After a silence, Ivanna opened her mouth.
“The captain decided to marry him.”
Of course, it was groundless nonsense. However, that was how much Ivanna depended on Elze. Ever since Elze saved her, Ivanna had lived with the thought that Elze was the best of all men in the world.
To Ivanna, Elze's marriage, and especially her marriage to Shan Cirxus, was like the sky falling down.
Ivanna absolutely wanted to stop Elze from getting married. She pulled back the hem of her long coat with her hand. Then, the heavily fluttering hem of the coat revealed a densely packed collection of glass bottles. Tarkun and Lapine leaned back in shock. Ivanna asked in a sinister voice.
“Have you been threatened? Should I kill him?”
“No, that’s not it!”
Elze hurriedly tried to calm Ivanna down. It was ridiculous that one wrong move could send an entire Targayel mansion flying.
Unlike Ivanna, who was being stubborn, Tarkun and Lapine were gradually accepting the reality. Tarkun nodded seriously and said.
“Somehow... During the Shan-Elijah battle, you hesitated a lot in front of Heglatan. Was it because of your relationship with Cirxus and all?”
At Tarkun's words, Ivanna opened her eyes wide and said.
“I thought it was because the captain didn’t want to go to Heglatan, but was it because of Shan Cirxus?”
Ivanna was furious, regretting belatedly that she had not been able to put Shan in Heglatan. Elze was at a loss as to where to begin explaining this. At that moment, Lapine, who had been silently lost in thought, opened his mouth.
“Captain. I think there’s something you haven’t explained to us yet.”
Everyone became quiet at the sound of his calm voice.
“I also heard the news of Shan Cirxus’s marriage. But his partner...”
Lapine looked at Elze quietly and said.
“I heard it was Targayel.”
“..."
Elze felt that now was the time to tell everything.
“I’m sorry I lied to you all this time.”
Elze sighed and said her real name.
“Erzenes Targayel... My real name.”
Ivanna's face turned pale. She called Elze in a trembling voice.
"Captain..."
No one in the Baluar Empire did not know Targayel. Amidst the confusion caused by the series of shocking confessions, Tarkun scratched the back of his head and spoke awkwardly.
“What, you’re a nobleman? You seem so noble.”
“You idiot! Don’t you know Targayel?”
Ivanna was harassing Tarkun, but he really didn't seem to know. All he cared about was the sword.
Lapine had a face that seemed to have finally resolved his doubts. From what he had seen from the side, Elze’s natural talent with swords was beyond common sense. Lapine had even suspected that Elze might not be human. However, if Elze was Targayel, then all of that could be explained in one word.
“Targayel’s ‘talent with the sword’ has not yet been extinguished.”
Elze smiled faintly at Lapine's words.
“Right. But you know, I..."
Lapone also knew what was hidden in the blurred words. He nodded heavily.
Elze was a woman. The fact that she had talent with the sword might have been a source of ridicule for the Count Targayel family. That was why Elze hid her gender and her talent. Lapine said, shaking his head.
“If the fact that Elze of the Elijah Mercenary Corps is a woman spreads, I will grab many people by the scruff of the neck and pass it over.”
“I guess so? That’s why it’s a secret.”
“Don’t worry. We’re the kind of people who would jump into a pit of fire at the captain’s word.”
The four of them continued to talk about various things. Ivanna said she would make a liquid bomb for Elze. If Cirxus was going to do something strange, she should secretly put it in his wine glass.
No matter how much she hated Shan, she didn't want to see him explode alive, so Elze had to try hard to dissuade Ivanna.
The Elijahs did not all think well of Shan. They had seen the true nature of Shan on the battlefield. He was not a person who should be considered a normal human being. That is why, although they knew Elze's circumstances, they wanted to stop this marriage if possible.
Anyway, they finished talking about the purpose of their gathering today. Elze promised that she wouldn't be able to contact them often, but that she would send them news whenever she had the chance. Elijah decided to continue working without Elze for now. After the discussion, Lapine spoke to Elze with a serious face.
“If you ever want to run away in the middle of the night, just let me know.”
Tarkun and Ivanna also nodded seriously in agreement. Their appearance was so reassuring and yet amusing that Elze couldn't help but laugh.
