I Will Live for Your Death (20 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 10
“How intriguing.”
It was an unexpected reaction. Kaelum studied Claudius’s expression with disbelief. Surprisingly, the man was even faintly smiling as he read the report.
What exactly was so intriguing? The fact that the Emperor’s Imperial Guard had been routed by a handful of mercenaries? Or perhaps the mercenaries’ skill? Kaelum kept his lips tightly shut and waited for Claudius’s next words.
“The Licas Mercenary Company… I don’t recall ever contracting them.”
“No, Your Majesty. As far as we know, they’ve mainly worked with minor states near the northern regions, or taken on trivial odd jobs.”
“That can’t be all. They must have done some unrecorded work as well.”
Assassinations, perhaps, or eliminating political rivals. To carry out such tasks, they couldn’t possibly lack skill. Claudius’s mind raced. A mere three or four mercenaries had subdued an Imperial Guard force twice their size. They were certainly no ordinary individuals.
“What do you think, Captain of the Imperial Guard?”
“Well…”
“Speak honestly. I already suspect the Guard’s skills have grown rather rusty.”
“I am truly ashamed, Your Majesty.”
“No. It is my fault for failing to empower the Captain of the Imperial Guard.”
Kaelum lowered his head at Claudius’s sigh-laden tone. Though holding the title of Captain of the Imperial Guard, Kaelum Western had been granted virtually no real authority. He was merely a figurehead in name only.
No faction within the nobility or the military academy supported Kaelum, who hailed from neither background. Despite his distinguished service since the reign of the Late Emperor, the nobles deliberately ignored him due to his lowborn status.
And the Emperor himself couldn’t afford to disregard the nobles outright—they funded Claudius’s wars. If their support wavered or weakened, the Emperor’s throne would inevitably become precarious.
Caught in this invisible tug-of-war, Kaelum finally answered the question he’d momentarily set aside.
“They are certainly not incompetent. Since they primarily operate in the north, they’ve never contracted with our Empire before…”
“Then they must be familiar with northern geography as well.”
The dossier in Claudius’s hand thudded onto the desk. The Emperor’s interest had shifted from the Guard’s blunder to the mercenary company.
The north remained untouched by Claudius’s reach—a vast plain beyond treacherous mountains, home to numerous nomadic tribes each staking their own territories.
The north wasn’t merely a barren expanse; it was an unknown, uncharted land brimming with hidden potential.
‘If only I could plant the Empire’s banner there as well…’
It was perfect. Noticing Claudius’s subtle smile, Kaelum stared down at the dossier with mixed emotions.
The Emperor would prepare for war again. He wouldn’t attack the north directly but would likely seize a nearby small city-state that had claimed neutrality.
The problem was that discontent brewed among the regular soldiers sent to the frontlines. While they fought and sacrificed, the Imperial Guard enjoyed every privilege—a glaring injustice.
Worse, the Guard was filled with idle men who, upon entry, received neither proper training nor supervision. Officers grew lazy, content merely with the nominal duty of guarding the Emperor rather than facing actual combat.
Joining the Guard was already seen as a mark of success—arrogance and entitlement saturated their minds like oil.
What the Empire needed now wasn’t conquest but reform: overhaul the military academy, the Imperial Guard, and even the complacency of the nobility.
But the Emperor showed no interest in that path. Only war and conquest made Claudius’s heart beat.
A ruthless desire—to possess everything he wanted—burned fiercely in his crimson eyes.
The Emperor’s gaze raked across Kaelum’s conscience. Gathering his thoughts, Kaelum clenched his eyes shut, then reopened them.
“Your Majesty, I have one request.”
“What is it?”
“It concerns the Imperial Guard.”
At the mention of the Guard, Claudius’s brow twitched. Though sensing the Emperor’s discomfort, Kaelum pressed on.
“We must enforce mandatory training for officers. Continuing as we are will bring great dishonor to Your Imperial Majesty. Additionally, we should revise the standards by which the Guard selects candidates from the military academy…”
“I’ll consider it later. Kaelum Western, that doesn’t seem to be what you should be saying right now.”
The Captain’s fists tensed, then slowly relaxed. He had no choice but to bow once more before the Emperor.
“…My apologies.”
“I truly like you. You’re sharp.”
Now the Captain’s duty was clear. Kaelum understood precisely what the Emperor cared about.
To cover up the Guard’s debacle, they needed to redirect public attention elsewhere.
If word spread that the Emperor himself had hired mercenaries, interest would naturally shift to these foreign northerners.
Claudius rose from his chair and approached Kaelum, placing a hand on his shoulder. Was it his imagination, or did that hand feel unusually heavy?
