Chapter : 36
“A kind adult will come to save Woong-ni.”
Just from that small bit of warmth, Daisy remembered the words the child had once said.
“…A kind adult.”
Daisy stared at Del, who was in disguise.
A man who resembled her father.
She didn’t know who he was, but at that time he had defended her and even gotten angry on her behalf.
So maybe… maybe it was okay to believe what this child had said.
“Yes, there are. But there are about ten of them… surely you don’t need that many, do you?”
“No. The more, the better. After all, we’re nothing but spoiled rich folks with plenty of money who hate to lift a finger.”
Angela grinned at Daisy.
“Then, Conrad. I’d like to hire that child, and also the mercenaries the child mentioned.”
“B-but… really? There are far better mercenaries flooding the capital…”
“Is there any reason it can’t be done? If you can give me a legitimate reason, then we’ll change to someone else.”
Conrad scrambled to make excuses, thinking fast.
“T-that child already has another request—”
“…No, I don’t.”
“The child’s body is too—”
“…She’s rather sturdy.”
Daisy seized the chance, trembling but daring to join the conversation.
Of course, her voice was as small as an ant’s, since she was wary of Conrad.
He glared at Daisy with murderous eyes, but at last, he sighed.
“Two. At most, two people. Since there are already standing requests, you may only hire the child and one other.”
“I didn’t know the Attrang Merchant Guild was so stingy.”
Angela gave Conrad a sharp glare but let it drop.
(If I keep dragging this out, I won’t even get two. For now, I’ll take them, then come back for the rest.)
“Fine. How much to hire two?”
“Ten gold.”
“Not bad. I’ll pay it.”
Conrad finally raised the white flag before the power of ten gold.
“…Very well. Then it’s a deal.”
* * *
“Arcelin, step forward! You’ll serve the rich travelers for three days. They think you’re a mercenary, so behave properly.”
“Huh? All of a sudden?”
Arcelin, who had been working in the fields, was suddenly driven out of the building.
“Arcelin, are you okay?”
“Wait, are they selling you off somewhere?”
The worried expressions around her only deepened the unease.
“…I’ll just have to hope not. I’ll be back.”
But for Arcelin, something far more important weighed on her mind.
“Where’s Daisy?”
Normally by now, Daisy would have finished cleaning and come back. But her daughter was gone.
“Don’t tell me… Daisy was also dragged out, like me, to be taken as a mercenary?”
Her heart dropped at the thought of the worst.
At that moment—
“Hey, Arcelin.”
A rough grip seized her arm.
It was Conrad.
“Needless to say, don’t spout anything stupid about ‘illegal’ or whatever to those rich travelers, got it?”
He whispered, careful not to be overheard.
At the same time, his beady eyes glittered beneath his thick eyelids.
“Remember, there’s a sigil etched on your arm. One wrong move and you’ll die instantly. Understand?”
“…Where’s my daughter?”
But Arcelin didn’t yield to the threat.
“Tell me where Daisy is, and I’ll agree to what you say.”
“…You dare to threaten me? Think you’re clever because you’re some learned scholar?”
“It’s not a threat, just—tell me where she is and—ugh!”
Arcelin couldn’t finish.
Conrad shoved her hard against the wall, crushing her arm so tightly blood couldn’t flow.
“Enough useless talk. Get out there! Your daughter is being sold off together with you.”
“…What?”
Arcelin ran desperately down the long corridor.
The sunlight she hadn’t seen in so long blinded her, making her squint.
And in front of her—stood the man who had supposedly hired them.
He was massive, like a bear, but his open arms and the aura of welcome felt strangely familiar…
“…Del?”
Could it be a dream?
Arcelin blinked in disbelief.
“Mom! Dad came to save us!”
But the moment Daisy, who was with Del, threw herself into her arms crying, Arcelin realized something in her life had changed forever.
Yes.
“…Arcelin. I’m sorry I’m late. I came… far too late.”
Her husband had returned.
