The crowd that was jealous of Shan was still there.
To them, winning the war was not important. All that mattered was the honor and title they would take from the war, and Shan was a bad guy who took what was theirs.
The Elijah mercenary group that couldn't be brought to Heglatan was also a thorn in their side, taking away their achievements. So it was perhaps natural that they wanted to tie up Shan and Elijah and deal with them in one go.
When she came to her senses, all of her allies had disappeared. They had guided Shan and Elijah to continue to advance and then retreated cleverly themselves. As a result, Shan and Elijah were completely surrounded by the enemy.
While Heglatan's soldiers surrounded them at a certain distance, the knight leading them rode forward. He shouted.
"You are surrounded! Drop your weapons and surrender."
And the knight looked towards Elze and said.
"Elijah! Stand with Heglatan."
Elze blinked. Then she pointed the tip of her sword at Shan, who was standing next to her.
"What about the interest?"
"He's a devil! He can't be left alive!"
The way he was shouting in anger at the end of his sentence was definitely not a mood that would let him live. Perhaps it was because Shan had done so many things.
Elze thought for a moment. Here, Elijah could go to Heglatan and it would be over. Then her life would be safe, she would get a lot of money, and in any case, it was an easy path in many ways.
But...
Elze glanced at Shan. His words had long since been lost, and instead of the sword he had been holding, he was holding a large mace in his hand. His once gleaming armor was dirty, and his jet-black hair was soaked in blood and dried on his copper-colored skin.
He looked back as if he felt her gaze. Elze and Shan met eyes. There was no expectation in those pretty purple eyes. Even if Elze abandoned him right here and now, Shan wouldn’t be surprised at all.
That was annoying. The fact that he would move just as he expected.
"Captain. What are you going to do?"
"I will follow the captain's will."
"I'll do whatever the captain tells me to do."
As always, Elijah was ready to follow Elze's will. Elze hesitated. She couldn't put those who trusted and followed her in danger. Ivanna, who was quick-witted, shouted first.
"Oh, I hate Heglatan so much!"
Tarkun and Lapiine also said something to Ivanna's words.
"The Heglatan guys are gloomy."
"They are unbelievable."
The faces of the Heglatan soldiers who heard Elijah's words crumpled. However, Elze knew. They were doing this on purpose for Elze who was hesitating. Elze took a deep breath. Then, she adjusted her grip on her sword and apologized.
"...Sorry."
There were no more words. As soon as Elze finished speaking, Elijah moved. The knight of Heglatan shouted in great confusion at Elijah’s attack.
"Attack!!"
Heglatan's soldiers charged endlessly. There were only five of them here. It wouldn't have been strange at all if they died here.
You're crazy, Erzenes. You're really crazy.
To them, winning the war was not important. All that mattered was the honor and title they would take from the war, and Shan was a bad guy who took what was theirs.
The Elijah mercenary group that couldn't be brought to Heglatan was also a thorn in their side, taking away their achievements. So it was perhaps natural that they wanted to tie up Shan and Elijah and deal with them in one go.
When she came to her senses, all of her allies had disappeared. They had guided Shan and Elijah to continue to advance and then retreated cleverly themselves. As a result, Shan and Elijah were completely surrounded by the enemy.
While Heglatan's soldiers surrounded them at a certain distance, the knight leading them rode forward. He shouted.
"You are surrounded! Drop your weapons and surrender."
And the knight looked towards Elze and said.
"Elijah! Stand with Heglatan."
Elze blinked. Then she pointed the tip of her sword at Shan, who was standing next to her.
"What about the interest?"
"He's a devil! He can't be left alive!"
The way he was shouting in anger at the end of his sentence was definitely not a mood that would let him live. Perhaps it was because Shan had done so many things.
Elze thought for a moment. Here, Elijah could go to Heglatan and it would be over. Then her life would be safe, she would get a lot of money, and in any case, it was an easy path in many ways.
But...
Elze glanced at Shan. His words had long since been lost, and instead of the sword he had been holding, he was holding a large mace in his hand. His once gleaming armor was dirty, and his jet-black hair was soaked in blood and dried on his copper-colored skin.
He looked back as if he felt her gaze. Elze and Shan met eyes. There was no expectation in those pretty purple eyes. Even if Elze abandoned him right here and now, Shan wouldn’t be surprised at all.
That was annoying. The fact that he would move just as he expected.
"Captain. What are you going to do?"
"I will follow the captain's will."
"I'll do whatever the captain tells me to do."
As always, Elijah was ready to follow Elze's will. Elze hesitated. She couldn't put those who trusted and followed her in danger. Ivanna, who was quick-witted, shouted first.
"Oh, I hate Heglatan so much!"
Tarkun and Lapiine also said something to Ivanna's words.
"The Heglatan guys are gloomy."
"They are unbelievable."
The faces of the Heglatan soldiers who heard Elijah's words crumpled. However, Elze knew. They were doing this on purpose for Elze who was hesitating. Elze took a deep breath. Then, she adjusted her grip on her sword and apologized.
"...Sorry."
There were no more words. As soon as Elze finished speaking, Elijah moved. The knight of Heglatan shouted in great confusion at Elijah’s attack.
"Attack!!"
Heglatan's soldiers charged endlessly. There were only five of them here. It wouldn't have been strange at all if they died here.
You're crazy, Erzenes. You're really crazy.
But Elze had no regrets. On the contrary, her heart felt light as if she could fly, and a burst of laughter escaped her lips.
A heavy sound was heard from above Elze, who was swinging her rapier and mangosh. Elze immediately lowered her head, and a huge mace passed over her.
Three Heglatan soldiers were hit by the mace and their heads were blown off, killing them instantly. If Elze hadn't lowered her head, there would have been four heads blown off.
She thought to herself, “This is how you repay my kindness after all the hard work I did to save you.” While she was feeling dumbfounded, Shan clung to Elze’s back.
"Elze."
He asked, standing back to back.