Crown Prince Raymond intended to make the wedding of Shan and Elze a grand affair. The wedding at the Targayel Manor would be like a celebratory gunshot signaling the end of the war.
Because of this, Elze was having a hard time preparing for the wedding. No matter how much the imperial family took care of the preparations, the wedding was ultimately held in Targayel. As the bride and the master of Targayel, Elze spent her time so busy that her eyes were spinning.
Astin, who only heard the news a few days before the wedding, came home on leave from school.
“Sister!”
As soon as Astin entered the mansion, he looked for Elze first.
“Come on, Astin!”
Unlike Elze, who welcomed him warmly, Astin cried out in a tearful voice.
“Sister, you’re getting married!”
In fact, no matter how nicely it was packaged, Elze's marriage was ultimately nothing more than being sold to the war hero Shan Crixus to save the failing Targayel.
That's why Elze deliberately told Astin the news of her marriage late. She was afraid that Astin would get upset and get in the way of his studies. And of course, Astin blamed himself severely for Elze's marriage.
“Because I, I don’t have talent with the sword...”
“Astin.”
Elze grabbed Astin's shoulders and spoke firmly.
"Stop."
“...”
Astin looked at Elze with tearful eyes. Elze smiled faintly at Astin. Instead of many words, just a smile was enough. Elze’s smile contained trust in Astin.
“Sister...”
Elze took out a handkerchief. Astin wiped his tears with the handkerchief. And even though his nose was red from crying, he spoke with a determined face.
“I’m a little nervous this semester because I’m missing a lot of classes, but I’ll definitely become a top student.”
Elze patted Astin's head because he was so cute. Astin blushed shyly. The two siblings sat in the living room and had tea time.
While they were drinking tea and talking about what had happened, suddenly there was a commotion outside.
“...?”
As Elze tilted her head, the door to the reception room opened wide with a scream from the maid. When Elze saw the man who opened the door and came in, her body froze as she held her teacup.
“I’m sorry for coming so suddenly.”
The unexpected intruder was none other than Shan.
Elze stared at him blankly for a moment, then slowly put down her teacup. Astin was also surprised by the sudden appearance of his prospective brother-in-law. Shan asked Astin briefly, who was looking at her with bewildered eyes.
“Astin Targayel?”
“Yes, but..."
“...”
Shan was silent. Elze knew why he had come. He must have heard that Astin had come and come to check if he was Elze. He must have rushed over without even saying anything in case he ran away.
But Astin was completely different from Elze. With his thin, frail body and bespectacled appearance, Astin was a typical civil servant.
Shan took a deep breath and walked over to Elze with a limp, then sat down next to her. Elze opened her eyes wide, and Shan snatched the teacup Elze was drinking from and drank it himself.
“I’m thirsty.”
She couldn't help but laugh at the words that didn't even sound like an excuse. Elze asked him as he put down his teacup.
“Why did you come here so suddenly?”
“I came because I wanted to see your brother's face for a moment. Now that I’ve seen his face, that’s enough.”
And Shan got up from his seat. He seemed to come in a hurry and then leave in a hurry. Elze was dumbfounded by his selfish behavior. But Shan went even further, grinning at Elze and shamelessly asking her,
“What about seeing off?”
Ah, really... Elze got up to see him off with a sour look on her face. She told Astin to wait in the reception room for a moment.
Shan and Elze walked side by side down the hallway. The hallway was empty. Compared to the large mansion, there were not many employees, so the mansion was deserted. In the silence, only the sound of their footsteps resonated.
Elze glanced at Shan. Although his personality was like a dog's, he was still handsome. She could see his high nose. His hair, fluttering in the wind, was the same black color that she had seen so many times in Korea, but Shan's somehow felt special.
His tanned, copper-colored skin also caught her eye. Elze's skin quickly turned white again when she returned home, but Shan's skin was the same, so it seemed that his original skin color was dark.
After walking together for a while, Shan suddenly stopped. Elze followed him and stopped. Wondering why, she looked at him, and suddenly his arm reached around Elze's waist.
“!!”
Elze took a deep breath. When she came to, Shan’s face was right in front of her. She felt a firm embrace. He grabbed Elze’s wrist fiercely, holding her tightly so she couldn’t escape.
