Chapter 33: How a Mercenary Solves a Night Mission (1)
The atmosphere in Duke Julius’s castle had always been quiet—but now, there was an odd mix of tension and energy in the air.
The tension came from the rats who had been kicked out of their hiding places. The energy came from the new staff who had taken their place.
Among them, the most devastated was Phinette, who packed her things slowly and bitterly.
“Hurry up. I’ve got a lot to do,” said Aileen.
Phinette shot a glare at her. Behind Aileen stood Jane, who grinned while casually massaging her own shoulders. Phinette found both of them infuriating.
“Hah! Look at you, acting all high and mighty. Who even knows where you came from?”
“I don’t have time to argue with someone who played games inside the castle. I’m too busy cleaning up your mess.”
Phinette stared at the thick stack of ledgers Aileen and Jane held. Her words dried up. Holding back tears, she shoved her belongings into her trunk and stormed out of the room.
“Heh. I knew she’d react like that.”
“The new head maid seems really kind, doesn’t she? Not like someone else who used to scare and boss us around.”
“She got exactly what she deserved.”
Even as the others whispered behind her, Phinette couldn’t lift her head. She felt completely hopeless.
She had lost everything in a single day. And at her age, leaving without even a letter of recommendation meant the only job she could find would be cleaning at a rundown inn.
She had mouths to feed too, and that kind of tiny salary wouldn’t be enough.
Most of all, she couldn’t accept that someone like her, who once served noblewomen, was about to live such a miserable life.
So, in desperation, she ran to Confe’s room.
“Head Steward!”
She banged on the thick door until it opened. Confe frowned the moment he saw her.
“What is it?”
“I need your help.”
“Come in, then.”
Confe glanced around the hall to check that no one was watching, then opened the door. Phinette rushed in like it was heaven itself and looked up at him with teary eyes.
But Confe didn’t look the least bit sympathetic.
“You have ties with the Renzier family, don’t you?”
“…Why are you asking that?”
Confe smiled and stepped toward her. Phinette shivered instinctively—but desperation was stronger than fear.
“Please, speak to the Count for me! At least get me a letter of recommendation—anything to help me go back.”
“And why would I do that?”
Cold. Heartless. His reply made Phinette’s face turn red with frustration. Now, instead of begging, she switched to threatening.
“You and I are in the same boat, aren’t we? What if I tell her everything? Do you think you’d be safe then? You even skipped the morning roll call for a reason!”
Confe blinked—very slowly. Phinette didn’t know it was the first time he’d blinked since the conversation started.
“Hmph. I was out on an errand for the Duke, that’s all. My records are clean, and I wasn’t recommended by the Count.”
“So you’re saying you’re innocent?”
Phinette knew he had come from Renzier territory like her. Even if his paperwork looked perfect, that fact couldn’t be denied.
But at her bluff, Confe only looked down at her big trunk and smiled kindly.
“Well, I’ll send a letter to the Count for you. Just for old time’s sake. But you should really leave before sunset.”
“T-thank you! Thank you so much!”
“So hurry. Who knows what else might happen if you stay here any longer. The letter will reach him soon.”
Phinette bowed over and over, thanking him through tears, and then quickly left with her trunk.
Confe smiled the entire time… until the moment she disappeared.
Then, the smile vanished.
His strange eyes spun in different directions, like a chameleon.
“Anything that gets in the way… must die.”
His eerie voice melted into the room.
That same day, Phinette never made it past the mountains surrounding Valmen. She never reached the other side.
She remained forever at the bottom of a steep cliff—one no one ever looked down.
Two weeks later, after the mass firing, time flew by.
Regina didn’t even notice how quickly days passed. She was too busy interviewing candidates to fill the now-empty staff positions.
Unused rooms were temporarily furnished, and she conducted five or more interviews each day.
Technically, sorting applicants was the job of the head maid and steward. But Regina had insisted on being involved—just in case.
“I’ll take care of the remaining low-level servants,” said Aileen, stepping forward shyly.
She had been just as busy as Regina—organizing new staff and getting the castle fully cleaned. Confe stood beside her.
“Hm…”
But once I start something, I have to finish it myself. That’s the only way it feels right.
Regina was the type to finish any job she took on with her own hands. Gyle often scolded her for overworking.
“I understand your concern, my lady. But I believe I also have a good eye for people.”
After a moment of thought, Regina nodded and stood. Aileen was competent and sincere. And Regina preferred to trust people who truly wanted to work.
“You’re working too hard.”
Regina turned, planning to take a short break in the garden, only to find Valentin waiting for her.
Lately, he seemed to appear outside her room just as she finished working.
Maybe he’s grown a bit more comfortable with me.
It all seemed to start after she gave him the brooch.
“As your employer, I don’t think I should be the one saying that. Were you out?”
Strangely enough, once all the rats were cleared out, Allen happened to develop a medicine that greatly helped Valentin’s seizures.
Thanks to that, Valentin had begun acting more like a proper head of the household—and even left the castle from time to time.
Regina glanced at his cane.
Then why is he still pretending to limp?
As she walked beside him, she glanced at the steady rhythm of the cane tapping on the marble floor.
That day Count Shubel visited—when Valentin ran to choke him—she had seen it.
She might be the only one who knew.
Valentin had sprinted on both legs. No limp.
But Regina didn’t plan to say anything unless he brought it up first. That was her way of respecting her client’s privacy.
He must have a past I can’t imagine.
“You look much better with your hair brushed back.”
More than anything, Regina welcomed his change. Seeing him out and about was better than locked in his room. And with his bangs no longer covering his face, he looked much more open.
The younger maids secretly whispered about how handsome he was now—and it made her smile.
“My lady, Duke.”
Allen spotted them and hurried over. Judging by the timing, the two of them had an appointment.
“He’s arrived at the drawing room.”
“Someone was supposed to visit today?”
At Regina’s question, Allen looked nervous beneath his thick glasses. Of course, she noticed—and waited patiently for Valentin’s answer.
“The Duke’s estate is considering investing in a merchant group. Their leader is visiting today.”
Regina tilted her head, intrigued.
Merchant groups grew stronger the more capital they had. That’s why many nobles invested in them and earned a portion of the profits.
Running a business directly might have been too low for nobles, but investing? That was considered smart and refined.
Usually, one merchant group was backed by a single noble family.
And from what she’d seen, Valentin never showed much interest in things like that. So this was… unexpected.
“You’re interested in merchant investments?”
“Want to join me for the meeting?”
Allen looked shocked by the offer—but that only made Regina more curious about who this merchant might be.
“Sure, I’ll come.”
* * *
Two weeks earlier, Regina had destroyed the first drawing room with her own hands—so the repairs still weren’t finished. That’s why she, Valentin, and Allen headed to the second drawing room next to it.
The moment they stepped inside, Regina understood why Allen had looked nervous earlier.
The merchant waiting for Valentin had a very unusual appearance: dark skin, slightly shorter than average, ash-gray hair that looked like it had been dusted with volcanic soot, and ears that were just a little more pointed than normal. For someone seeing him for the first time, he would definitely stand out.
As soon as the merchant, Whale, saw Regina, he quickly pulled his robe over his head to hide his hair and ears.
Do I look like the type who would judge someone based on their race?
Regina now understood Allen’s earlier discomfort—but she still felt a little offended. Without saying a word, she followed Valentin to the sofa across from Whale.
“My lady, allow me to introduce you. This is Whale, the head of the Harne merchant group.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Regina intentionally raised her voice a bit to sound extra cheerful as she greeted him, but Whale only gave her a small nod in return.
“You must be tired from traveling during the day. Would you like some warm tea to help with the fatigue?”