"Why did you do that?"
Before she could hear the answer, the mace swung again. Elze easily jumped over it as it swung heavily downwards.
Shan's mace crushed the legs of those in front of Elze, and Elze's rapier cut through the chests of those behind Shan. Then the two faced each other again.
Elze said.
"Just like that."
"..."
Shan didn't respond to Elze's words. She felt him against her back. His hot body temperature, his dampness from blood and sweat, and... his faint trembling.
Elze said, gritting her teeth.
"And if you swing your mace one more time without saying a word!"
Elze finished her speech by poking the mangosh into the weak spot of the person who was approaching her.
"I know that my mangosh will be stuck in your throat by then."
But despite what she said, Shan was a great partner. It was as if they had been together for a very long time, and even better than Tarkun, who had always been with Elze.
Her heart felt like it was going to burst. Adrenaline warmed her body, and her nerves were on edge. Everything flowed slowly in front of her dilated pupils.
As she swung her sword close to her limit, Elze felt a strange sense of liberation. If souls were connected, was this what it would feel like? It was as if she and he had become... one.
Perhaps Shan felt the same way as Elze. Before she knew it, Elze and Shan were talking to each other without saying a word, just with their eyes.
That day, Heglatan's force was annihilated. By just five people.
Shan and Elijah returned to the Baluar camp and told them the truth, but no one believed them.
This absurd incident was buried for a while but then spread to both camps through the testimonies of Heglatan soldiers who survived the battle.
As a result, the morale of the Baluar camp soared through the roof, while the morale of the Heglatan camp, which had to deal with the monsters, hit rock bottom.
And in commemoration of their legendary exploits, the battle that day was named the Battle of Shan-Elijah.
The war showed no sign of ending easily.
However, after the Battle of Shan-Elijah, the Baluar Empire had a clear advantage. The war was now completely in Baluar's hands.
Elze never saw Shan again after that. But they didn't bother to look for each other. They took it for granted that she would be there.
Living as Elijah's captain, Elze used every penny she earned to pay for Astin's tuition and the upkeep of the Targayel mansion. She saved most of the remaining money and kept the money for Elze to a minimum.
Although Astin was not born with a talent for swordsmanship, he had a mind that was more brilliant than anyone else's. After entering college, Astin never once fell below the top of his class.
Hearing news of Astin from time to time through planted sources was a great source of pleasure for Elze in the midst of the fierce battlefield.
Meanwhile, Elze received news that Astin had fallen from his horse during a jousting competition and was badly injured.
"I have to go home."
Her men didn't ask any questions about Elze's unexpected remark. They only asked one thing.
"Is Elijah disbanded?"
At Lapine's question, Elze looked at them one by one. Lapine, Tarkun, and Ivanna were all looking at Elze with tense faces. Elze slowly shook her head.
"No. I'll contact you."
"Captain!!"
Ivanna couldn't stand it anymore and hugged Elze tightly. While comforting Ivanna who was crying loudly, Elze promised to contact her again.
Elze decided to return home, while the other three stayed behind to end this tiresome Hundred Years' War.
"I'll go after the war is over, so wait."
Tarkun spoke with red eyes, holding back tears. Elze smiled and nodded to him.
And that night, Elze quietly left the Baluar camp. She had decided to leave in silence, as it would be unpleasant to see Elze, the leader of Elijah, return to her hometown.
Elze, with her hood, pulled down low, hurried along under the starlight of the night sky. However, there was a man who stopped her.
"Elze."
The man was leaning against a wooden pillar next to the path Elze was walking on. He didn't show himself, but she could tell who he was just by hearing his voice.
"Where are you going?"
He was Shan.
"The war is not over yet."
Like Shan, who never reveals herself, Elze did not bother to pull her hood up. With her hood pulled down low, hidden in the darkness, Elze spoke.
"Someone is waiting for me."
"Don't go."
"No."
"Your current actions constitute disobedience and desertion. As the Deputy Commander, I may have you court-martialed."
Elze sighed deeply at the threatening words.
"Please send it to me."
"As anyone wishes."
"Now you can do without Elijah."
"..."
Shan didn't speak for a long time. And what he said after a long silence was surprisingly quite ticklish.
"Elijah is not important. What is important to me is you, Elze."
Elze giggled without realizing it. Shan must have heard Elze's laughter. But Elze couldn't stop laughing. At first, she giggled, but soon she laughed loudly. After laughing heartily for a long time, Elze spoke with a voice full of laughter.
"You were a romantic."
Shan didn't respond to the teasing.
"I'll pay you back with interest later on my life debt."
Elze said, pulling back the hem of her hood that had been pulled back slightly from her laughter.
"So... don’t die, survive, Shan."
At that moment, Elze called his name for the first time. Did she sense the sincerity in the name she called? A blunt reply came back with a sigh.
"Let's try."
And Elze departed for Targayel, and Shan did not hold on. That was the end of their third meeting.
In the three years of war, they only met three times. However, it was an unforgettable memory for both Elze and Shan.
Elze hoped to meet him again someday. If she could meet him again after the war, she would want to share a sword with Shan. And have a little personal conversation.
Of course, she never dreamed that it would take the form of marriage.
As Erzenes of the Targayel Counts, not as the mercenary Elze.
She thought that everything would end when the war ended. But contrary to Elze's thoughts, that was where it all began.
Elze returned to the empire and took care of Astin. Fortunately, Astin's injuries from falling from a horse were not serious. After resting for about a month and spending some quality time with Elze at the mansion, Astin returned to school.
Thanks to the money she earned from her activities as a member of the Elijah mercenary group, she was able to live a relatively comfortable life. She wasn't living a life of luxury, but she was able to provide for the basic necessities.
She had no problem paying Astin's expensive tuition, and she had no worries about the cost of maintaining Targayel's mansion. Elze even hired a new employee to take care of the mansion.
As the master of Targayel, she bought some dresses and accessories to maintain her dignity. But she didn't go out to social parties or anything.