He looked closely at Elze's hand and then looked at Elze again. Her heart pounded at the sight of their eyes meeting. She saw herself in Shan's eyes.
“For a daughter of a Count...”
His fingers stroked the calluses on Elze's hands.
“Your hands are rough, Lady Erzenes.”
Do you know everything now? Or are you just poking around?
At that moment, all sorts of thoughts ran through Elze's head. Depending on whether it was the former or the latter, the actions Elze had to take would differ.
But given his personality, if he had been certain that she was Elze, he probably wouldn't have just asked that question. He would have swung his sword at her right away.
The purple eyes were staring intently at Elze. If Elze showed even the slightest hesitation or awkwardness, it seemed as if he would immediately find out the whole truth.
He fiddled with Elze's hand. If he could see the position of the calluses, he would know that she was holding a sword. Elze clenched her hand as naturally as possible. Then she looked straight at him and said.
“Count Targayel has no money.”
Shan's eyes narrowed. But Elze continued to speak stubbornly.
“The daughter of a Count has to work, so her hands are bound to be rough.”
Shan smirked. The corners of his mouth twisted upward. Still hugging her waist, his lips came close to her ear. He whispered, lightly brushing her hair back with his hand.
“What's going on?”
Elze flinched at the feeling of his breath on her ear. The part where they touched was hot. Finally, Elze couldn't bear it anymore and pushed his chest away. Shan obediently let Elze go. Elze glared at him and said.
“I want to remind you that we are not married yet.”
He laughed and talked nonsense.
“Wow, you’re stronger than I thought.”
Elze turned away from him, smoothed out her crumpled dress with a thud, and spoke harshly.
“You have no right to do whatever you want with me.”
“Not yet.”
“There is no later.”
Shan smiled at the retort. He was having fun watching Elze's squirming rebellion. Shan burst into a cheerful laugh and said to Elze.
“I will be waiting for you, Lady Erzenes.”
In a luxurious mansion in the heart of the capital, a sharp voice echoed through the quiet of this late night.
“Shan!!”
Shan, who was sitting in his office, grimaced at the loud voice that echoed throughout the mansion.
Marle, who was looking at the documents next to Shan, was flustered and quickly went outside. Then, he came face to face with a woman whose face was red from excitement. Marle quickly stepped aside, and she burst into Shan’s office.
She was Cecilia Epernon, the only daughter of the Count of Epernon, and the most recent woman Shan had met. Cecilia took a deep breath and asked Shan a question.
“You said you were getting married?”
Shan looked at Marle for a moment. His eyes seemed to be wondering why the guards outside didn't stop her, but Marle pretended not to notice and avoided their gaze.
The noble ladies were people who could not be treated carelessly. There were more than a few times when he had stopped them from coming to Shan and only caused trouble for his subordinates. That was why Marle told his subordinates not to stop the women.
Shan sighed. But he didn't get up from his seat. He just raised his head and spoke to Cecilia, still sitting there.
“I think it is too late for discussion, Lady Cecilia.”
The cold words were reprimanding her, but Cecilla paid no attention and asked pointedly.
“Are you marrying a woman who might have done business abroad or sold her body?”
“...That’s an exaggeration.”
Cecilia bit her lower lip hard at the sight of Shan's expression of anger. If she didn't, she felt like she would cry.
He's getting married...
She regretted that she should have made a strong request to her father, even if it meant committing suicide. However, the Count of Epernon hated Shan. To the Count of Epernon, who loved art, a war hero meant nothing.
The only consolation was that it was a political marriage after all. She felt a little better knowing that Shan would be making the Targayel woman cry like so many other women and herself.
Because he's not the kind of man who can ever settle down with just one woman.
“Shan.”
Instead of chastising and squeezing him, Cecilia decided to change her approach. Cecilia placed her hand on Shan’s desk. She took off her outer garment. A dress that exposed her shoulders was revealed. Cecilia slowly ran her hand over her neckline and whispered to Shan.
“I don’t care if you get married...”
The provocative whispers were stimulating. Her voluptuous, white cleavage was slightly revealed inside the dress. It was a sight that would captivate any man. Cecilia was confident that she would be able to continue her relationship with Shan even after they were married.
But unfortunately, Cecilia's thoughts were arrogant. Rather than wavering, Shan coldly asked back.
