Chapter 50: The Princess and the Servant (3)

Elene waited with a pounding heart. It wasn’t long before Aron delivered the news.

“The meeting time is set, my lady. It’s going to be tonight. We are going to meet the mercenary directly,” Aron said.

“Oh, alright,” Elene said, nodding. “Do we know what kind of person he is?”

“Not in detail... but from what I’ve heard, he has quite a good reputation. People say he is close to being a mercenary with strong morals,” Aron replied.

“Strong morals, you say?”

“Yes, my lady.”

The mercenary was known for helping others without asking for compensation. Even though he was a C-Rank mercenary, he would take on menial tasks for the citizens of the estate. That kind of behavior was, indeed, close to that of a virtuous individual.

“A virtuous mercenary...,” Elene muttered quietly, deep in thought.

Rosa refrained from mentioning anything related to the demon. After all, she fundamentally didn’t trust Aron. Yet, even without that factor, Ketal was an impressive individual.

Because of this, Elene’s feelings grew even stronger. Aron noticed the emotions flickering in her eyes and chuckled softly. Seeing his smile, Elene responded with a faint bitter smile of her own.

“I know it’s foolish of me to think like this, especially given that we’re being chased by forces we can’t even understand. I’m well aware of how naive I must seem,” Elene admitted.

“No, my lady. I think such emotions are even more necessary in times like this. You shouldn’t treat your feelings as something sinful.”

Everyone needed comfort for their hearts. They had embarked on a perilous journey without anyone to trust. Aron sought to reassure her. “I’ve also heard he has the qualifications to enter the church of the Sun God. Surely, that makes him someone worthy to trust.”

“That’s truly remarkable,” Elene exclaimed, her eyes widening in astonishment. The church of the Sun God did not accept just anyone. Only those with proven credentials and faith could set foot within their sacred halls. For a mercenary to have such qualifications—it was incredibly rare. Her anticipation grew even more.

***

Later that night, when darkness had fully settled over the estate, Elene followed Aron to the guildhall. The doors opened, and the two of them stepped inside. Rosa, who had been waiting, greeted them. “You’ve arrived. Is this the companion you mentioned?”

“Yes,” Aron replied briefly.

Elene nodded quietly, her demeanor calm yet resolute. Rosa narrowed her eyes, carefully observing her.

Damn it,

Rosa cursed internally.

Though the black robe concealed much, Rosa could still discern that Elene was a young woman. The shape of her jawline, barely beneath her hood, hinted at her striking beauty. Even the subtle movements of her body radiated an unmistakable elegance.

Due to her profession, Rosa had encountered nobles a few times before. Yet, none of them had possessed such natural grace. This wasn’t merely a noblewoman; she was someone of far higher status.

And such a woman had come here, under the cover of night, wearing a robe and accompanied by only one servant, seeking the Mercenary Guild.

The stench of trouble is overwhelming...,

Rosa thought grimly.

If things went awry, Rosa, who had accepted the request, could end up being reprimanded. Despite her unease, there was little she could do since this was what Ketal wanted. Suppressing a sigh, she spoke. “The mercenary who will escort you will arrive shortly. Please wait here for a moment.”

“Understood,” Aron replied.

Meanwhile, Elene tried to steady her rapidly beating heart. Her excitement about meeting the mercenary had grown almost unbearable.

Before long, there was a knock at the door.

“He’s here,” Rosa said calmly.

“I will open the door,” Elene offered hastily, rising from her seat and heading toward the door.

Beyond that door was the mercenary who would guide and protect her. With hurried steps, she approached, her hand gripping the doorknob.

The door creaked as it opened. Wearing a bright expression, Elene looked beyond the door. Then, her smile froze.

“What...?” Elene was confused. Standing in front of her was a barbarian.

The barbarian was massive. He towered over her by three heads. It wasn’t just his height—his entire physique was enormous. His body wasn’t bulky with fat; instead, it was composed entirely of muscle. Even though he wore relatively tidy clothing, it couldn’t fully hide the sheer strength of his frame.

“Oh, what do we have here? A beautiful lady,” the barbarian remarked, his tone filled with intrigue. He looked down at Elene and smiled. “Pleased to meet you.”

***

What is this? What am I even looking at right now?

Elene thought. Unable to process the situation, her confused expression made Ketal tilt his head.

“Are you alright?” he asked, raising a hand.

The movement of his hand snapped Elene back to reality.

“Ah...” She staggered backward, unsteady on her feet. ” P-Princess Elene!” Aron, startled, cried out. He hurriedly caught her and supported her. “Are you alright?”

“Ah... ah...” Elene couldn’t reply properly. Her pale face betrayed her shock as she continued to stare at Ketal.

“Barbarian!” Aron exclaimed as he pulled Elene into his arms and retreated. His eyes burned with evident wariness. “Who are you?”

“Hm,” Ketal stroked his chin and thought,

It’s been a while since I’ve faced this level of suspicion.

After defeating Ashetiaar, the people of the estate hadn’t shunned him. While they hadn’t exactly embraced him either, they no longer treated him with outright hostility. Because of this, it had been quite a while since he had encountered such blatant animosity and distrust.

“Even when I’m fully clothed, I’m still seen as just a barbarian. How unfortunate,” Ketal remarked dryly.

“Haha... It’s hard to hide the aura you carry,” Rosa interjected with a wry smile.