Of course, the biggest expense was purchasing new swords. Elze had ordered a new rapier and a mangosh.
She also contacted Elijah who had returned from the war, and made plans to meet up soon.
Finally, after all the hardships, there was a happy ending. Elze thought that all that was left to do was live happily.
Then one day, shocking news arrived at Targayel's mansion.
Forced marriage by imperial decree!
And of all the men, why did it have to be Shan Crixus!
Elze tried to control her facial expressions in front of the servant who delivered the imperial letter. However, the corners of her lips, which were forced to smile, were stiff and trembling.
It was clearly a twist of fate. Elze had to exercise great patience to avoid committing the sacrilege of tearing up the paper on which the imperial edict was written.
The mastermind behind all this was Crown Prince Raymond. After returning from the war, he was unable to bestow a title on Shan due to opposition from the nobles. So he came up with the idea of marrying Targayel to make Shan a Count.
The old and sick Emperor had been bedridden for a long time, so Crown Prince Raymond was handling most of the affairs. Forcing her to marry by imperial decree was a piece of cake.
The wedding was going very smoothly. Elze had a lot on her mind as everything was being decided in a frenzy, from the wedding date and venue to the title.
I should be thankful that my husband is not an old, pot-bellied man, but he's actually a war hero, so why am I like this?
A heavy sound was heard from above Elze, who was swinging her rapier and mangosh. Elze immediately lowered her head, and a huge mace passed over her.
Three Heglatan soldiers were hit by the mace and their heads were blown off, killing them instantly. If Elze hadn't lowered her head, there would have been four heads blown off.
She thought to herself, “This is how you repay my kindness after all the hard work I did to save you.” While she was feeling dumbfounded, Shan clung to Elze’s back.
"Elze."
He asked, standing back to back.
"Why did you do that?"
Before she could hear the answer, the mace swung again. Elze easily jumped over it as it swung heavily downwards.
Shan's mace crushed the legs of those in front of Elze, and Elze's rapier cut through the chests of those behind Shan. Then the two faced each other again.
Elze said.
"Just like that."
"..."
Shan didn't respond to Elze's words. She felt him against her back. His hot body temperature, his dampness from blood and sweat, and... his faint trembling.
Elze said, gritting her teeth.
"And if you swing your mace one more time without saying a word!"
Elze finished her speech by poking the mangosh into the weak spot of the person who was approaching her.
"I know that my mangosh will be stuck in your throat by then."
But despite what she said, Shan was a great partner. It was as if they had been together for a very long time, and even better than Tarkun, who had always been with Elze.
Her heart felt like it was going to burst. Adrenaline warmed her body, and her nerves were on edge. Everything flowed slowly in front of her dilated pupils.
As she swung her sword close to her limit, Elze felt a strange sense of liberation. If souls were connected, was this what it would feel like? It was as if she and he had become... one.
Perhaps Shan felt the same way as Elze. Before she knew it, Elze and Shan were talking to each other without saying a word, just with their eyes.
That day, Heglatan's force was annihilated. By just five people.
Shan and Elijah returned to the Baluar camp and told them the truth, but no one believed them.
This absurd incident was buried for a while but then spread to both camps through the testimonies of Heglatan soldiers who survived the battle.
As a result, the morale of the Baluar camp soared through the roof, while the morale of the Heglatan camp, which had to deal with the monsters, hit rock bottom.
And in commemoration of their legendary exploits, the battle that day was named the Battle of Shan-Elijah.
***
The war showed no sign of ending easily.
However, after the Battle of Shan-Elijah, the Baluar Empire had a clear advantage. The war was now completely in Baluar's hands.
Elze never saw Shan again after that. But they didn't bother to look for each other. They took it for granted that she would be there.
Living as Elijah's captain, Elze used every penny she earned to pay for Astin's tuition and the upkeep of the Targayel mansion. She saved most of the remaining money and kept the money for Elze to a minimum.
Although Astin was not born with a talent for swordsmanship, he had a mind that was more brilliant than anyone else's. After entering college, Astin never once fell below the top of his class.
Hearing news of Astin from time to time through planted sources was a great source of pleasure for Elze in the midst of the fierce battlefield.
Meanwhile, Elze received news that Astin had fallen from his horse during a jousting competition and was badly injured.
"I have to go home."
Her men didn't ask any questions about Elze's unexpected remark. They only asked one thing.
"Is Elijah disbanded?"
At Lapine's question, Elze looked at them one by one. Lapine, Tarkun, and Ivanna were all looking at Elze with tense faces. Elze slowly shook her head.
"No. I'll contact you."
"Captain!!"
Ivanna couldn't stand it anymore and hugged Elze tightly. While comforting Ivanna who was crying loudly, Elze promised to contact her again.
Elze decided to return home, while the other three stayed behind to end this tiresome Hundred Years' War.
"I'll go after the war is over, so wait."
Tarkun spoke with red eyes, holding back tears. Elze smiled and nodded to him.
And that night, Elze quietly left the Baluar camp. She had decided to leave in silence, as it would be unpleasant to see Elze, the leader of Elijah, return to her hometown.
Elze, with her hood, pulled down low, hurried along under the starlight of the night sky. However, there was a man who stopped her.
"Elze."
The man was leaning against a wooden pillar next to the path Elze was walking on. He didn't show himself, but she could tell who he was just by hearing his voice.
"Where are you going?"
He was Shan.
"The war is not over yet."
Like Shan, who never reveals herself, Elze did not bother to pull her hood up. With her hood pulled down low, hidden in the darkness, Elze spoke.
"Someone is waiting for me."
"Don't go."
"No."
"Your current actions constitute disobedience and desertion. As the Deputy Commander, I may have you court-martialed."
Elze sighed deeply at the threatening words.
"Please send it to me."
"As anyone wishes."
"Now you can do without Elijah."
"..."