“Since when have you had the power to make decisions?”
“...!”
“There is a limit to how much I can tolerate rudeness.”
Cecilia's eyes widened. An unmistakable sense of humiliation rose over her face. Cecilia grabbed the hem of her dress with her hands, almost tearing it. She turned around and slammed the door shut, running out. The thumping noise could be heard from inside the room.
And then Marle, who had been quietly sitting in the corner until now, slowly crawled out and spoke.
“There is talk that Lady Cecilia recently had a fight with Count Epernon over her marriage proposal with Lord Cirxus. You should be careful.”
“I see.”
Shan checked the documents he had been looking at before Cecilia arrived and signed them. Then he stood up and picked up the coat hanging in the corner and said,
“Has Liv come back yet? I should go see him.”
The hem of his coat fluttered and fell over Shan's shoulders. Shan nodded and blurted out a word.
“Elijah.”
Marle quickly understood and answered.
“They are still moving around without a leader. They seem to have had a secret meeting a while ago, and Elze is said to have attended.”
“Targayel.”
“In 994 of the Ines calendar, the previous Count and his wife died. After that, Astin Targayel entered the University of Aquis, and Erzenes Targayel’s whereabouts are unknown. It is said that she went abroad to do business.”
“Hmm.”
While Shan buttoned up his coat, Marle continued talking.
“Erzenes Targayel returned to the Baluar Empire in 996, and has not left the Targayel Manor since.”
Shan, who had been listening, said something.
“The tuition at Aquis University is not cheap.”
Marle, who was reporting on Shan's words, hesitated. There was no way that the daughter of a failing Count's family would go abroad to do business and earn money. Not to mention that she would be able to pay for tuition at the famously expensive Aquis University.
In addition, Aquis University is located in the Kingdom of Britain. In addition to the tuition, studying abroad in a foreign land is expensive, something that even the most noble families cannot afford. Marle immediately admitted his own shortcomings.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not sure about that part yet. I’m currently trying my best to find out.”
Shan nodded lightly. It was during the war. It was a time when even things that existed were gone, so it wouldn’t be easy to find someone who had disappeared. Shan picked up the sword he had let go and thought of Elze for a moment.
What would have happened if I had caught you then?
The path not taken is more regrettable because the answer is unknown. Memories of the past are fading, but the memories of Elze remain deep inside Shan like a burn scar.
If he ever met Elze again, Shan wanted to ask him why he had saved him. He wondered if he would just say, “No, I saved you,” with a cold face again... or if he would give him a proper answer.
Shan put the sword he had released on his waist and fastened and tightened his belt with a click, while Marle cautiously asked a question from the side.
“Lord Cirxus.”
“Speak.”
“Do you think of Erzenes as Elze?”
Shan's answer was neat.
“I don’t know.”
Really, Shan didn't know. Nothing was certain yet. There were only vague guesses. First of all, Elze and Erzenes looked very different, and their genders were different.
But those eyes. The clean, clear blue eyes were exactly the same. The temper of placing Shan in the palm of his hand and playing with it was also the same. Shan, recalling the memory of meeting Erzenes briefly earlier in the day, muttered with a smirk.
“Of course, it would be nice to see you use a sword just once...”
Marle hesitated for a moment after hearing Shan's muttering before speaking.
“Lord Cirxus. Although it has nothing to do with the report, there is something I would like to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I heard that Master Harbin has received an order to manufacture a rapier and a mangosh.”
“Master Harvin? That old man?”
Master Harbin was a famous blacksmith in the Baluar Empire. He was a quirky and dirty man, but his skills were unparalleled, and he was given the title of Master. Everyone in Baluar who was good at using swords wanted a sword made by Harbin.
However, he did not give the sword he made to just anyone. That is why the sword made by Harbin had a value that could not be converted into money.
He makes rapiers and mangosh...
As Elze of the Elijah Mercenary Corps became famous, it became fashionable for everyone to use rapiers and mangosh.
However, as far as Shan knew, there was only one person in Baluar who was skilled enough to receive a rapier and mangosh from Master Harbin. Shan gave the order without further thought.
“Plant someone nearby.”
“Yes, Lord Cirxus.”
“The captain decided to marry him.”
