Chapter 34
After all sorts of twists and turns, Calliope and Lerazie finally set off together for the territory.
“What’s that?”
Lerazie motioned with his chin toward the small pouch dangling from Calliope’s hand.
“Just some completely useless baggage.”
“So… trash. Why bother dragging that along?”
“Well, I wonder whose fault that is?”
Calliope shot him a side–eye. The faintly chilling aura radiating from her made Lerazie hurriedly change the subject.
“You’re going to use the gate, right?”
“Of course. If we went by carriage all the way to the Verdi territory, it would take at least ten days. We’ll get off at the arrival gate of the midpoint and then travel again from there.”
“Midpoint? I know there’s a gate much closer to the Verdi territory.”
“I couldn’t help it. The tickets were bought in a hurry, and that was the only gate we could get into the fastest.”
Calliope shrugged.
“Honestly, the soldiers’ meals and lodging expenses are nothing compared to the gate fee. It was about the same as the monthly budget for the Verdi townhouse in the capital.”
She looked positively satisfied this time.
In strange ways, she could be surprisingly frugal.
“So. Don’t you have something to say to me?”
Lerazie crossed one leg over the other and looked at her.
“What would that be?”
Calliope feigned ignorance.
‘She’s really not going to thank me for coming along, even if it kills her.’
Already feeling a bit peeved, Lerazie decided this time to make full use of his advantage.
‘Do you know how much trouble I went through to get this?’
“What a pity. I actually prepared something special for you, but now it seems it won’t be of any use.”
Calliope, who had been looking away, pricked up her ears.
“What did you prepare?”
“Oh, nothing much. It would be considered extremely valuable by most people, but you… you’d probably just shrug. Not like it’s essential for you.”
He leaned lazily against the backrest, feigning nonchalance.
Now curiosity got the better of Calliope.
“No, but you still have to tell me what it is so I can decide if I need it or not. What is it?”
Lerazie smirked inwardly. Hook, line, and sinker.
“Curious?”
“I told you, yes!”
All right, Calliope Verdi… I’ll show you what real leverage looks like.
Lerazie pulled a gleaming golden ticket from his coat. The light that scattered off the paper lingered in the air like shimmering dust.
Calliope instantly recognized it.
‘…A VVIP Gate Boarding Pass!’
Her hand shot out like lightning, but before her fingers could even brush it, Lerazie whisked it away.
“You don’t need this anyway.”
“How could I not?! Do you even know what that ticket is?!”
This ticket granted access to a direct imperial-family-only gate — its value and rarity were extraordinary.
The Emperor sometimes awarded it to meritorious subjects or gave it out as a special prize during major events like Founding Day.
It was the rarest of the rare, something even money couldn’t easily buy.
Even Calliope couldn’t help but covet it.
“You went out of your way to get this for this trip? That’s surprisingly… no, actually, that’s—”
“Who said I was giving it to you?”
Before she could finish, Lerazie cut her off.
“What? Weren’t you planning to use it this time?”
“I was.”
An arrogant smile crept across his face.
“But after seeing your attitude, I changed my mind.”
Calliope froze, her brows shooting up.
What attitude?! What a picky bastard.
Lerazie watched her reaction closely, not missing a thing.
“Hah. You think I came all the way here because I had nothing better to do? Even if we’re just in a contractual relationship, I was still worried about you — guess that makes me the fool.”
“Fool? What are you—”
She stopped mid-retort.
Ah. So that’s why he’s sulking.
“Well? If you’ve got something to say, say it. You’re not exactly the type to hold back.”
Her eyes darted from side to side.
Lerazie chuckled. He could practically see the calculations running through that quick-witted brain of hers.
“So…”
Apparently finished thinking, Calliope spoke.
“Having a Sword Master as an escort is truly something to be grateful for. I never meant to deny that, so please don’t misunderstand.”
“That’s as good as bowing and thanking me.”
When he answered with a bored tone, Calliope became impatient.
“You’re really not going to give it to me?”
This time, she really needed it.
That ticket had no weight limit, no distance limit.
Most importantly, it allowed her to skip all queues and instantly travel to a gate very close to the Verdi territory.
With this, I could shorten the trip by at least five days.
The motivation and the purpose were clear — she had to secure it.
“Fine. What will it take for you to give it to me?”
Lerazie’s brows rose slightly. It was the look of a man who’d just found an amusing opportunity.
“You prepared to do whatever I say?”
“Of course—”
Her automatic reply crashed into her better judgment.
“No crimes. No immoral acts. No cruel treatment or violence.”
“…?”
He looked at her like she was speaking nonsense. She continued without missing a beat.
“Oh, and no indecent acts either. Adding that to the list.”
“This is insane.”
Lerazie ruffled his hair roughly.
At this point, he was starting to wonder just what kind of trash she thought he was.
“All right. Then ask me politely. Make me want to give this to you.”
He waved the ticket gently, like a tuft of grass swaying in the wind.
Calliope stared at it like a cat watching a dangling toy.
“You’ve got three minutes.”
“Hey—!”
“Last chance.”
His tone was so casual, so certain he didn’t care whether she accepted or not.
Calliope quickly switched tactics.
“Your Highness, Seventh Prince, would you kindly grant me that boarding pass?”
Does pride feed you?
Calliope was arrogant, haughty, and proud — but she was also ruthlessly practical.
If swallowing her pride meant securing benefits for herself and her family, she would do it without hesitation.
“If you bestow that ticket upon me, I will be eternally grateful for Your Highness’s boundless grace—”
“Mm, I heard enough.”
But Lerazie cut her off mid-sentence.
“Too bad. Not satisfied. Well, good luck.”
“What?!”
Suddenly realizing she’d been played, Calliope flared up.
“You said if I asked politely you’d give it to me!”
“I never said I would. I said to make me want to give it to you.”
“You vile con artist!”
She sprang up, lunging for the ticket in his hand — completely forgetting they were in a moving carriage.
“Wait, that’s dangerous—!”
He hadn’t expected her to go this far, and his eyes went wide.
“Kyaa!”
The wheel hit a rock, the carriage jolted, and Calliope lost her balance — tumbling forward.
Straight into the man in front of her.
Seated Lerazie instinctively caught the falling woman.
“….”
“….”
In short — she landed squarely on his broad chest.
“Kyahhh!”
“Damn it—!”
Calliope struggled to get off, Lerazie hurriedly pushed her away — but another jolt from the carriage only made their contact closer.
She ended up nestled in his arms.
Her hands landed on his shirtless-through-the-fabric muscular chest, and she froze solid.
With no choice, Lerazie wrapped an arm firmly around her waist to steady her, shutting his eyes tightly.
This is insane…
Meanwhile, the carriage rattled on obliviously.
“Let’s just stay like this for a moment — it’s safer.”
“…Fine.”
As soon as the road smoothed out again, Calliope scrambled back to the opposite seat.
Without a word, Lerazie promptly handed her the ticket as if nothing had happened.
‘….’
‘….’
Clip-clop, clip-clop. The unbearable awkwardness filled the space between them.