Shan didn't speak for a long time. And what he said after a long silence was surprisingly quite ticklish.
"Elijah is not important. What is important to me is you, Elze."
Elze giggled without realizing it. Shan must have heard Elze's laughter. But Elze couldn't stop laughing. At first, she giggled, but soon she laughed loudly. After laughing heartily for a long time, Elze spoke with a voice full of laughter.
"You were a romantic."
Shan didn't respond to the teasing.
"I'll pay you back with interest later on my life debt."
Elze said, pulling back the hem of her hood that had been pulled back slightly from her laughter.
"So... don’t die, survive, Shan."
At that moment, Elze called his name for the first time. Did she sense the sincerity in the name she called? A blunt reply came back with a sigh.
"Let's try."
And Elze departed for Targayel, and Shan did not hold on. That was the end of their third meeting.
In the three years of war, they only met three times. However, it was an unforgettable memory for both Elze and Shan.
Elze hoped to meet him again someday. If she could meet him again after the war, she would want to share a sword with Shan. And have a little personal conversation.
Of course, she never dreamed that it would take the form of marriage.
As Erzenes of the Targayel Counts, not as the mercenary Elze.
***
She thought that everything would end when the war ended. But contrary to Elze's thoughts, that was where it all began.
Elze returned to the empire and took care of Astin. Fortunately, Astin's injuries from falling from a horse were not serious. After resting for about a month and spending some quality time with Elze at the mansion, Astin returned to school.
Thanks to the money she earned from her activities as a member of the Elijah mercenary group, she was able to live a relatively comfortable life. She wasn't living a life of luxury, but she was able to provide for the basic necessities.
She had no problem paying Astin's expensive tuition, and she had no worries about the cost of maintaining Targayel's mansion. Elze even hired a new employee to take care of the mansion.
As the master of Targayel, she bought some dresses and accessories to maintain her dignity. But she didn't go out to social parties or anything.
Of course, the biggest expense was purchasing new swords. Elze had ordered a new rapier and a mangosh.
She also contacted Elijah who had returned from the war, and made plans to meet up soon.
Finally, after all the hardships, there was a happy ending. Elze thought that all that was left to do was live happily.
Then one day, shocking news arrived at Targayel's mansion.
Forced marriage by imperial decree!
And of all the men, why did it have to be Shan Crixus!
Elze tried to control her facial expressions in front of the servant who delivered the imperial letter. However, the corners of her lips, which were forced to smile, were stiff and trembling.
It was clearly a twist of fate. Elze had to exercise great patience to avoid committing the sacrilege of tearing up the paper on which the imperial edict was written.
The mastermind behind all this was Crown Prince Raymond. After returning from the war, he was unable to bestow a title on Shan due to opposition from the nobles. So he came up with the idea of marrying Targayel to make Shan a Count.
The old and sick Emperor had been bedridden for a long time, so Crown Prince Raymond was handling most of the affairs. Forcing her to marry by imperial decree was a piece of cake.
The wedding was going very smoothly. Elze had a lot on her mind as everything was being decided in a frenzy, from the wedding date and venue to the title.
I should be thankful that my husband is not an old, pot-bellied man, but he's actually a war hero, so why am I like this?
Her head was about to explode.
Elze's complicated mind was at its peak when the date for her future husband to visit the mansion was set. She couldn't sleep because she was worried that he would recognize her.
On the day Shan was scheduled to come, Elze dressed up as best she could.
She chose the prettiest dress and put on some fancy jewelry. Then she put on some makeup and tied up her long hair neatly. Her ivory hair flowed down over her dress.
“Whew...”
As Elze sat in the reception room, looking into her hand mirror over and over again, the maid announced Shan's arrival.
“Miss! Lord Crixus has arrived!!”
Elze quickly looked out the window. She saw Shan riding in along the well-paved garden path.
He was riding a pitch-black warhorse, and he looked no different than when he was on the battlefield. He wore silk clothes instead of armor, but his fierce aura still could not be hidden. His sharp appearance made it seem as if he would cut someone down at any moment.
The black hair was black even under the dazzling sunlight. The pretty purple eyes that Elze loved had become colder and colder than before. The eyes, which contained no emotion, could not see into her inner thoughts.
Elze watched Shan for a long time before realizing that he was not alone. Behind him were five men.
She heard that Shan gained many followers because of his amazing performance in the war. Just as Elze created the Elijah mercenary group, Shan also built his own force.
Shan was seen getting off his horse and exchanging a few words with the servants who had come out to greet him. Then he raised his head. Elze quickly fell from the window and sat down on the sofa in the reception room as she had done from the beginning.
Soon after, a neat knock was heard, along with the maid's voice calling out.
“Miss, this is Lord Crixus.”
“Tell them to come in.”
The door opened, and Elze got up from the sofa. Her eyes met his.
“...”
After a moment of silence, Elze bowed slightly and greeted him.
“I am Erzenes of Targayel.”
Shan looked at Elze closely. Elze trembled at the sight of his purple eyes. It seemed as if he would call her Elze at any moment. However, he soon spoke nonchalantly.
“Shan of Crixus.”
Shan didn't recognize Elze. He seemed to think they looked similar, but he couldn't tell that they were the same person.
In fact, it was unrecognizable. Elze's appearance when she was rolling around on the battlefield was atrocious. Her skin was tanned by the sun, her hair was dyed messily and cut short, and she looked like she was covered in blood every day. The only thing that was similar between then and now was her blue eyes.
At least during their last meeting with Shan, she looked fine, but it was night and she was wearing a hood. In the end, Shan had never looked Elze in the face.
And crucially, Elze, the leader of the Elijah mercenary group, was a man, while Erzenes of the Targayel Counts was a woman.
At this point, it was even more surprising that Shan recognized her.
Strangely, Elze felt relief and regret at the same time. She was glad that he didn't recognize her, but she also felt regret that her hope that he might recognize her was dashed. Unlike Elze, who had complicated feelings, Shan didn't seem to be a bit shaken.
