Before Lebel could pick up the pen, several checks with the Emperor’s signature were placed on the table.

Lebel quietly scanned the amounts written on the papers and signed without hesitation. His brow furrowed slightly, but Cledius failed to notice. The contract proceeded swiftly.

“I’d like you to come here as soon as possible. We need to discuss future matters.”

“Understood.”

As soon as he received the signal that he could leave, Lebel stood up and left the room. Kailem only spoke after confirming he had gone.

“There will be a lot of resistance from the Imperial Guard officers and within the imperial court. Since they’re a mercenary group from the North…”

“Who within the imperial court?”

His question was filled with confidence. It was an attitude stemming from the certainty that there were no forces within the imperial court that could oppose the Emperor.

Most of the imperial family had been eliminated by the Empress Dowager’s checks. After the previous Emperor’s passing, it was his mother, the Empress Dowager, who purged those who pressured Cledius and those who coveted the Emperor’s position.

She didn’t hesitate to secretly poison or assassinate imperial family members she thought would be detrimental to Cledius’s power. Kailem still remembered her imposing yet chillingly cold figure from behind.

“The Empress Consort wouldn’t be interested in such matters, and the Empress… Surely our gracious Empress wouldn’t conspire with those foreigners.”

A beautiful doll devoid of any emotion. Cledius stared at the ashes in the now extinguished fireplace.

The dead fire would not reignite. No matter how much one blew or fanned it, it was impossible without a new spark.

“I’m still concerned about that man’s appearance.”

“Why?”

“They say you can tell how a person has lived by looking into their eyes… That man has seen the end of life.”

“I like that look in his eyes. It seems he’ll never let go once he bites down on something.”

He was like a loyal dog bound by money, but one that would never bite its master first. Of course, the one doing the cutting would be the employer, the Emperor.

“And… mercenaries are suitable for using and discarding.”

As easily as they were bound by money, they could be cast aside without difficulty.

Cledius’s position was an immutable one that would never change, and Lebel would have to struggle beneath it.

How dare a dog that moves only for money bite its master’s neck? Cledius smiled with satisfaction. Kailem knew the meaning behind that smile. He simply bowed his head silently in acceptance.

**

The next day, most newspapers featured prominent articles about the Rikas Mercenary Group on their front pages. It was news of the mercenary group joining the imperial court. And they were from the North, no less.

There was also an official announcement from the imperial court stating that this was a war that must be won, and thus they had to hire them for practical reasons.

At the end of the newspaper, there were also opposing commentaries. They criticized the audacity of bringing in outside forces to the country.

Amidst various debates, the incident caused by the Imperial Guard was quietly buried without proper attention. Only one newspaper covered it in a small article.

Ilarid was carefully reading that article while drinking strongly brewed black tea.

She had long since skimmed over just the bold headlines on the front page. Whether it was chronic heartburn or the hot tea entering an empty stomach, the walls of her stomach trembled slightly.

“Your Majesty, are you drinking tea on an empty stomach again? I’ve told you so many times that it’s not good for you…”

Lynette started voicing her worried nagging as soon as she entered. It was a habit that should be abandoned, but nothing was better for clearing the mind early in the morning. Ilarid sheepishly lowered her hand holding the teacup.

“Please eat this first.”

“Thank you, Lynette.”

There was bread of a good size to eat and neatly cut sandwiches on a silver platter. Ilarid slowly chewed on them while resuming reading the newspaper article. Lynette, who had glanced at the headline, quietly added:

“Everyone is in an uproar about that story today. They say that mercenary group entering the palace is the same one that confronted the Imperial Guard at the tavern back then. Do you remember?”

“I suppose so. It’s almost unprecedented. Thanks to that, the incident caused by the Imperial Guard has been buried.”

“I was hoping this would be a chance to really deflate their arrogance… They think they got their positions purely because of their own merits. But they get bonus points for their family names, and if you slip them some money under the table, they’ll let you pass. Rumor has it there are even people who take the test in place of others. Good grief.”

“…Surely not.”

“It’s true. That’s the story spreading through the academy.”

Lynette’s voice grew quieter and quieter, lest someone outside might hear.

There were rumors of some kind of deal between the military academy and the Imperial Guard. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Where there’s demand, supply naturally follows. There were even brokers emerging who connected nobles with test proxies. Ilarid muttered quietly to herself while looking down at the newspaper.

“It seems the things to worry about are increasing.”

“Pardon?”

“…It’s nothing. Anyway, it looks like they’ll be living with us in the imperial palace, so things will get busier from now on. There will be more things to take care of one by one.”

“Well, we belong to the Empress’s Palace, so unless it’s really urgent, we probably won’t be called upon.”

Lynette shrugged her shoulders. They’ll probably be busy sweeping and cleaning the spaces the new people will use, so it’ll be hectic for a few days.

The number of men in the palace would suddenly increase, but she didn’t mind much. They’d be far from the Empress’s Palace anyway, and they probably wouldn’t cross paths often.

Ilarid folded the newspaper again and placed it back on the desk. The nausea that had been rising earlier was gradually subsiding. She had to maintain her composure as much as possible.

If the mercenary group enters the imperial court, the plan she had originally set up might be able to move forward, even if just a little.

