IGCHPM 32

CHAPTER 32…..

Inside the carriage sat a man wearing a mask.

His eyes, magically changed to an ordinary brown, were staring straight at me. It was fascinating how, despite the color change, the intensity of his gaze remained the same.

Even the shape of his pupils had changed—how amazing.

His hair was black too, probably not dyed since he would have to switch frequently between blond and black; it must be some kind of magic.

I stepped into the carriage and closed the door behind me, speaking cheerfully.

“Thank you for accepting the request, Mercenary King Gerald.”

“……”

Even with the mask on, I could clearly see his expression darken.

That’s right. The conversation between me and Arpad earlier when we left the office wasn’t just about emphasizing how well we got along.

Rather, that was close to the main point. I whispered quietly in his ear.

“Mercenary King Gerald. It’s a request.”

Then Arpad, just as I wanted, disguised himself as Gerald so no one would know, and waited patiently in the carriage.

Arpad sighed deeply and spoke coldly.

“I am a little disappointed in you.”

That was a reaction I expected.

I sat opposite him calmly, clasping my hands together, and asked.

“Why disappointed? Oh, but did you know? Disappointment can also lead to expectation. I wonder what you expected so much from me?”

“……”

“Won’t you tell me? If you tell me what you expected, I can do my best to meet it.”

Arpad turned his head and fell silent.

I smiled slyly and pointed out before he could stubbornly hold onto his disappointment.

“Was it so disappointing that I couldn’t handle even one family matter alone and had to ask His Highness the Crown Prince for help?”

“You’re not unaware.”

He shrugged.

“That’s just too obvious. And you’re not just testing me with one or two things either.”

It was similar to how the Emperor treated both of us.

They didn’t get along, but they were father and son with so many similarities.

There was no need to mention the way he monitored how I treated the maid he assigned.

He probably observed every little action of mine.

What kind of person I was, whether I was worth the price he had paid, and so on.

But then, in such an important matter, I had simply said, “Help me!”

No wonder he was disappointed.

‘Of course, I can’t just let you be disappointed. Who do you think you are, being disappointed without asking me!’

I smiled broadly and opened my mouth.

“By the way, the Black Mercenary Corps must have moved as well, right?”

The Black Mercenary Corps was the name of the mercenary group led by Gerald.

“Since I called you the Mercenary King Gerald, I issued a standby order near Delpinzer.”

“Well done. Good boy.”

I stroked Arpad’s head—or rather, the head of Mercenary King Gerald.

He scrunched his face even more and dodged my hand.

He was like a difficult cat.

“I will reply that there is no need to be disappointed with me, Crown Prince Arpad.”

“In what way?”

“Well, I didn’t ask the Crown Prince for help.”

Because the one in front of me wasn’t Crown Prince Arpad but Mercenary King Gerald.

“I only made a request to the mercenary. So why would the Crown Prince be disappointed?”

“You know it’s just wordplay, right?”

I laughed lightly.

“Wordplay? You’re someone who knows how important the justification battle is…”

Then I added a decisive remark.

“Besides, haven’t the Mercenary King Gerald and the Black Mercenary Corps been inactive lately? It must be tough without any achievements for such a long time.”

“……”

As far as I knew, the mercenary industry was very competitive. Naturally, to maintain the number one spot, the Black Mercenary Corps needed continuous achievements.

His subordinates moving on their own had limits.

‘It’s easier to maintain reputation if the leader attracts attention and creates buzz.’

So, this ‘request’ of mine was absolutely not a loss from Gerald’s point of view.

Though Arpad didn’t answer, I was sure.

There was no answer but a positive one.

“So it’s mutual benefit. Hilia Delpin personally hires the mercenary group to handle the family strife.”

“And while at it, it’s an opportunity to showcase the Mercenary King Gerald who hasn’t been seen for a while?”

“You really understand me. That’s why I like you.”

At my words, Arpad’s expression visibly softened.

“That’s not entirely wrong. Crown Prince Arpad and the Mercenary King are different people.”

“Right. Of course, they are different people.”

I sighed quietly with relief.

I didn’t want the story to spread that I whispered to the Crown Prince and had to borrow the royal knights just to put my household in order.

That would never help my reputation.

‘Better to handle it by personally hiring mercenaries.’

In fact, it was embarrassing to hire mercenaries to handle my family’s knights.

It meant the family was not properly managed.

‘But if the mercenary I hire is the famous Mercenary King Gerald, that’s a different story.’

There’s a reason why he’s called the Mercenary King.

Even noble houses, and even royal families, wouldn’t easily hire the Black Mercenary Corps.

But Gerald himself stepping forward? That alone would be a sensation.

Everyone would see my ability in a new light.

Arpad dropped his princely demeanor, crossed his long legs, and asked.

His tone had changed.

“Then I have a question for the client.”

“Ask away.”

“What kind of fee do you plan to pay worthy of the Mercenary King’s name?”

I smiled triumphantly and whispered into Arpad’s ear.

I didn’t miss the moment his eyes widened with surprise.

Arpad frowned and objected.

“…Isn’t that changing the subject? That doesn’t mean much to Mercenary King Gerald.”

“But it means a lot to Crown Prince Arpad.”

Living a double life, it’s best to treat the same person as two different people depending on the situation.

“And it’s not bad for the Mercenary King either.”

“I don’t know how that benefits the Mercenary King.”