“I want to make a few things clear before we get married.”
There was no formal conversation. Shan immediately handed Elze the contract. After accepting it absentmindedly, he sat down on the sofa without asking permission.
Although it was absurd, Elze endured it and sat down across from him. While she was reading the contract, Shan started talking nonsense in front of her. There was no sign of respect for Elze in his attitude.
This kid. Elze couldn't hold back her anger inside. So in the end, Elze said everything she wanted to say. She went through each and every clause of the contract and finally threw a final punch.
“Why are you speaking informally to me? I am still of a higher status.”
“...”
At Elze's words, Shan's expression became quite pleasant. Elze felt relieved. After saying that, Shan snickered as he waved his fan around in a cool manner. Then he bowed his head and apologized politely.
“Please forgive my rudeness. I am not used to my aristocratic speech.”
For such a person, he was very good at being polite. Even though she knew that he was acting like that to gain the upper hand, Elze decided to ignore it. Still, she felt a little better after hearing his apology.
“I will send you the contract again after revising the items mentioned.”
“Please do so.”
And then neither of them said anything. In fact, what could they say? Officially, the two of them met for the first time today. Elze offered Shan the tea that had been prepared in advance, and Shan drank the tea without saying a word.
The two of them were quietly sipping tea when Shan suddenly spoke.
“...I heard you have a younger brother.”
He stared at Elze. His gaze was piercing. He was looking for traces of the mercenary Elze.
“I want to see his face once.”
But Elze was in no position to tell him the truth. It would not have been good if it had been known that the daughter of House Targayel had been running wild on the battlefield as the infamous Elze of Elijah.
After the hunt, there was no need for hounds. She was worth the money, but Elijah had completely robbed Baluar. Perhaps the Baluar royal family was sharpening their swords on Elijah.
And Shan Crixus was a close friend of the Baluar royal family's Crown Prince, Raymond. He couldn't put all of Elijah in danger because of Elze herself.
Elze put down her teacup and said calmly.
“Astin is a student at Aquis University. He is studying there. You will see him at the wedding later.”
“Because he's a student.”
Shan, who had been lost in thought for a moment, asked quietly.
“Does he have blue eyes like yours?”
“No. It’s light blue.”
“...I see.”
For a brief moment, a faint disappointment crossed Shan's face. Perhaps he had been expecting Astin to be Elze.
However, it was well known that Astin was not born with a talent for swordsmanship. Perhaps Shan knew this as well, but he had hoped after seeing Elze's face.
I am Elze.
The words that could not be said were just swirling inside her. Elze kept gulping down her tea to swallow the words that were trying to crawl up.
In 997 of the Innes calendar, Raymond Montes Baluar, Crown Prince of the Baluar Empire, ended the Hundred Years' War as Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army.
Raymond returned to the Empire in glory, but it was only for a short time. As was always the case after the war, the merits were commended and the wealth and titles were divided.
However, Raymond was unable to give a satisfactory reward to the person he most wanted to praise.
Shan Crixus, hero of Baluar. He was the man who led the victory in this Hundred Years' War, and he was a man who became like a brother to Raymond as they fought together on the battlefield.
Raymond thought that Shan should be given at least a countship, but he had already been met with opposition from the nobles by the position of second-in-command on the battlefield.
Even if he had been awarded the title of Count or Baron, all the nobles who were already keeping a close eye on Shan would rise up in revolt.
So, after much thought, Raymond came up with the brilliant idea of marrying Count Targayel.
Targayel, who had no successor to inherit the sword's talent, was now in dire straits. To make matters worse, the Count and his wife had died violently, leaving only the two siblings to lead the Count's family.
The title of Count Targayel was officially vacant, as he had not yet been crowned. Furthermore, he had previously expressed his intention to renounce the hereditary title.
It was a good thing for Targayel anyway. In a situation where their clan was on the verge of extinction, marrying Shan Crixus, a hero of the Hundred Years' War and admired by the people of the empire, was an opportunity for a comeback.
There was also a young lady who was of age but unmarried, and the plan was perfect. Raymond got right to work. Shan Crixus and Erzenes Targayel were married by imperial decree.
"So."
The teaspoon clicked into the teacup.
“What was it like meeting Erzenes Targayel?”
Shan stirred his teacup for a moment in silence in response to Raymond's question. Then he put down his teaspoon and spoke absentmindedly.
“She was similar to someone I know.”
Shan's words were sincere. When Shan first saw Elgenes, she was reminded of a man. A man who left him with memories he would never forget, and a debt he could never repay.
So when Shan first saw her, he wasn't that upset. It was a political marriage, but Shan actually thought she was a better woman than all the other women he had met so far.
But Raymond seemed to think Shan's words were a funny joke.
“She looks like a woman you know!”
He said, winking one eye.
“Soon, the innocent young lady of the Count’s family will fall for a bad man.”
“...”
The innocent young lady of the Count's family? That was absolutely not the case. Shan could not agree with Raymond's words. His words were not even a funny joke. Erzenes was a young lady who was so bold that it was doubtful whether she was a young lady of a noble family.
Shan could still clearly see her going over each clause of the contract. Despite her pretty face, her actions were worse than when mercenaries were going over contracts.
Of course, the highlight of it all was when she told him not to speak informally to her. Raymond smiled as Shan frowned at the memory.
“If possible, don’t divorce her. Even if you don’t like her, stick together. The title issue will be a huge headache.”
“We make sure to clearly distinguish between public and private matters.”
There was not a single flaw in Shan's blunt answer. However, Raymond seemed to clearly see a difficult future ahead.
Of course, Shan would handle things well. Erzenes Targayel was the problem, especially since he knew how women fell for Shan.
It was obvious that the young lady of Targayel would cry, clinging to Shan and trying to restrain him. But Shan, as usual, would act indifferently.
But... From what he's seen so far, women can’t get away from him. Perhaps Lady Targayel will hate him too, but she won’t be able to let go of her obsession until the end. The obsession that she can win his love.