Ilarid clenched her trembling hand under the desk so Lynette couldn’t see. She decided to think about what comes next after they arrive.

**

In the wide plain, nameless weeds swayed like waves in the wind.

Some called these grasses the fluttering hems of dancing people’s clothes, while others said they were scary because they contained the spirits of those who had starved to death in times of famine.

If you ran through the thick grass, the Rikas Mountains would appear.

The starting point of the mountain range is low-lying. Of course, it was only low and modest by the mercenary group’s standards. The small castle in the mountains, which everyone avoided, stood desolately in its place.

The fact that they were stationed in an abandoned castle near the mountain range was known to everyone living nearby.

As one approached the cold and desolate mountain range, the air touching the cheeks immediately felt colder and drier.

Four horses could be seen slowing down briefly in the plain. Just a little more galloping and they would reach the castle where the mercenary group was staying.

Lebel looked at the distant shape of the castle. Someone unfamiliar might shudder, thinking ghosts might pop out.

The mercenary group always held the belief that people were scarier than ghosts, so it wasn’t much of an issue.

This abandoned castle was where the former leader Turgel had settled after retirement. But there were no plans to put down roots.

As they often changed their base according to contract terms, they were always prepared to leave.

As soon as they entered the castle, Eddie shouted with an exultant expression:

“Yahoo! We’re back!”

“…Arrived.”

“Leader, you’ve returned?”

“But we have to leave right away. Pack your bags, comrades! We’re going to the imperial palace from now on!”

Imperial palace? Did they hear wrong? The castle buzzed once. Everyone seemed unable to believe the words that came out of Eddie’s mouth.

“Have you all been living in deception? It’s true, I tell you! The leader has made a contract with the Astrid Imperial Court!”

“All members of the mercenary group, prepare to depart. We’re going to the imperial palace.”

As soon as the preparation order fell from Lebel’s lips, the mercenary group, after letting out a short cheer, began to move busily.

Only Lailo was the exception. He had a glum face even as he prepared the horses, gathered weapons, and packed bags.

Eddie, who was excitedly packing his bags, noticed Lailo’s expression and tried to gauge the situation.

“Lailo, are you thinking something unpleasant? Or do you have any complaints?”

“I’m leaving my wife behind, you know.”

“Ah… There was Mrs. Grit. Can’t we bring her along?”

“Talk sense. How can we take her? It’s already a big deal that we’re going together. Leader!”

Lailo shouted towards Lebel while patting Eddie’s back. Lebel, who was just organizing the saddle on his horse, turned his head towards Lailo.

“I’m going to say goodbye to my wife!”

“Alright.”

Going to say goodbye to his wife while everyone else was preparing. But no one expressed dissatisfaction or grumbled.

Sometimes, it’s best not to bring up certain things intentionally. Although they were an aggressive and bold mercenary group, everyone had this much tact and courtesy.

The path leading to the back of the castle was narrow and steep. Although some flat stones had been laid and the path well-maintained, the occasional strong winds made climbing up not an easy task.

As the path neared its end, the starting point of the Rikas Mountains appeared. It was the sunniest spot here with the least wind.

There stood a stone monument. Lailo approached the monument.

“Grit, I’m here.”

Weeds had grown again in just a few days. Even in this cold, dry environment with gusting winds, the weeds stubbornly survived.

“These pesky weeds. We used to not even have these to eat back then, right?”

He joked while clearing the weeds around the monument. Just after they got married, a crop failure hit and they really had to worry about each meal day by day.

Still, the couple lived on, working hard without complaining to each other.

Just when Lailo thought things might get a bit better after starting his life as a mercenary, his wife fell ill. The image of his wife withering away day by day, without knowing the cause, was still vivid.

One day, a drunken Lailo shouted towards the sky:

‘How heartless is heaven, to do this just when we thought we could finally eat well? Are people like us not allowed to live unless we’re miserable?’

He still hadn’t received an answer to that question even after several years. If he had stayed by his sick wife’s side, would her condition have improved even a little?

As if trying to erase the thought, he threw the bunch of weeds in his hand to the side.

“Honey, I’m going far away. I worry you might get lonely.”

It had been Lailo’s long-standing habit to visit his wife’s grave after returning from a mission.

Starting with the difficulties in battle, he would sometimes even complain about the leader working them too hard. It seemed like his wife buried down there wouldn’t feel so lonely that way.

If he couldn’t visit for a while, only the weeds would grow abundantly, which worried him to no end. Why did the weeds grow so fast? He cleaned up around the gravestone as neatly as possible.

“It looks like it’ll be a long journey. So don’t wait…”

Lailo stroked the monument once with his hand. A life cut short at a young age when one should have many attachments. Nothing was as sorrowful as the short span of years engraved on the stone.

He tried to choose words to say to his buried wife but ended up suppressing them inside.

“Visit me in my dreams sometimes.”

There was a mountain of things he wanted to say, but he wanted to say that in person when they met in the afterlife. Lailo soon turned around and moved away from the monument.

The wind blew again along the Rikas Mountains. The discarded weeds scattered one by one in the wind, then flew up the mountain and disappeared into the distance.