Of course, it was groundless nonsense. However, that was how much Ivanna depended on Elze. Ever since Elze saved her, Ivanna had lived with the thought that Elze was the best of all men in the world.
To Ivanna, Elze's marriage, and especially her marriage to Shan Cirxus, was like the sky falling down.
Ivanna absolutely wanted to stop Elze from getting married. She pulled back the hem of her long coat with her hand. Then, the heavily fluttering hem of the coat revealed a densely packed collection of glass bottles. Tarkun and Lapine leaned back in shock. Ivanna asked in a sinister voice.
“Have you been threatened? Should I kill him?”
“No, that’s not it!”
Elze hurriedly tried to calm Ivanna down. It was ridiculous that one wrong move could send an entire Targayel mansion flying.
Unlike Ivanna, who was being stubborn, Tarkun and Lapine were gradually accepting the reality. Tarkun nodded seriously and said.
“Somehow... During the Shan-Elijah battle, you hesitated a lot in front of Heglatan. Was it because of your relationship with Cirxus and all?”
At Tarkun's words, Ivanna opened her eyes wide and said.
“I thought it was because the captain didn’t want to go to Heglatan, but was it because of Shan Cirxus?”
Ivanna was furious, regretting belatedly that she had not been able to put Shan in Heglatan. Elze was at a loss as to where to begin explaining this. At that moment, Lapine, who had been silently lost in thought, opened his mouth.
“Captain. I think there’s something you haven’t explained to us yet.”
Everyone became quiet at the sound of his calm voice.
“I also heard the news of Shan Cirxus’s marriage. But his partner...”
Lapine looked at Elze quietly and said.
“I heard it was Targayel.”
“..."
Elze felt that now was the time to tell everything.
“I’m sorry I lied to you all this time.”
Elze sighed and said her real name.
“Erzenes Targayel... My real name.”
Ivanna's face turned pale. She called Elze in a trembling voice.
"Captain..."
No one in the Baluar Empire did not know Targayel. Amidst the confusion caused by the series of shocking confessions, Tarkun scratched the back of his head and spoke awkwardly.
“What, you’re a nobleman? You seem so noble.”
“You idiot! Don’t you know Targayel?”
Ivanna was harassing Tarkun, but he really didn't seem to know. All he cared about was the sword.
Lapine had a face that seemed to have finally resolved his doubts. From what he had seen from the side, Elze’s natural talent with swords was beyond common sense. Lapine had even suspected that Elze might not be human. However, if Elze was Targayel, then all of that could be explained in one word.
“Targayel’s ‘talent with the sword’ has not yet been extinguished.”
Elze smiled faintly at Lapine's words.
“Right. But you know, I..."
Lapone also knew what was hidden in the blurred words. He nodded heavily.
Elze was a woman. The fact that she had talent with the sword might have been a source of ridicule for the Count Targayel family. That was why Elze hid her gender and her talent. Lapine said, shaking his head.
“If the fact that Elze of the Elijah Mercenary Corps is a woman spreads, I will grab many people by the scruff of the neck and pass it over.”
“I guess so? That’s why it’s a secret.”
“Don’t worry. We’re the kind of people who would jump into a pit of fire at the captain’s word.”
The four of them continued to talk about various things. Ivanna said she would make a liquid bomb for Elze. If Cirxus was going to do something strange, she should secretly put it in his wine glass.
No matter how much she hated Shan, she didn't want to see him explode alive, so Elze had to try hard to dissuade Ivanna.
The Elijahs did not all think well of Shan. They had seen the true nature of Shan on the battlefield. He was not a person who should be considered a normal human being. That is why, although they knew Elze's circumstances, they wanted to stop this marriage if possible.
Anyway, they finished talking about the purpose of their gathering today. Elze promised that she wouldn't be able to contact them often, but that she would send them news whenever she had the chance. Elijah decided to continue working without Elze for now. After the discussion, Lapine spoke to Elze with a serious face.
“If you ever want to run away in the middle of the night, just let me know.”
Tarkun and Ivanna also nodded seriously in agreement. Their appearance was so reassuring and yet amusing that Elze couldn't help but laugh.
***
Crown Prince Raymond intended to make the wedding of Shan and Elze a grand affair. The wedding at the Targayel Manor would be like a celebratory gunshot signaling the end of the war.