And she would join the ranks of countless women who loved him and pitied him, even as they cursed him as a devil.
Raymond smiled broadly and said to Shan.
“I look forward to the day when I can call you Count Targayel, not Shan.”
Targayel's mansion was very large. It took a long time just to get out in a carriage. Elze wanted to ride a horse and gallop away, but she couldn't because of the eyes of her servants.
After leaving the main gate of the mansion and walking for a while, Elze stopped the carriage at an appropriate place.
“I’m going to run an errand for a bit, so wait here.”
Elze gave the coachman a few coins and told him to wait. Then she got out of the carriage and walked quickly. She couldn't drive the carriage because she had to make sure no one knew where she was going.
After walking a little, she arrived at the Place de la Manuap. In the center of the square stood a statue of a large roaring lion wearing a golden crown. The lion wearing a crown was the symbol of the Baluar royal family.
There were a variety of people milling around the statue. Among them, one person was holding a large picket sign and shouting at the top of his lungs.
“A new millennium is coming! The demons born before the millennium will annihilate the entire continent! In a world where even the Gods have abandoned us, we all face only death!”
The loud shouting made her frown. It seemed that zealous fanatics were no different in Korea or here. Elze passed him by without paying attention.
As she passed through the square, a bustling market came into view. With all sorts of shops gathered here, this was the largest market in the capital. Elze walked quietly amidst the bustling crowd.
No one looked back at Elze because she was wearing the clothes of commoners and walking quietly.
After walking for a while, Elze entered an alley. As she walked around the dark alley, she stopped in front of a shabby building.
A dirty wooden sign hung on the building from which a commotion was emanating. The sign, crudely drawn with a picture of a beer mug and a bed, indicated that this was a combination bar and inn.
Elze opened the bar door without hesitation and went inside.
“Wahahahaha!”
As soon as she entered, she heard a loud laughter. The inside of the old bar was so dark that they had to turn on the lights in broad daylight. There were wooden tables and chairs lined up, and a long bar on one side, but there were no employees in sight.
There was only one table occupied, and three familiar people were sitting there. Elze smiled brightly and called out to them.
“Tarkun, Lapine, Ivanna!”
When they heard the bright voice, the three people all turned to look at Elze.
"Captain!"
And only Ivanna stood up from her seat and waved to Elze. The other two sat frozen in place.
Even when Elze sat down next to them, they still had no intention of moving. Elze smiled awkwardly and said to Tarkun and Lapine, who had astonished faces.
“It’s been a while.”
"OMG!!"
Tarkun jumped up from his seat as if he had been struck by lightning. Then he stammered and said:
“Are you the captain’s older sister...?”
At his words, Elze and Ivanna burst into laughter at the same time. Lapine, who had finally figured out the situation, muttered in a voice full of embarrassment.
“I did think you might be a woman, but...”
Tarkun and Lapine couldn't easily recover from the shock. In fact, they had thought that Elze might be a woman when they looked at her skeleton, voice, and other things.
However, seeing Elze's monstrous skills, they concluded that she couldn't possibly be a woman.
But she really was a woman!
It was fun to watch Tarkun and Lapine flounder in shock. Tarkun even asked if she had taken some kind of medicine to turn into a woman.
Elze, with her hair long and makeup on, looked completely different from how she did on the battlefield. It took Tarkun and Lapine a long time to get used to Elze's more feminine appearance.
After talking about Elze as a woman for a while, Elze cautiously began to cry.
“I have something to confess to you guys.”
The three people's eyes gathered at the ominous atmosphere. Elze smiled awkwardly and said.
“I'm getting married.”
It was shocking that she was a woman, and on top of that, she was getting married. The expressions on the faces of the three people were indescribable.
In fact, Elze had been contemplating whether or not to tell her story if they were to meet today. However, it would be difficult to continue working as a member of the Elijah mercenary group after marriage. It seemed right to tell them everything honestly.
After a long silence, Ivanna asked Elze a question.
“With who?”
Ivanna's face told her to quickly say that it was a lie. Under her burning gaze, Elze's words trailed off as she sweat profusely.
“That’s... someone you guys know too...”
“Speak quickly!!”
Ivanna screamed. Elze closed her eyes tightly and confessed in front of Ivanna, who looked like she was going to flip the table over at any moment.
“Shan Cirxus.”
“...”
But it would have been better not to know. The mouths of the three people who were looking at Elze opened wide at the same time. While they couldn't close their mouths, only Elze let out an awkward laugh.
Elze's complicated mind was at its peak when the date for her future husband to visit the mansion was set. She couldn't sleep because she was worried that he would recognize her.
On the day Shan was scheduled to come, Elze dressed up as best she could.
She chose the prettiest dress and put on some fancy jewelry. Then she put on some makeup and tied up her long hair neatly. Her ivory hair flowed down over her dress.
“Whew...”
As Elze sat in the reception room, looking into her hand mirror over and over again, the maid announced Shan's arrival.
“Miss! Lord Crixus has arrived!!”
Elze quickly looked out the window. She saw Shan riding in along the well-paved garden path.
He was riding a pitch-black warhorse, and he looked no different than when he was on the battlefield. He wore silk clothes instead of armor, but his fierce aura still could not be hidden. His sharp appearance made it seem as if he would cut someone down at any moment.
The black hair was black even under the dazzling sunlight. The pretty purple eyes that Elze loved had become colder and colder than before. The eyes, which contained no emotion, could not see into her inner thoughts.
Elze watched Shan for a long time before realizing that he was not alone. Behind him were five men.
She heard that Shan gained many followers because of his amazing performance in the war. Just as Elze created the Elijah mercenary group, Shan also built his own force.
Shan was seen getting off his horse and exchanging a few words with the servants who had come out to greet him. Then he raised his head. Elze quickly fell from the window and sat down on the sofa in the reception room as she had done from the beginning.