“You’d become a commoner who directly executes Duke Ludwig’s downfall. And you wouldn’t be punished for it.”

I would make sure of that.

“That alone would greatly elevate Mercenary King Gerald’s status.”

“That would be if it succeeds. Is it really possible for Commoner Gerald to touch Ludwig and face no punishment?”

“That’s true.”

I answered Arpad calmly.

That would require Gerald to swear loyalty directly to the Emperor and be pardoned.

Mercenary King Gerald was one of the few swordmasters on the continent who could manipulate aura.

Arpad—no, Gerald—cut in.

“I have no intention to swear loyalty to the Emperor.”

“I know. I won’t make you. The kind of power the Mercenary King has is only meaningful if monopolized.”

A slight smile appeared on Gerald’s lips.

“You sound like you want to monopolize me.”

“……”

He definitely interpreted that on purpose, but it wasn’t entirely wrong.

I emphasized.

“Anyone would want to hire Mercenary King Gerald exclusively.”

I heard him click his tongue.

I changed the subject.

“You don’t need to worry about being punished for kicking out or driving away Ludwig. By tomorrow, no one will care about such trivial matters.”

“Trivial matters?”

I smiled confidently.

“More likely, Ludwig and Evangeline’s scandal will be the talk of the town.”

I whispered quietly.

“Who touched Ludwig during that process will become a very minor detail.”

It was infuriating, but I had been Ludwig’s wife three times.

So I knew him very well.

“There’s no way Ludwig is sober in this situation.”

Especially since it had been shortly after Arpad insulted him, the root of his inferiority complex.

“Better if he’s drunk, but even if not… it doesn’t matter.”

I would make sure he was so drunk he could only make mistakes.

And that would essentially be Ludwig’s political death sentence.

I took Arpad’s hands in both of mine. Luckily, he didn’t pull away.

Thanks to that, I could lift his palms so they faced the ceiling.

Then I touched Arpad’s right hand with one finger.

“Crown Prince Arpad can achieve the downfall of the regent without lifting a finger.”

Like a fisherman shaking a lure,

Tempting enough to make you want to bite immediately.

Then I placed another hand on his left hand and tickled it slightly.

“As for the Mercenary King, he could claim the tale of kneeling even royalty.”

After teasing his palms, I suddenly grabbed both his hands.

“!”

Arpad was slightly surprised. It felt good to catch him off guard like this.

“I gave you flowers in both hands.”

I lifted the corners of my mouth and concluded.

“Whether you hold onto them or not is up to you.”

I leaned closer to him and whispered. My breath brushed his skin.

“Choose.”

“……”

Silence stretched for a moment.

But in the end, Arpad bared his teeth and smiled.

Then his rough hands firmly grasped mine.

‘Good! It’s done!’

I thought he couldn’t help but accept it, though he seemed quite nervous.

Relieved, my legs almost gave out.

At that moment, the carriage stopped at Delpinzer.

I had been standing up, ready to passionately persuade Arpad, but I collapsed forward.

Naturally, Arpad was under me.

He caught me effortlessly as if it was the most natural thing.

So I realized this fact lying across his excessively strong and broad chest.

My heart pounding so close I could hear it clearly.

‘Kyaa!’

I tried to silently scream and jump up but was stopped midway.

Arpad had wrapped his arms around my waist.

“……”

“……”

A brief awkward silence filled the carriage.

Just as I was about to thank him for helping me get up and settle things,

Arpad blurted out something ridiculous.

“But isn’t it a bit strange to bring your legal husband when you go to save your lover in trouble? Don’t you feel guilty?”

What nonsense was that?

I was so stunned I asked.

“No matter how awkward the situation is and you want to change the topic, don’t you think that’s way out of place?”

“I’m not trying to change the subject.”

Yes, yes, of course.

I raised my fingers and folded them one by one to correct his nonsense.

“First, I came with Mercenary King Gerald, not my husband Crown Prince Arpad.”

Officially, Arpad should be in the Crown Prince’s palace, so that’s true.

“Second, Sir Beltaine is not my lover.”

And Arpad—or rather, Mercenary King Gerald—

“Yes, sure, client.”

He sounded totally unbelieving.

Then we heard the announcement that we had arrived at Delpinzer outside, and I couldn’t scold him further.

Ugh, such a waste!

Meanwhile, Paulman, the steward of the Duke of Delpin, was trembling in embarrassment and fear.

Because Ludwig was drunk and throwing a tantrum, just as Hilia predicted.

“Your Highness, Your Grace, please regain your composure.”

“Ugh, how could this happen…!”

Ludwig’s slurred words tumbled to the floor.

Anyone could tell it was nonsense.

“You! You think I’m a pathetic man who lost his wife too, don’t you?! You’re looking down on me behind my back! Do you think I don’t know?!”

Ludwig raged, threatening to tear out Paulman’s beard.

“Oh dear! Your Grace! Please stop!”

Paulman had a rough time until Ludwig passed out from his tantrum.

Enduring such abuse, the steward felt rising resentment.

‘Yesterday I ignored Miss Hilia’s orders because of his words, and yet he treats me like this

…!’

No matter how much he hated Ludwig, Paulman had no choice but to serve the Duke.

But his loyalty was diminishing fast.

At this moment, someone knocked on the door.

“Sir Steward, may I enter?”

The voice was calm but deep.

Ludwig was asleep on the floor, so Paulman hastily opened the door.

Hilia entered the room with the mercenaries.