Chapter 48: The Princess and the Servant (1)

That night, after all the day’s requests had been processed and the guildhall was preparing to close, the receptionists chatted among themselves, wrapping up their tasks for the day.

Suddenly, the door swung open, drawing everyone’s attention. A figure cloaked in a black robe stood at the entrance, his face obscured.

The receptionists froze in place. The robed figure slowly advanced toward Rosa.

She tensed immediately. She couldn’t discern who this person was, but there was something unsettling about him. Her hand instinctively moved under the desk, hovering near the emergency bell. Just as she was about to press it, the man spoke.

“I have a request to make.” The voice that echoed was that of an elderly man.

Hearing it, Rosa realized something. This person held an air of nobility. There were distinct differences in tone and phrasing between nobles and commoners. And Rosa knew that this was no commoner. Rosa withdrew her hand from the bell. Still, something felt off.

It wasn’t unusual for nobles to wear robes to conceal their identities when submitting requests. Nobles often came to guildhalls to handle matters they couldn’t openly address. However, in such cases, they couldn’t fully hide their aristocratic aura. This man’s attire, however, didn’t exude even a hint of nobility.

His shabby, tattered robe made him look more like a beggar than a nobleman.

“What is your request?” Rosa asked cautiously.

“Escort service,” the old man replied. “For two people—myself and a young girl.”

“Two people... Okay, where is your destination?”

“The capital of the Denian Kingdom.”

Rosa’s eyes widened in surprise. It was highly unusual for someone to request an escort to the Denian Kingdom, originating from the Barcan Estate. There was no logical reason to make such a request from this remote, secluded region.

“I understand. However, we will need to verify your identity first,” Rosa said.

“Here.” The old man reached into his robe and pulled out a token. Rosa’s eyes widened when she saw it. The token was intricately carved with a design of a sword and shield. It was unmistakably a token issued by the Mercenary Guild—a rare and prestigious symbol given only to trusted individuals.

“...Your identity has been verified. I will now process your payment,” Rosa said, her tone more respectful.

The old man produced a small gold coin from within his robe. She took it and began the standard verification process. As she worked, the old man fidgeted nervously, his arms twitching.

After a moment, Rosa returned. “It’s confirmed. This is pure gold... but it’s only enough to hire one escort.”

“What?” The old man’s voice was filled with dismay. “Only one escort?”

“Yes. It’s an escort request, after all,” Rosa explained. “Escorting someone means staying by their side throughout the journey, which involves countless potential risks. It’s a completely different type of task compared to clearing a Dungeon or two. Naturally, the cost is much higher. Moreover, traveling to the Denian Kingdom is quite a distance. Depending on the conditions, it could take as long as a month. The cost reflects that.”

The old man couldn’t refute her words. He hesitated before speaking cautiously. “That may be true, but... can’t anything be done? I need at least two escorts.”

“It’s possible,” Rosa said, “but the quality of the mercenaries would be lower. Are you willing to accept that? For an escort mission, you’d typically want reliable individuals.”

A reliable mercenary would need to be at least D-Rank. Accepting just anyone would only increase the risks. The old man nodded after a moment of thought.

“I’d prefer someone skilled,” he said firmly.

“In that case, one is all you can afford with this payment,” Rosa replied.

“Even so... can’t something be worked out?”

Why is he so cheap?

Rosa thought. She couldn’t hide her surprise. The old man’s demeanor was pitiable. Initially, she had been wary, even frightened.

However, the more they spoke, the more those feelings faded. The old man seemed desperate—completely lacking the composure and confidence one would expect from a noble. He looked like someone on the run.

“In a remote estate like this, it’s hard enough to find mercenaries capable of taking on an escort mission. Two would be nearly impossible. I’ll do my best to arrange it, but...,” Rosa said.

“I understand. I will leave it up to you.” Realizing further argument would be futile, the old man lowered his head in defeat and shuffled out of the guildhall.

Creak.

The door closed behind him. Rosa stared at the gold coin he had left behind. The coin was of remarkably high purity. Though small, it gleamed with a brilliant golden hue. Yet, the edges of the coin were sharply filed, as if someone had deliberately tried to obscure its origin.

“Something tells me tomorrow won’t be easy,” Rosa muttered under her breath.

***

The old man stepped out of the guildhall into the dark night. The world was shrouded in shadows, making it impossible to see even a step ahead.

He moved cautiously, glancing around as if he feared someone was pursuing him. Eventually, he entered a dilapidated building that looked more like a stable than an inn.

In Barcan Estate, there were two inns. One was the modest inn where Ketal stayed, typically used by mercenaries who had gained some footing. The other was this one—a place closer to a barn than an actual inn, meant for those struggling to earn even a day’s wage.

The old man entered the latter and approached one of its shabby rooms. He knocked softly on the door.

“...Who is it?” a woman's voice said, sounding wary.

The old man responded in a low voice. “It’s your royal servant, my lady.”

The door creaked open. Inside stood a woman. Her golden hair shimmered faintly, even in the dim light. Her blue eyes, like sapphires, sparkled with an inner glow. She was beautiful, but her radiance was dulled by dust and grime. Her clothes were tattered rags, doing little to hide her regal bearing but tarnishing her beauty nonetheless.

