In the end, the only ones angered by the fact that the fourth Lady, Edith, was going to the capital with the new Portrion nobles were Elizabeth and Aizen.

“At this rate, we won’t even be able to ambush them on the way. There’s no point in waiting in this frustrating domain.”

Elizabeth sighed and tossed the newsletter she was reading onto the table. Due to a lack of troops, they had only been making stealthy attacks on agents carrying out missions, without being able to storm the mercenary unit building.

The newsletter detailed how many knights the Portrion noble was mobilizing for his trip to the capital.

‘I already thought we wouldn’t have a chance to ambush because Walter was hiring an enormous number of mercenaries.’

Now they were accompanying a noble who had received the Emperor’s edict, so there was no chance for a gap in their security.

It was too dangerous to even attempt an ambush when the entire Empire would be watching the procession of the noble who had received the Emperor’s command, especially as regional lords were dying.

“We have no choice but to go to the capital ourselves.”

Elizabeth, being sensible, didn’t want to do something as foolish as hitting a rock with an egg.

It seemed better to return to the capital for reinforcements and wait for a better opportunity rather than pointlessly picking a fight with a well-armed opponent they couldn’t defeat.

However, Aizen was not pleased with her words.

“It feels a waste to send them off to the capital without making any sort of attack.”

The reason Aizen reached a relatively audacious conclusion was because of the humiliation he experienced in the square on the day of Helen’s speech.

That day, he had planned to kidnap Walter, who was acting as Helen’s escort, after inflicting a fatal wound on him.

However, Walter effortlessly fended off the assassins from Geoturk rushing at him from all sides. The moment Aizen locked eyes with Walter’s radiant green eyes, filled with killing intent, he could do nothing but hold his breath.

‘That was definitely magic. Someone in the mercenary unit has definitely learned how to use innate magic.’

Even though the assassins were highly trained, no one could withstand his sword imbued with magic.
If Walter, who already displayed such majesty with his unstable magical power, went to the capital to further hone his combat magic, time was of the essence.

‘Can’t afford to delay any longer.’

Once magical power was unleashed, it gradually became more familiar even without training. But if Walter continued his grueling training over time, it would become difficult to capture, let alone kill him.

“Eisen. When this mission is accomplished, I will request a suitable title and small castle for you from my brother. Your comrades who suffered at the hands of Duke Lexion will also be pleased.”

The promise Gilbert had given him before setting out was more vivid to Eisen, who was caught in a sense of urgency, than Elizabeth’s dissuasion.

Several days later, the finest carriage owned by Baron Portrion arrived in front of the mercenary building.

Having confirmed through the window that the line of carriages was quite long, Edith finished the letter she was writing and stood up.

‘So the day has really come for me to go to the capital.’

A strange excitement and apprehension about the unknown challenges that may come filled her simultaneously.

“Please send this to Ijazelle.”

She requested a member of the mercenary troop, who had decided to stay in the territory, to send the letter she had written last night to compose her thoughts.

Ijazelle had been a support for her to endure in Portrion. While Ijazelle also planned to go to the capital, Edith wanted to express her gratitude for the support she had received in Portrion before leaving.

As she was about to head downstairs wearing her cloak, Vivian made a suggestion.

“Ma’am, how about wearing this?”

What Vivian held was a rather expensive-looking white fur coat. Before she could ask where it came from, Vivian spoke as if it was self-explanatory.

“Walter had it ordered, and it arrived today. It’s good to keep yourself warm.”

Vivian was one of the few who knew about Edith’s pregnancy. She was a trustworthy person, having observed her up close.

Edith expressed her gratitude to Vivian, who took such good care of her, and put on the thick coat.

For Edith, who had always had to wear multiple thin coats due to a lack of proper winter wear, the coat felt so warm and soft that it seemed she might drift off to sleep just by wearing it.

‘Come to think of it, it felt similar the first time I was held in Walter’s arms.’
Edith instantly loved the heavy, cozy, and warm coat.

As she descended the stairs, Walter was conversing with Reinhardt, who was in charge of the security detail.

“Haha, have the two of you been promoted to knights?”

Reinhardt looked at Walter and Cassius, who, following the terms Helen had set for Edith, were now accompanying her not as stablehands or gardeners but as knights.

Both were already good-looking, but dressed in the fine garments bestowed upon knights and armed with swords, they looked even more convincing.

While Cassius admired his own reflection as a knight in the window, Walter asked Reinhardt,

“By the way, how did the favor I asked for turn out?”

“I’ve managed to procure it because you asked, but… what exactly are you planning to use it for?”

Reinhardt glanced at a wagonload of something as he asked. At this, Walter wore a meaningful smile.

“It’s a sort of trap.”