Soon after, a neat knock was heard, along with the maid's voice calling out.
“Miss, this is Lord Crixus.”
“Tell them to come in.”
The door opened, and Elze got up from the sofa. Her eyes met his.
“...”
After a moment of silence, Elze bowed slightly and greeted him.
“I am Erzenes of Targayel.”
Shan looked at Elze closely. Elze trembled at the sight of his purple eyes. It seemed as if he would call her Elze at any moment. However, he soon spoke nonchalantly.
“Shan of Crixus.”
Shan didn't recognize Elze. He seemed to think they looked similar, but he couldn't tell that they were the same person.
In fact, it was unrecognizable. Elze's appearance when she was rolling around on the battlefield was atrocious. Her skin was tanned by the sun, her hair was dyed messily and cut short, and she looked like she was covered in blood every day. The only thing that was similar between then and now was her blue eyes.
At least during their last meeting with Shan, she looked fine, but it was night and she was wearing a hood. In the end, Shan had never looked Elze in the face.
And crucially, Elze, the leader of the Elijah mercenary group, was a man, while Erzenes of the Targayel Counts was a woman.
At this point, it was even more surprising that Shan recognized her.
Strangely, Elze felt relief and regret at the same time. She was glad that he didn't recognize her, but she also felt regret that her hope that he might recognize her was dashed. Unlike Elze, who had complicated feelings, Shan didn't seem to be a bit shaken.
“I want to make a few things clear before we get married.”
There was no formal conversation. Shan immediately handed Elze the contract. After accepting it absentmindedly, he sat down on the sofa without asking permission.
Although it was absurd, Elze endured it and sat down across from him. While she was reading the contract, Shan started talking nonsense in front of her. There was no sign of respect for Elze in his attitude.
This kid. Elze couldn't hold back her anger inside. So in the end, Elze said everything she wanted to say. She went through each and every clause of the contract and finally threw a final punch.
“Why are you speaking informally to me? I am still of a higher status.”
“...”
At Elze's words, Shan's expression became quite pleasant. Elze felt relieved. After saying that, Shan snickered as he waved his fan around in a cool manner. Then he bowed his head and apologized politely.
“Please forgive my rudeness. I am not used to my aristocratic speech.”
For such a person, he was very good at being polite. Even though she knew that he was acting like that to gain the upper hand, Elze decided to ignore it. Still, she felt a little better after hearing his apology.
“I will send you the contract again after revising the items mentioned.”
“Please do so.”
And then neither of them said anything. In fact, what could they say? Officially, the two of them met for the first time today. Elze offered Shan the tea that had been prepared in advance, and Shan drank the tea without saying a word.
The two of them were quietly sipping tea when Shan suddenly spoke.
“...I heard you have a younger brother.”
He stared at Elze. His gaze was piercing. He was looking for traces of the mercenary Elze.
“I want to see his face once.”
But Elze was in no position to tell him the truth. It would not have been good if it had been known that the daughter of House Targayel had been running wild on the battlefield as the infamous Elze of Elijah.
After the hunt, there was no need for hounds. She was worth the money, but Elijah had completely robbed Baluar. Perhaps the Baluar royal family was sharpening their swords on Elijah.
And Shan Crixus was a close friend of the Baluar royal family's Crown Prince, Raymond. He couldn't put all of Elijah in danger because of Elze herself.
Elze put down her teacup and said calmly.
“Astin is a student at Aquis University. He is studying there. You will see him at the wedding later.”
“Because he's a student.”
Shan, who had been lost in thought for a moment, asked quietly.
“Does he have blue eyes like yours?”
“No. It’s light blue.”
“...I see.”
For a brief moment, a faint disappointment crossed Shan's face. Perhaps he had been expecting Astin to be Elze.
However, it was well known that Astin was not born with a talent for swordsmanship. Perhaps Shan knew this as well, but he had hoped after seeing Elze's face.
I am Elze.
The words that could not be said were just swirling inside her. Elze kept gulping down her tea to swallow the words that were trying to crawl up.
***
In 997 of the Innes calendar, Raymond Montes Baluar, Crown Prince of the Baluar Empire, ended the Hundred Years' War as Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army.
Raymond returned to the Empire in glory, but it was only for a short time. As was always the case after the war, the merits were commended and the wealth and titles were divided.
However, Raymond was unable to give a satisfactory reward to the person he most wanted to praise.
Shan Crixus, hero of Baluar. He was the man who led the victory in this Hundred Years' War, and he was a man who became like a brother to Raymond as they fought together on the battlefield.
Raymond thought that Shan should be given at least a countship, but he had already been met with opposition from the nobles by the position of second-in-command on the battlefield.
Even if he had been awarded the title of Count or Baron, all the nobles who were already keeping a close eye on Shan would rise up in revolt.
So, after much thought, Raymond came up with the brilliant idea of marrying Count Targayel.
Targayel, who had no successor to inherit the sword's talent, was now in dire straits. To make matters worse, the Count and his wife had died violently, leaving only the two siblings to lead the Count's family.
The title of Count Targayel was officially vacant, as he had not yet been crowned. Furthermore, he had previously expressed his intention to renounce the hereditary title.
It was a good thing for Targayel anyway. In a situation where their clan was on the verge of extinction, marrying Shan Crixus, a hero of the Hundred Years' War and admired by the people of the empire, was an opportunity for a comeback.
There was also a young lady who was of age but unmarried, and the plan was perfect. Raymond got right to work. Shan Crixus and Erzenes Targayel were married by imperial decree.
"So."
The teaspoon clicked into the teacup.
“What was it like meeting Erzenes Targayel?”
Shan stirred his teacup for a moment in silence in response to Raymond's question. Then he put down his teaspoon and spoke absentmindedly.
“She was similar to someone I know.”
Shan's words were sincere. When Shan first saw Elgenes, she was reminded of a man. A man who left him with memories he would never forget, and a debt he could never repay.
