I Will Live for Your Death (20 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 174

In the end, the result of the first joint training exercise went to the Imperial Army.

Yet even within the Imperial Army—even among the Imperial Guard officers—no one dared express joy at their victory. Despite the Emperor’s order to attend the banquet, everyone wore grim faces as they headed back to their barracks.

The Emperor also issued an order for the mercenary company to attend the banquet. But as always, Rivel politely declined, repeatedly emphasizing that his status was far too low to presume to join such a gathering.

“This food won’t go down my throat.”

Eddie kicked a stone on the ground petulantly, grumbling under his breath. Closing his eyes, he saw the brutally gutted deer; covering his ears, he still heard the Empress’s heart-wrenching sobs as clearly as if she stood beside him.

If Rivel refused to concede defeat, the Emperor seemed ready to lay out both deer carcasses and remain motionless. For Ilyd’s peace of mind, Rivel’s declaration had clearly been the right choice.

Still, some members of the company showed clear disappointment. They muttered that if Rivel had just stood his ground without conceding, the Emperor would have quietly admitted defeat anyway—that after all, it had practically been a draw, so letting it go might have been better…

“Have you no conscience? Is that something a human being should say?”

Unable to tolerate it any longer, Lailo scolded them. The rebuked mercenaries flinched and glanced nervously at Lailo.

“Let’s say you accidentally pulled the trigger by mistake—would you still gut the deer right in front of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress?”

“You’re unusually agitated, Lailo. Her Imperial Majesty was clearly startled, but such accidents can certainly happen.”

“Do you even know where the Captain goes every dawn?”

“Why bring that up all of a sudden…?”

“It’s where the late Empress’s child is buried.”

The faces of those who had looked disappointed slowly hardened. Lailo sighed deeply, though even breathing failed to ease the tightness in his chest.

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