrowed dangerously. If it weren’t for our past relationship, she might have drawn her weapon. The atmosphere grew frigid, and her voice turned icy.
“Revenge?”
“If you were only trying to escape pursuit, you would have left from a port city closer to the Eastern Continent. The fact that you’re hiding here suggests you intend to return.”
Jin’s eyes narrowed even further.
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What kind of revenge is it? 🤔
thanks teot!