“Vernon, the Captain of the Imperial Guard, right?”

Vernon, with his shaggy brown hair, beard, and sunken gray eyes, and Amy stood in front of the dim stable outside the inn, carefully observing each other while hiding their thoughts.

“…Former Captain of the Guard, Lady Chamberlain.”

Vernon replied glumly. Amy smiled brightly.

“I’m honored that you know me.”

Vernon scratched the back of his head.

“Well, the ghost-like Lady Chamberlain of the Crown Prince’s palace is famous.”

“Not anymore. I now belong to the Second Prince, or rather, the Grand Duke of Noidelman in the North.”

“…So it was indeed the Second Prince.”

Vernon looked confused, perhaps due to the influx of information. Regardless, Amy quickly scanned his shabby clothes, rough skin, and calloused hands.

‘He doesn’t seem likely to refuse our offer.’

Hiding her triumphant feeling, Amy spoke calmly.

“There’s no need to beat around the bush, is there? I’d like to invite you to the Grand Duchy of Noidelman in the North, Captain Vernon.”

Surprised by the unexpected words, he startled.

“Me? Why? I was driven out of the Imperial Palace, wasn’t I?”

“It was due to the false accusations of the current Captain of the Guard, Martin. I know that Captain Vernon is innocent.”

“…”

His gray eyes trembled greatly. Amy quietly closed her mouth, giving him time to accept her proposal.

‘He too is a victim of the Empress.’

The problem was that Martin, a distant relative of the Empress, coveted a high position without having the necessary skills. He betrayed Vernon, who had practically raised him, and shattered his knee under the guise of a training match.

That wasn’t all. Martin, seemingly wanting to finish the job, struck Vernon again with an iron mace while he was disoriented from his injury. Suddenly, allegations of bribery within the Imperial Guard surfaced. Under pressure from all sides, he eventually had to step down from his position as Captain and return to his hometown.

After being lost in thought for a moment, Vernon gave a bitter smile.

“But… I’m a has-been now. I won’t be of any help to the Second Prince.”

His eyes lingered on his knee. Amy looked him over coldly and snorted.

“For a has-been… you look exactly the same as before.”

“…”

Vernon’s face stiffened slightly. Amy inwardly clicked her tongue. It was obvious from his muscular physique, proof that he hadn’t ceased training for a moment, and his well-maintained sword.

‘What kind of has-been looks exactly the same as when they were active?’

She couldn’t understand why military officers felt ashamed when caught consistently training.

Amy coldly gazed at Vernon, who was embarrassed and at a loss.

‘Knight Vernon may be broken, but it’s not like that’s the only path he can take. Why does he think his life is over?’

Anyway, she was well aware that his injury was not trivial…

Amy spoke businesslike.

“I want you to take charge of the guard. You don’t need to act as an elite knight yourself, just train the guards for the Grand Duke who will rule the vast northern territory.”

“…”

For a moment, his expression changed in various ways.

From learned helplessness to expectation for a new future contrary to it, slight excitement followed by fear of whether he could do it. In any case, it wasn’t a negative reaction, so Amy felt somewhat relieved.

‘We desperately need someone like Vernon since we don’t know the exact situation in the North.’

She added softly.

“We can match the conditions from your time as Captain of the Imperial Guard, so think about it.”

“!”

It was an offer so generous it was groundbreaking. After confirming that he swallowed dryly, Amy turned away without lingering and entered the inn.

“Did it go well?”

Noah asked as Amy sat down. Amy nodded with a faint smile.

“As I told you on the way here, he’s the one I’ve marked for the Captain of the Guard. I’ve conveyed the invitation to come to the Grand Duchy.”

Joseph, at the next table, had perked up his ears but became gloomy upon learning Vernon was a military officer. Amy glanced at him.

‘We need a civil official to assist Joseph too, someone skilled in calculations.’

Starting from scratch required several times more effort than when she had raised the Crown Prince. Moreover, having to make and implement all decisions alone from start to finish left her feeling like even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough.

‘Still, it’s fortunate to have a lord who trusts and delegates.’

It was also fortunate that there was no one as desperate to trip her up and leash her as the Empress and Lady Esmaine when she was the Lady Chamberlain of the Crown Prince’s palace. Amy was determined not to miss this opportunity to make the Second Prince and the Grand Duchy prosperous.

“Have you finished your meal?”

“Yes, but Amy, you haven’t eaten much, have you?”

As Noah looked at her with concern, Amy was about to answer when suddenly the door burst open with a bang. People’s gazes turned to the newcomers at the doorway.

“Is there a traveler here?”

A pale and gaunt man asked, looking around the room. When he saw Amy and Noah, he blinked a few times before exclaiming in surprise.

