“There are several entrances to the palace: one for the nobility and royalty, and another for servants and menial workers. Of course, as mercenaries, we used the latter. It was a somewhat ambiguous position, not quite guests, nor formally invited with an invitation card. Maybe it was an expected treatment.”
“Why does it feel like we’re sneaking in when the Emperor himself has summoned us?”
“Shh, keep it down. Don’t give them a reason to fault us.”
“It’s still exciting, though. Being personally summoned by an Emperor of a nation. Isn’t this a glory for our lineage?”
“Do we even have a lineage to honor?”
“…No, we don’t.”
Lailo patted Eddie’s drooping shoulders in consolation. Eddie, feigning tears, began grumbling towards Lailo.
“Yeah… I have no family lineage to honor, nor parents…”
“No, Eddie, that’s not what I meant…”
“…Lailo, that was the worst.”
As they chatted nonsensically, they had already reached deep inside the palace.
It felt like they had walked a large circle around the wall. Calum occasionally glanced back as he led the way forward. Although all of them seemed exceptional, the one who stood out the most was undoubtedly the leader, Rebell.
Rebell. A man with no surname, only a first name.
People with only a first name often had something about them. An untellable story when sober or a secret that must be hidden.
It was uncertain which category Rebell fell into. Calum guessed he might have abandoned his real name for a new one during his life as a mercenary.
‘Or perhaps… a former slave.’
Slavery was officially abolished in the Empire, but the illegal trade of slaves still occurred in various parts of the country.
Despite the ban on trading humans as commodities for being inhumane, the perception that there’s nothing better than a slave for quiet exploitation without pay still lingered.
‘If he rose from a slave to his current position, he must have been incredibly tenacious.’
Calum inwardly clicked his tongue. Although nothing was certain yet, he didn’t believe Rebell had lived an easy life.
Rebell continued to look around attentively as they walked, not just a regular alertness but as if searching for something specific. At one point, he took a deep breath, then exhaled.
Lailo had never seen Rebell like this before. Known within the mercenary group for his lack of expression, Rebell was different even when Turgel first brought him as a kid.
Initially, he went through each day with a scowl, but eventually, he even hid that. At most, he showed a deflated chuckle, never expressing real joy.
It was said in jest among the group that “When Rebell smiles, the world is filled with light.”
As they were analyzing Rebell’s expression, Calum stopped walking. They had reached a secluded palace in the innermost part of the palace.
“Wait here.”
Calum entered the palace. It was not lavishly decorated but was neatly maintained. The outside garden seemed tended, but there was no warmth of habitation.
“Why have they called us all the way to the palace? Is there some ulterior motive?”
“…Secret suppression.”
“If it was about silencing us, they would have simply bribed us. Just tell us to shut up and hand over the money. We are mercenaries, after all; we close our mouths and ears for the right price. Why bother summoning us before the Emperor?”
After some waiting, Calum emerged from the door. Without looking at anyone else, he gestured only to Rebell.
“Only the leader may enter.”
“How can we trust you with just our leader? We should go together…”
Eddie stepped forward, stirred up, but Rebell stopped him with a hand. For a moment, Eddie looked into Rebell’s face and felt his hair stand on end.
He had never seen such an expression on the leader before. Even in the midst of life-and-death battles, Rebell had always maintained his composure.
His expression now wasn’t one of someone going to meet the Emperor, but rather of a person about to resolve a long-held grudge.
What would happen if he looked at the Emperor with such eyes? Would he be executed on the spot? Eddie’s worries shifted in a different direction.
Before anyone could say another word, Rebell disappeared inside the door. A brief silence followed, and Eddie collapsed, his legs giving out.
“Why are you like that? What did you see?”
“That wasn’t a human expression… I’ve never seen the leader like that before.”
It was as if he was ready to cut off someone’s breath in an instant. Supported by Lailo and Luce, Eddie slowly regained strength in his trembling knees.
“Hopefully, nothing bad happens…”
The interior of the annex was dimly lit. Curtains and screens covered the windows, and the furniture was draped in white cloths, indicating a long absence of inhabitants.
It was unclear who had lived here, but the purpose of this palace was certain.
It was a place where secrets that must be hidden unfolded. With no one watching or guarding, even if a body was carried out neatly packaged, who would suspect anything?
Especially since the other party was the Emperor, Claudius.
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