Ketal turned his gaze to Rosa. “Rosa, are these the clients I’m supposed to protect?”

“Yes, they are,” she replied with a nod. She then turned her gaze to Aron and introduced the mercenary. “This mercenary’s name is Ketal. He will be in charge of your escort.”

“What?” Aron stammered, disbelief plastered across his face.

A moment later, once he had collected himself, he immediately turned to Rosa. “I demand a replacement! He is a barbarian! How could you let a barbarian be our escort? That’s absurd!”

The word, barbarian, conjured images of rude and uncouth individuals. Barbarians were notorious for disregarding societal norms, operating purely on strength. They especially despised nobles, whom they deemed weak yet pretentious.

Conflicts between barbarians and nobles were countless, some even resulting in the death of nobles. And now, a barbarian was supposed to be their escort. Aron vehemently protested.

“Well, I won’t deny that perspective,” Rosa admitted casually. She, too, held a similar view of barbarians and had not entirely shaken that prejudice. “But, he is different from the typical barbarian. As I’ve mentioned before, he’s trusted even within the estate. There’s no need to worry.”

“Ridiculous!” Aron shouted, his voice filled with disbelief.

A barbarian is supposed to escort us? He is to accompany us all the way to the Denian Kingdom? And I have to entrust the princess’s safety to him? No way!

The sheer anxiety of the situation made Aron feel like his head might explode.

“How can you trust a barbarian? They’re rude, uncivilized, and ignorant! Replace him immediately!” Aron shouted.

“Is that so?” Rosa’s expression darkened. A faint irritation flickered in her eyes. “So, what you’re saying is that you doubt the decision of our Mercenary Guild?”

Her sudden shift in tone and the hostility in her words made Aron freeze.

Rosa smiled, but it was a cold, biting smile. “Our guild promoted him to a C-Rank mercenary. Surely, you know what it means to be a C-Rank?”

C-Rank was a grade that marked one as a true mercenary and the backbone of the guild. It wasn’t a title given for skill alone—it required recognition, trust, and a proven track record.

For Aron to claim he couldn’t trust Ketal was equivalent to saying he didn’t trust the guild’s judgement. Rosa had never held much affection for Aron, and now he was openly questioning the guild’s decision and insulting Ketal.

The Ketal she knew was a kind and virtuous man. His personality was a little eccentric, sure, but he was far more courteous than most mercenaries. Rosa even felt a certain human fondness for him. And now he was being humiliated. It left her deeply annoyed.

“If you doubt the guild’s judgement, I understand. We will refund your payment,” Rosa declared.

“No, I’m not saying that!” Aron blurted out in a panic. Traveling without a mercenary was not an option. Only now did he realize that he had inadvertently insulted the guild itself. He had been so focused on Ketal’s barbarian nature that he had lost sight of the bigger picture.

At that moment, Elene, who had been silent, spoke up. “I’ll accept him.”

“What? Princess Elene, but—”

“A C-Rank mercenary is someone who’s proven their worth. There shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Exactly,” Rosa agreed with a nod.

Elene bit her lip. “We cannot reject him. There is no valid reason to, is there, Aron?”

“No, there isn’t...” Aron reluctantly admitted.

Refusing the mercenary now meant they would have to journey alone. That would be far worse. They had no choice.

“Then, it’s settled. This discussion is over,” Elene said.

Aron fell silent, his protests swallowed. All the while, Ketal had been seated, listening to the entire conversation.

I feel like a ticking time bomb,

he thought.

He felt like he was a necessary evil—terrifying and unsettling, but something they had to accept for their own purpose.

Rosa remained expressionless as she sorted through some documents. “Then the request is confirmed. Your escort is officially hired. From now on, you can discuss the details directly with the mercenary.”

“Directly...?” Elene asked.

“Princess Elene, I will handle this,” Aron offered.

“No, I’ll speak to him myself.” Elene stood from her seat and cautiously approached Ketal. She trembled as she walked. Fear threatened to overwhelm her, urging her to turn back, but she suppressed her emotions and forced herself forward.

“P-pleased to meet you. My name is Elene,” she said, her voice shaky.

“Ah, my name is Ketal. Nice to meet you,” Ketal replied, nodding as he looked at her.

She’s like a squirrel,

he thought. Even with her hood, her trembling was noticeable. She seemed very young—barely an adult. Her movements and demeanor hinted at a refined upbringing.

Ketal’s suspicions solidified further. There was a scent about her—a very distinct one.

“Interesting,” he muttered to himself, amused by how accurate his guess was.

At his words, Elene flinched visibly.

Ah, that won’t do,

Ketal realized. This woman was his client. They were going to travel together. If that were the case, he needed to earn her trust. Ketal softened his expression into as warm a smile as he could muster.

“You have my word—so long as I am your escort, no harm will come to you.”

“Ah... ah...” Elene trembled even more.

He’s after me!

she panicked.

This barbarian... he is after my body!

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

She could see it in his smile—a glimmer of something unsettling.

Why is this happening?

Elene thought. Just before meeting him, she had been so excited. Like a young girl indulging in daydreams, she had imagined what kind of person he might be all day long.

And the result was this brutish barbarian. She felt like crying.

I have to travel with this barbarian for days?

Her hopes and dreams shattered into the worst possible reality.

“Looking forward to working with you,” Ketal said.

“Yes... me too.” Elene forced herself to respond, holding back tears.