Chapter 65: How a Mercenary Deals with a Royal Messenger (1)
Since an important man was waiting at the palace, the duke and duchess had to arrive together in a carriage. A grand carriage would draw attention the moment they entered the busy capital—so yes, that was the right choice.
But Regina noticed something strange. Thomas seemed… nervous. His stiff voice proved it.
“I’ll go to Balmen alone. Regina, you should stay here for a little longer.”
This order caught her by surprise.
“Why?”
“The decree is for me as head of the house. There’s no need for you to rush.”
“That’s not the real reason, is it?”
Her sharp gaze made Valentin pause. She was demanding the truth, and lies would not be forgiven.
Thomas fidgeted, his boots thumping on the floor.
“…He was a war hero twenty years ago. My childhood sword master. And now, captain of the imperial knights.”
The silence that followed explained everything. At once, Regina understood why Thomas was restless.
If the captain of the imperial guard himself was here to deliver the decree, then it was no small matter.
But then—why try to send her away?
“Was he really your master?”
Anyone who touched a sword knew how heavy that title was. A sword master was like a second parent.
“For a short time, before my legs became useless. He was only a brief teacher.”
“Then… is Valentin pretending to be crippled just to prove he cannot use a sword?”
His limp was flawless. Even among Persona’s mercenaries, no one had noticed.
“So he risked his life to keep up the act.”
From his reaction, one thing was clear.
“…That marquess is your enemy.”
“Yes. My enemy. Not yours.”
He tapped his cane against the floor. Not just an answer—it was like drawing a line between them.
Again. Just like with Count Renziere. But this time, stronger.
That invisible line bothered Regina. As a mercenary hired to protect him, she could not ignore it.
If he tried to shield her just because his enemy was too powerful, she would not accept it. It insulted her pride.
“Then why not use me? Isn’t that why you hired me?”
“He’s no rat to hunt down. I’ve handled enough already. You just do your job.”
Valentin placed a hand on Thomas’s shoulder with a sly smile—like offering Regina an excuse not to push further.
But Thomas stiffened. His lord’s hand made his skin crawl.
Regina frowned, and the air in the room grew heavier. Shanro, today’s servant, nearly fled while bringing in tea.
“…I brought tea, but the mood feels strange.”
“Then come back later,” Valentin said gently.
Me? Was that aimed at me? Shanro almost left. If not for the duke’s oddly tender tone, he would have.
“But I can’t stay still when the one I’m guarding feels threatened,” Regina pressed.
Shanro rolled his eyes, trying to catch up. He didn’t know the full story, but he saw Regina stubbornly opposing her client.
“Regina, the client’s order comes first. You know that’s our rule.”
He wasn’t siding with Valentin—but Persona’s rules mattered. And more than half those rules had been written by Regina herself. She couldn’t break them now.
“Then, my lord, if you go without her, you’ll bear the responsibility yourself.”
Shanro’s words settled the matter.
“…Fine. I’ll leave tomorrow morning.”
Regina offered the compromise. Valentin agreed without protest, though her expression stayed clouded.
“Let’s go,” Thomas urged.
“Hm. The more I see him, the less he matches the rumors.”
After they left, Shanro slumped into a chair and poured himself tea. Maybe he just wanted something warm, not to waste what he brought. He even filled Regina’s cup too.
“What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t seem like a crazy prince. More like a broken kid.”
Regina pushed the cup away with her finger. She wasn’t in the mood, and besides, Shanro’s tea always tasted terrible.
“Think about it. Kids abandoned by the world never trust anyone. They become overly defensive, a little dark.”
Even though Shanro often cheated at cards and lured mercenaries into his games, he always lost against Valentin.
Valentin’s nature was like a predator—pretending to go along but always finding a weakness, always biting down without mercy.
“That’s why he feels… sick, obsessive. And our lady is weak against those kinds of people.”
“I’m not.”
“Please. Look at the mercenaries you’ve taken in. Most of them are exactly that. That’s why they cling to you.”
Building Persona had been a long, difficult road. Countless ties had formed, and at the center was always Regina Lofman.
“…Want this tea or not?”
“No. Tastes bad.”
“Same here,” Shanro muttered, draining both cups.
“If you died, half the mercenaries would abandon the front lines and run here. Maybe all of them. You’ve got more power than a princess of some kingdom.”
Then he grinned slyly.
“So tell me honestly. You’ve started to pity the prince, haven’t you?”
“…Yes. Being near him… he seems pitiful.”
Shanro clapped, unsurprised. He’d seen it when she resisted the order earlier.
“It’s only natural. Anyone wants to help someone weak. And if it’s your client, even more so.”
“…So he’s on my mind?”
Clap. Shanro grinned again.
“Exactly. And admit it—it feels better now, right? You take after your father. He was the same.”
“True. My father and I both meddle too much.”
She won’t listen even if I warn her, Shanro thought.
Some people had walls so thick that once you stepped inside, neither leaving nor escaping was easy. And such people often trapped others inside with them.
The duke was one of those.
And Regina—she was the type who broke through such walls without realizing. That’s why people gave her their hearts.
She doesn’t even know it herself.
But because Regina was strong, Shanro didn’t worry too much.
“…Then I should expose what he’s really hiding.”
That was Gyle’s voice. He had slipped into the room without notice, as usual. Both of them turned to him.
“Expose?”
“Personas rule. If a request hides ulterior motives that threaten trust or safety, the contract can be broken.”
“…So you think Valentin has another goal behind this request?”
Regina frowned. She didn’t fully understand his meaning.
“That’s what I’ll find out.”
No, Valentin wasn’t insane. At least not enough to be thrown out of the palace like the rumors said. He was hiding something.
Right now, he was just a man pretending to be mad.
Shanro refilled his cup. This was getting interesting—and tea, even bad tea, was better with it.