“Could you be the Grand Duke of Noidelman?”

“!”

The moment Amy’s eyes sharpened, the mercenaries surrounding them stood up abruptly, hands on the swords at their waists. As the man who had come looking for the Grand Duke flinched at the suddenly tense atmosphere, Noah raised his hand to calm everyone and said,

“Who might you be?”

“Ah, I am the steward of Baron Falren, the lord of this region. If it’s not presumptuous, I implore you to rest from your long journey at the lord’s manor.”

Amy let out a ‘hmm.’ She wasn’t surprised, having anticipated such a situation.

Noah was a newly elevated great lord who had acquired vast territories in the North. It was only natural for people to flock to him, trying to make a good impression.

Originally, they should have stopped at every lord’s castle along the way to the North, receiving all sorts of hospitality, but they disliked the commotion and had come this far disguised as commoners.

Noah and Amy exchanged silent glances.

‘What should we do?’

‘Well, what shall we do?’

Unaware of their hesitation, Baron Falren’s steward, as if it was already decided that they would stay at the lord’s manor, excitedly gave various orders to his subordinates. Seeing him send people to various places in the territory, especially to the main road connecting north and south, it seemed they had been waiting on every road leading to the North.

‘Why are they so desperate?’

Strictly speaking, this rural town wasn’t part of the North. Meaning it wasn’t land Noah would rule. Yet why had they waited so eagerly for him?

‘I have an ominous feeling it’s not for a good reason…’

Amy inwardly clicked her tongue after glancing at the steward’s rat-like face and cunning eyes.

Unaware that he had completely shattered Amy’s first impression of this territory, the steward, wearing a greasy smile, said in a gentle voice,

“Shall we go, Your Grace? I will escort you.”

“…”

But Noah ignored him and only looked at Amy. Amy silently nodded. Only then did Noah stand up and say,

“Lead the way.”

“Grand Duke of Noidelman, it is an honor to meet you.”

Upon arriving at the lord’s manor, a middle-aged couple greeted them at the entrance. It was Baron Falren and his wife.

“Lady Chamberlain Amelia, I presume. I’ve heard much about you.”

The Baroness’s eyes widened as she firmly grasped Amy’s hand. The cold and slippery hand felt unpleasant. Amy gave an awkward smile and distanced herself from the Baroness under the pretext of attending to Noah.

While doing so, she quickly scanned their attire. Despite the small and not wealthy territory, the Baron and Baroness were wearing gowns and tunics made of expensive fabric in the capital’s latest fashion.

‘And the jewelry ornaments are genuine too?’

A poor territory, lords and lady with excessive greed. She could roughly guess the reason for this invitation.

“…”

Noah, who was receiving the Baron’s welcome beside her, alternately looked at Amy and the Baroness’s clothes before silently frowning.

“Come, come, don’t just stand here, please enter.”

The Baron, pretending to be jovial, led them inside with a cunning smile. Amy quietly followed behind Noah.

Servants lined up on both sides of the entrance, bowing to welcome them. Amy carefully observed their appearance. They all looked shabby and worn out from fatigue.

“We can’t let the Grand Duke eat poor quality food in a low-class inn. We’ve prepared a banquet, so please enjoy.”

As the Baron stroked his beard and put on airs, Amy thought glumly.

‘We’ve already eaten almost everything…’

But when they arrived at the banquet hall and saw the food laid out, her expression worsened. Some dishes were cold, and others were undercooked. Anyone could see it was hastily prepared food.

“…”

The Baron and Baroness, noticing Noah and Amy’s expressions, unnecessarily shouted at the maids.

“You dare to insult our guests! I’m too ashamed to face His Grace!”

Not satisfied with that, they pulled out a young maid and took a whip hanging on the wall to strike her.

“!”

Noah and Amy were shocked.

‘That’s going too far.’

Unable to watch the maid continue to be beaten, Amy quickly stepped forward to stop them.

“We’ve already finished our meal at the inn, so please show us to our rooms. His Grace is tired from the journey.”

At Amy’s signal, Noah awkwardly pretended to yawn, covering his mouth with his hand. The Baron and his wife brightened up and made a fuss.

“We’ve committed a discourtesy to our esteemed guest. This way, please.”

They gave Noah the best inner chamber, and Amy a moderately good one. They had been riding horses since dawn, only stopping to eat, so Noah’s eyelids were already heavy with sleep. Amy dismissed the servants the Baron had assigned and the Baron and his wife, saying she would attend to Noah personally.

With a thud, the door closed and footsteps faded away. Noah lowered his voice.

“Is the mercenary captain here? Report.”