“I’ll inform a newspaper reporter with ties to the royal family beforehand. The article… I’ll release it in a day or so.”
“Understood. And I’d like to see these mercenaries myself. Where are they now?”
**
“…My ears are itching.”
“Why, Ruth? Someone talking about us again?”
“Quite a few people…”
“How many were those bastards yesterday? Just them alone’ll keep your ears itching all day. Don’t scratch too hard—you’ll hurt yourself.”
It was the hour between late morning and early afternoon. They needed to hurry—the Licas Mountains were far from close. Yet the team members packing their gear moved with unmistakable reluctance.
“The weather’s perfect. We could stay a few more days.”
“But everyone’s waiting. Others are jealous enough as it is—we should head back quickly.”
“I wish we could take on one more job here…”
“Eddie, watch your words—they become reality. Honestly, I’d love a simple task requiring no thought at all. Like being hired for a war again, or hunting down someone…”
The mercenaries fell silent. Alert to their surroundings, they all turned wary eyes toward the window.
Ruth, nearest to it, subtly parted the curtains while keeping his body hidden and peered outside.
“…It’s them.”
Damn it. Lailo clicked his tongue lightly. Must be the Imperial Guard—of course they couldn’t just let things slide quietly. Grumbling, he finished packing his gear.
“What should we do? If they catch us, it’ll get even messier.”
Before the mercenaries could hesitate, a knock sounded at the door. Lailo moved to answer first, but Rivel stopped him and stepped forward instead.
He approached the door ready to subdue and flee if needed.
“You lads still here?”
A middle-aged woman’s hushed voice came from outside. Brief relief washed over the four inside. Opening the door revealed the innkeeper, anxiously glancing toward the stairs.
Flustered and worried—likely due to the sudden situation—her voice carried clear distress.
“T-those Imperial Guard bastards showed up. Seems they’re looking for an excuse over yesterday’s incident…”
“The rumors reached here already? That was quick.”
“Everyone’s been talking about nothing else since early this morning. Hurry out through the back door—we’ll cover for you.”
“But then you’ll get in trouble for no reason.”
“How many times have I dealt with this? Happens more often than you’d think. Those Guard thugs raid inns and boarding houses hunting ‘republican remnants’ and drag people off.”
Apparently, resentment toward the Guard ran deep—even at Clover Tavern. From the open crack in the door, they heard noises of someone coming up the stairs.
Anxious, the innkeeper gestured urgently for them to hurry. But the mercenaries merely exchanged quiet smiles, calmly finishing their packing. Lailo tied his backpack shut with a meaningful grin.
“Boss, we’ve had our fair share of this treatment.”
“We’ve got pride and dignity—running isn’t in a mercenary’s code.”
“Still, this time the other side is the Imperial Guard. Things just got messy.”
Rivel spat the words out. Years of mercenary life had ingrained instinctive commands into his body.
In such situations, always assume the worst and act accordingly. Naive optimism only slackened the body and dulled the mind.
What pretext would they use over last night’s incident? Exile would be the best outcome. A misstep could land them in the imperial dungeon.
‘Or perhaps…’
Rivel recalled the woman he’d met at the tavern. If his hunch was right, the Guard’s arrival now was part of her plan.
Uncharacteristically, Rivel clung to a tiny sliver of hope. After always expecting the worst, indulging in one sweet fantasy wouldn’t hurt.
Handing his packed gear to Lailo, he stepped into the hallway.
“I’ll go down first. If it looks like they’ll arrest or detain anyone, escape through the back immediately.”
“I should be the one…”
Before anyone could stop him, Rivel descended to the first floor. Murmurs grew louder and closer.
In the lobby stood rigid inn staff and curious onlookers. Amid the tense atmosphere, Rivel spotted the only calm figure.
“Took you long enough.”
His eyes met Kaelum’s, who stood waiting in the lobby. Rivel instantly recognized him as Imperial Guard.
Strands of white streaked through his gray hair. Beyond his sharply tailored uniform, his entire bearing exuded the discipline and strength of someone steeped in long service.
His deep gray eyes appeared to hover at the threshold of middle age—stubborn yet free of foolish obstinacy.
Kaelum stood perfectly composed, silently watching Rivel descend.
If anything, the bystanders in the lobby seemed more tense than the two men. Rivel walked slowly toward Kaelum.
“Judging by your uniform, you must be the commander of those we clashed with yesterday. What do you want?”
“Are you their captain?”
“I am.”
Kaelum’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Though the other’s tone grated on him faintly, he dismissed it and delivered Claudius’s message.
“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor summons the Licas Mercenary Company.”
Hearing this, Rivel’s blue eyes—a rare sight—flickered with emotion. The small fragment of hope he’d clutched shimmered brightly.
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
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