She had no time to refuse; his embrace was stiff, but solid, wrapping her up completely.
“…But you… you abandoned us, abandoned Her Majesty the Queen Consort, for the sake of the Royal Knights…”
She mustn’t falter.
Too many chains bound her ankles. As Arcelin fought to hold back tears and push him away—
“They say this man killed the Queen Consort? As the Queen’s daughter, I’ll tell you now—that’s a misunderstanding.”
Suddenly, a woman beside her pulled off her wig and tapped Arcelin’s shoulder.
Golden hair, blue eyes.
“This was all His Majesty the King’s scheme.”
It was the Princess of Lydia.
* * *
At the same time.
Conrad was reading a missive from the royal palace.
[I wonder if the 3rd Order of Knights is still secure.]
‘They never cared before, so why send a letter now?’
Though puzzled, Conrad calmly wrote back:
[Do not worry. They are well kept.]
But the employee who read his reply broke out in a cold sweat.
“…Master Conrad. But we already sent two of them off as mercenaries. Isn’t that a lie? Can we really deceive His Majesty?”
“It’s fine. They’ll come back no matter what.”
Unlike his nervous subordinate, Conrad was smug.
Of course, he had something to rely on.
Not just his own threats—but the black magic the King himself had cast on them.
“Conrad, keep the families alive and their whereabouts hidden. If anyone else were to take them away…”
“Ah, yes, Your Majesty.”
“Well, since I placed black magic on them, even if you hide it, I will know.”
Recalling the King’s words, Conrad fiddled with the gold coins.
It was the ten gold the foolish, idle-rich travelers had paid him.
“To think I could pocket ten gold without His Majesty noticing.”
He bit one of the coins between his teeth and handed the letter back to the staffer.
“Go on, send the reply. Trust me.”
“…Yes.”
The employee still looked uneasy, but bowed and left.
“Tsk. That’s why he’ll always remain a mere clerk. To rise higher, one needs guts.”
Clicking his tongue, Conrad downed some wine.
Yes—he was much better suited to scheming than to fighting like some mercenary.
* * *
Meanwhile, it didn’t take long to clear up the misunderstanding with the 3rd Order of Knights.
When a Lydia princess herself said it was false, who would dare doubt it?
Afterward, the group decided to stay at the most expensive inn in the city.
The bill, of course, was covered by Velix, the second richest man in the Lydia kingdom.
Angela glanced at Velix as he handled the payment.
“You once told me you were my man. Say it again.”
“Now? Out of nowhere?”
“Yes.”
Her unwavering stare made Velix frown irritably.
He couldn’t exactly call her “princess” here…
“…I am your man.”
His low, hesitant voice carried a plain honesty, which made Angela’s lips curl in satisfaction.
“Hearing you say that while opening your purse makes me very pleased. I’ve chosen my man well.”
“May I retract what I just said?”
“No. Once spoken, words are like spilled water—you can’t take them back. You’re my patron now.”
And so Velix became the official “sponsor,” footing the bill for the entire floor of the inn’s suite.
For Daisy and Arcelin, it was a stroke of fortune.
At last, the two of them could enjoy a proper meal like human beings.
“Mom, I think… this must be what freedom feels like.”
Daisy’s cheeks glowed red as she soaked for the first time in a warm bath.
She scrubbed herself clean, donned fresh clothes, and emerged into the central lounge.
“When I took a bath, the bubbles overflowed! They were so soft!”
Arcelin gave a bittersweet smile.
“It’s lucky you and your father cleared things up. Del, I’m so sorry… it must have been hard all this time, and all I did was doubt you…”
“It wasn’t me.”
Del gave all the credit to Angela.
“It was thanks to the princess, and Duke Velix as well.”
Arcelin bowed so low her crown nearly touched the floor.
“Your Highness, thank you. From now until our deaths, we will serve you.”
That night, as they all gathered in the central lounge before bed, every gaze turned toward Angela.