The woman’s face was tense as she asked, “How did it go?”

𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

“They accepted,” the old man said.

“Th-thank goodness. How many can we hire?”

“One, my lady.”

“Just one...?” The woman bit her lip hard.

The old man bowed his head. “I am sorry, my lady. We lack the funds to hire more...” “No, it’s not your fault. It couldn’t be helped.”

“I deeply apologize for forcing you to stay in a place like this,” the old man continued, his voice cracking. “This money could have afforded you better accommodations, yet...”

The woman shook her head firmly. “This is all we could manage. I don’t need anything fancy—just a place to rest my body. What we need most is reliability. The Mercenary Guild guarantees that, doesn’t it?”

“If only I hadn’t been foolish enough to fall victim to scams...,” the old man muttered bitterly.

“I’m not blaming you,” the woman said, her voice soft but resolute. “It wouldn’t have been different even if I had acted myself.”

The old man choked back a sob, and the woman, seemingly affected by his emotions, sniffled as well. Overwhelmed, tears began to flow from both of them.

Bang!

“Keep it down!”

Suddenly, there was a loud pounding on the wall, followed by an irate voice. Both the woman and the old man flinched and quickly stifled their tears.

“How long will it take?” the woman whispered, her voice barely audible.

“I do not know, my lady,” the old man replied, equally quiet. “Finding someone trustworthy might take some time.”

“I see... then we will have to wait,” she said with a resigned tone, beginning to tidy up her sleeping area. It was no bed, merely a pile of straw bound together. “Let’s get some rest. It’s late, and talking more will only disturb our neighbors. You’ve worked hard, Aron.”

“No, it’s nothing, my lady,” Aron replied, his expression pained as he lay down on the makeshift bedding.

***

Days passed, and each night, Aron visited the guildhall. However, each time, Rosa shook her head.

“No luck so far,” she said.

“Still nothing?”

“This is a remote estate. It’s difficult to find skilled mercenaries here. It would be best to remain patient.

“I see...,” Aron muttered, unable to argue. Dejected, he shuffled back to his room.

As he stepped inside, the woman looked up at him expectantly. “What’s the news?”

Aron shook his head heavily without saying a word.

The woman’s face fell again. “Again?”

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

“This is troublesome. Our food supplies are running low. I’ve been rationing what we have, but we’re nearly out.”

“What about the reserves?”

“Just enough to cover our journey to the Denian Kingdom. We will have to go without for now... though food is a small issue in the grand scheme of things,” the woman said with a bitter smile.

Aron’s face twisted in anguish. “It’s my incompetence that has brought you to this...”

“It’s not your fault, Aron,” she reassured him gently.

Still, her words did little to stop the tears that welled up in his eyes.

Bang!

The pounding on the wall came again, startling both of them into silence.

Aron bit his lip, his expression hardening with resolve. In a low voice, he said, “Perhaps... we could consider approaching the lord of this estate? Only as a last resort.”

“No,” the woman cut him off sharply. “We cannot trust anyone. Even hiring mercenaries is dangerous enough. We can’t take more risks.”

“Remember, Aron,” she continued, looking directly into his eyes. “Remember why we abandoned our kingdom and fled.”

She bit her lip hard, her expression darkening.

“We couldn’t even tell who was friend or foe. Even after all this time, there hasn’t been a single rumor about us. Not even after we fled the kingdom together,” the woman said sternly.

“I’m sorry, my lady. My resolve wavered,” Aron said, bowing his head deeply.

“The Denian Kingdom... will it truly be safe?” she asked.

“The king of Denian made a solemn oath when you were born, Princess Elene. The Denian Kingdom is a powerful nation, and they will protect you. Perhaps... they might even aid us in seeking vengeance,” Aron replied.

Elene clenched her teeth, her sapphire eyes glinting with raw fury. Aron gazed at her, her golden hair and blue eyes a reminder of her royal heritage. Everyone in the kingdom had praised her beauty, and she had been beloved by all.

“For the sake of our kingdom’s survival, you must live on, Princess Elene Mavroch. If even you are lost, our kingdom will be truly doomed.”

Elene nodded solemnly, though her expression was heavy. “But... a mercenary? Can we really trust them?”

Mercenaries were, by nature, uncouth and disrespectful. She was a princess who had never conversed with such people. The thought of traveling such a long distance with one unnerved her.

Sensing her unease, Aron spoke with conviction to reassure her. “You need not worry, my lady. That’s what the gold was for—to ensure someone reliable and trustworthy is assigned to us.”

“I see, that’s a relief,” she said, her voice softening as she lay down.

Mercenaries were crude and disrespectful beings. She had never trusted mercenaries. Yet, the tales she had read painted them as brave, noble adventurers, and a part of her clung to that faint hope.

I wonder who will escort us,

she thought. As a sheltered princess, she couldn’t help but harbor a faint, whimsical hope.

It would be wonderful if they were like a handsome hero.

With a small dream in her heart, she closed her eyes.