So when Shan first saw her, he wasn't that upset. It was a political marriage, but Shan actually thought she was a better woman than all the other women he had met so far.
But Raymond seemed to think Shan's words were a funny joke.
“She looks like a woman you know!”
He said, winking one eye.
“Soon, the innocent young lady of the Count’s family will fall for a bad man.”
“...”
The innocent young lady of the Count's family? That was absolutely not the case. Shan could not agree with Raymond's words. His words were not even a funny joke. Erzenes was a young lady who was so bold that it was doubtful whether she was a young lady of a noble family.
Shan could still clearly see her going over each clause of the contract. Despite her pretty face, her actions were worse than when mercenaries were going over contracts.
Of course, the highlight of it all was when she told him not to speak informally to her. Raymond smiled as Shan frowned at the memory.
“If possible, don’t divorce her. Even if you don’t like her, stick together. The title issue will be a huge headache.”
“We make sure to clearly distinguish between public and private matters.”
There was not a single flaw in Shan's blunt answer. However, Raymond seemed to clearly see a difficult future ahead.
Of course, Shan would handle things well. Erzenes Targayel was the problem, especially since he knew how women fell for Shan.
It was obvious that the young lady of Targayel would cry, clinging to Shan and trying to restrain him. But Shan, as usual, would act indifferently.
But... From what he's seen so far, women can’t get away from him. Perhaps Lady Targayel will hate him too, but she won’t be able to let go of her obsession until the end. The obsession that she can win his love.
And she would join the ranks of countless women who loved him and pitied him, even as they cursed him as a devil.
Raymond smiled broadly and said to Shan.
“I look forward to the day when I can call you Count Targayel, not Shan.”
***
Targayel's mansion was very large. It took a long time just to get out in a carriage. Elze wanted to ride a horse and gallop away, but she couldn't because of the eyes of her servants.
After leaving the main gate of the mansion and walking for a while, Elze stopped the carriage at an appropriate place.
“I’m going to run an errand for a bit, so wait here.”
Elze gave the coachman a few coins and told him to wait. Then she got out of the carriage and walked quickly. She couldn't drive the carriage because she had to make sure no one knew where she was going.
After walking a little, she arrived at the Place de la Manuap. In the center of the square stood a statue of a large roaring lion wearing a golden crown. The lion wearing a crown was the symbol of the Baluar royal family.
There were a variety of people milling around the statue. Among them, one person was holding a large picket sign and shouting at the top of his lungs.
“A new millennium is coming! The demons born before the millennium will annihilate the entire continent! In a world where even the Gods have abandoned us, we all face only death!”
The loud shouting made her frown. It seemed that zealous fanatics were no different in Korea or here. Elze passed him by without paying attention.
As she passed through the square, a bustling market came into view. With all sorts of shops gathered here, this was the largest market in the capital. Elze walked quietly amidst the bustling crowd.
No one looked back at Elze because she was wearing the clothes of commoners and walking quietly.
After walking for a while, Elze entered an alley. As she walked around the dark alley, she stopped in front of a shabby building.
A dirty wooden sign hung on the building from which a commotion was emanating. The sign, crudely drawn with a picture of a beer mug and a bed, indicated that this was a combination bar and inn.
Elze opened the bar door without hesitation and went inside.
“Wahahahaha!”
As soon as she entered, she heard a loud laughter. The inside of the old bar was so dark that they had to turn on the lights in broad daylight. There were wooden tables and chairs lined up, and a long bar on one side, but there were no employees in sight.
There was only one table occupied, and three familiar people were sitting there. Elze smiled brightly and called out to them.
“Tarkun, Lapine, Ivanna!”
When they heard the bright voice, the three people all turned to look at Elze.
"Captain!"
And only Ivanna stood up from her seat and waved to Elze. The other two sat frozen in place.
Even when Elze sat down next to them, they still had no intention of moving. Elze smiled awkwardly and said to Tarkun and Lapine, who had astonished faces.
“It’s been a while.”
"OMG!!"
Tarkun jumped up from his seat as if he had been struck by lightning. Then he stammered and said:
“Are you the captain’s older sister...?”
At his words, Elze and Ivanna burst into laughter at the same time. Lapine, who had finally figured out the situation, muttered in a voice full of embarrassment.
“I did think you might be a woman, but...”
Tarkun and Lapine couldn't easily recover from the shock. In fact, they had thought that Elze might be a woman when they looked at her skeleton, voice, and other things.
However, seeing Elze's monstrous skills, they concluded that she couldn't possibly be a woman.
But she really was a woman!
It was fun to watch Tarkun and Lapine flounder in shock. Tarkun even asked if she had taken some kind of medicine to turn into a woman.
Elze, with her hair long and makeup on, looked completely different from how she did on the battlefield. It took Tarkun and Lapine a long time to get used to Elze's more feminine appearance.
After talking about Elze as a woman for a while, Elze cautiously began to cry.
“I have something to confess to you guys.”
The three people's eyes gathered at the ominous atmosphere. Elze smiled awkwardly and said.
“I'm getting married.”
It was shocking that she was a woman, and on top of that, she was getting married. The expressions on the faces of the three people were indescribable.
In fact, Elze had been contemplating whether or not to tell her story if they were to meet today. However, it would be difficult to continue working as a member of the Elijah mercenary group after marriage. It seemed right to tell them everything honestly.
After a long silence, Ivanna asked Elze a question.
“With who?”
Ivanna's face told her to quickly say that it was a lie. Under her burning gaze, Elze's words trailed off as she sweat profusely.
“That’s... someone you guys know too...”
“Speak quickly!!”
Ivanna screamed. Elze closed her eyes tightly and confessed in front of Ivanna, who looked like she was going to flip the table over at any moment.
“Shan Cirxus.”
“...”
But it would have been better not to know. The mouths of the three people who were looking at Elze opened wide at the same time. While they couldn't close their mouths, only Elze let out an awkward laugh.
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