~Chapter 12~
More than anything, the Red Hawk Mercenaries were known for their absolute loyalty to their king. They were famously impossible to bribe or sway.
It was said that even they had followed the Mercenary King into the Valencia estate.
“……”
Rachel deliberately chose not to recall the faces that used to stand behind him in her previous life.
Soon, her carriage reached the outer walls and stopped before a tall wooden palisade. There was no sign or plaque, only a single unfamiliar mercenary standing at the entrance. Sir Hoffman drove the carriage forward.
“There should be an appointment.”
“Ah, yes.”
The mercenary checked the emblem on the carriage and opened the gate.
“Please, go ahead.”
Sir Hoffman remained calm, but Rachel could sense the tension—or perhaps excitement—from the other knights.
Well, it was only natural. This was the home base of one of the three swordmasters in the empire.
It was Rachel’s first time visiting the Red Hawk Mercenaries’ headquarters.
“……”
Leaning her chin in her hand, she watched the scenery unfold. Contrary to the intimidating walls, the inside was unexpectedly simple.
A wide open yard, with every kind of weapon hanging on racks along one wall.
Beyond that, instead of a garden, there was a field planted with mysterious crops.
At the far end, she finally glimpsed a proper three-story building—it must be where the mercenaries lived.
The carriage halted in front of the building, where several people were waiting.
Soon, the door opened.
“My lady.”
“……”
Sir Hoffman held out his hand. Rachel took a deep breath and accepted it.
She had already spotted him through the window, so her movements were unhesitant.
Tap—
She stepped down from the carriage and looked up.
The man before her was tall—so tall she had to crane her neck to meet his gaze. He still looked as free and unruly as he had in their last encounter before her regression.
Disheveled black hair. Slightly sharp, blood-colored eyes.
‘…He looks a bit haggard.’
She thought so for a moment, but it wasn’t something she needed to worry about. As their eyes met briefly, the man lowered his head.
“Welcome, Lady Ingrave. Thank you for accepting my sudden invitation.”
“Not at all. In fact, I am honored to have been invited by the Mercenary King.”
The words came out smoothly, more than she expected. When he stepped aside, the mercenaries behind him parted to either side.
“Please, come in. We’ve prepared refreshments.”
“…Thank you.”
Being near this man would take some mental preparation, but Rachel kept her composure and followed him.
The Mercenary King led her to a reception room on the second floor.
It was small, with clear glass windows.
A luxurious sofa and a wooden table in the center—clearly a space for meeting noble clients. At the entrance, Rachel turned to Becky and the knights.
“Wait here. You too, Becky.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“……”
Sir Hoffman, silent for a moment, stood by the wall with the other knights. The meaning was clear.
Nathan gave a nod to his subordinates, who also moved to the opposite wall.
With his hand still on the doorknob, Nathan looked at Rachel.
“Please, go in.”
“…Thank you.”
She entered, and the door shut with a soft click. Rachel flinched for a moment but soon crossed to the sofa and sat down as if nothing had happened.
The man fetched the refreshments from a table against the wall—dainty snacks that looked oddly out of place.
“It seems they still don’t know.”
“…?”
The sudden voice made her tense.
‘Still better than Valencia.’
Comparing the two, Rachel forced herself to maintain her expression. She had a reason for coming today.
“My maid might have some idea, but as for the Marquess’s house, I’m the only one who knows.”
“I see.”
“What did you want to talk about? I heard you haven’t accepted the Valencia name yet.”
“….”
He slid a steaming teacup her way.
“I heard everything from the Duke. He said you uncovered the truth while investigating your fiancé, and in the process discovered my existence—”
With a quiet thud, he placed a thick file on the table.
“In fact, exposing that man as a fraud would’ve been enough to break the engagement. I still don’t know why you revealed my existence, too.”
“….”
“And even after all that investigating, you hardly asked for anything. Is all you want really just compensation for the broken engagement, for your parents not to use you to get close to Valencia, and to see that man one last time once the verdict is decided?”
In other words, he found her motives difficult to understand.
Rachel simply hadn’t wanted to get deeply entangled with Valencia.
To an outsider, her requests might have seemed surprisingly modest—even inscrutable.
“Is it that hard to answer?”
In that instant, his eyes flashed like red crystals.
“…No.”
Rachel quietly let out a breath. It didn’t seem to be anything serious.
She raised her head and met his eyes, managing her expression despite her discomfort.
“In truth, matters concerning the Mercenary King never factored into my plans. I just wanted to dissolve the engagement as quickly as possible. I figured, if it became known there was a true successor, Valencia would move more decisively.”
“For someone with no interest, you gathered an extraordinary amount of evidence.”
“There kept being more and more to find. Honestly, it was frightening. That’s why I wanted distance from Valencia. Being caught up with a ducal house means facing dangers like these… I started to think maybe marrying into a less powerful count’s family would be safer. Though my parents may see things differently.”
Rachel purposely lowered her gaze. He would probably remember that single request she’d made:
It would be best if my parents couldn’t use me to cozy up to Valencia either.
“You know the favor I asked of the Duke. That’s why I made that request—my parents might try to keep tying me to Valencia.”
“……”
“In any case, I want nothing more. You don’t have to worry about me.”
She finished with a smile, hoping to seem as harmless as possible.
Was that good enough?
For a split second, Nathan’s hand hesitated. Yet his gaze remained fixed on her, troubled.
“Then why did you say you wanted to see that man—no, that person—one more time?”
“I have questions for him.”
She answered without thinking.
Yes, she wanted to ask Paris. According to the records, Paris had known the truth about her birth since she was fourteen.
He must have known it would come out eventually—so why?
“I think I have the right to ask him. Why he did it.”
Maybe she needed closure. Rachel, too, had been confined until her sentencing.
Paris had fled, but was executed as soon as he was caught. That failed sealing ritual was the last time she’d seen him.
“….”
Rachel clasped her hands together. Her fingers, cold as ice, trembled. Sensing this, Nathan poured out the cold tea and pushed a freshly warmed cup her way.
Their eyes met.
“Does that answer your question?”
As she wrapped her hands around the cup, she saw Nathan slowly nod.
“Yes. That’s more than enough.”
In that moment, Rachel knew—his doubts were resolved.
And somehow, she felt that soon, this man would accept his place in the Valencia family. Rachel smiled faintly.
“I’m glad. Maybe now I can finally get my engagement broken off.”
Nathan, who’d been staring at her, belatedly let his expression harden.