Because of this, Elze was having a hard time preparing for the wedding. No matter how much the imperial family took care of the preparations, the wedding was ultimately held in Targayel. As the bride and the master of Targayel, Elze spent her time so busy that her eyes were spinning.
Astin, who only heard the news a few days before the wedding, came home on leave from school.
“Sister!”
As soon as Astin entered the mansion, he looked for Elze first.
“Come on, Astin!”
Unlike Elze, who welcomed him warmly, Astin cried out in a tearful voice.
“Sister, you’re getting married!”
In fact, no matter how nicely it was packaged, Elze's marriage was ultimately nothing more than being sold to the war hero Shan Crixus to save the failing Targayel.
That's why Elze deliberately told Astin the news of her marriage late. She was afraid that Astin would get upset and get in the way of his studies. And of course, Astin blamed himself severely for Elze's marriage.
“Because I, I don’t have talent with the sword...”
“Astin.”
Elze grabbed Astin's shoulders and spoke firmly.
"Stop."
“...”
Astin looked at Elze with tearful eyes. Elze smiled faintly at Astin. Instead of many words, just a smile was enough. Elze’s smile contained trust in Astin.
“Sister...”
Elze took out a handkerchief. Astin wiped his tears with the handkerchief. And even though his nose was red from crying, he spoke with a determined face.
“I’m a little nervous this semester because I’m missing a lot of classes, but I’ll definitely become a top student.”
Elze patted Astin's head because he was so cute. Astin blushed shyly. The two siblings sat in the living room and had tea time.
While they were drinking tea and talking about what had happened, suddenly there was a commotion outside.
“...?”
As Elze tilted her head, the door to the reception room opened wide with a scream from the maid. When Elze saw the man who opened the door and came in, her body froze as she held her teacup.
“I’m sorry for coming so suddenly.”
The unexpected intruder was none other than Shan.
Elze stared at him blankly for a moment, then slowly put down her teacup. Astin was also surprised by the sudden appearance of his prospective brother-in-law. Shan asked Astin briefly, who was looking at her with bewildered eyes.
“Astin Targayel?”
“Yes, but..."
“...”
Shan was silent. Elze knew why he had come. He must have heard that Astin had come and come to check if he was Elze. He must have rushed over without even saying anything in case he ran away.
But Astin was completely different from Elze. With his thin, frail body and bespectacled appearance, Astin was a typical civil servant.
Shan took a deep breath and walked over to Elze with a limp, then sat down next to her. Elze opened her eyes wide, and Shan snatched the teacup Elze was drinking from and drank it himself.
“I’m thirsty.”
She couldn't help but laugh at the words that didn't even sound like an excuse. Elze asked him as he put down his teacup.
“Why did you come here so suddenly?”
“I came because I wanted to see your brother's face for a moment. Now that I’ve seen his face, that’s enough.”
And Shan got up from his seat. He seemed to come in a hurry and then leave in a hurry. Elze was dumbfounded by his selfish behavior. But Shan went even further, grinning at Elze and shamelessly asking her,
“What about seeing off?”
Ah, really... Elze got up to see him off with a sour look on her face. She told Astin to wait in the reception room for a moment.
Shan and Elze walked side by side down the hallway. The hallway was empty. Compared to the large mansion, there were not many employees, so the mansion was deserted. In the silence, only the sound of their footsteps resonated.
Elze glanced at Shan. Although his personality was like a dog's, he was still handsome. She could see his high nose. His hair, fluttering in the wind, was the same black color that she had seen so many times in Korea, but Shan's somehow felt special.
His tanned, copper-colored skin also caught her eye. Elze's skin quickly turned white again when she returned home, but Shan's skin was the same, so it seemed that his original skin color was dark.
After walking together for a while, Shan suddenly stopped. Elze followed him and stopped. Wondering why, she looked at him, and suddenly his arm reached around Elze's waist.
“!!”
Elze took a deep breath. When she came to, Shan’s face was right in front of her. She felt a firm embrace. He grabbed Elze’s wrist fiercely, holding her tightly so she couldn’t escape.
He looked closely at Elze's hand and then looked at Elze again. Her heart pounded at the sight of their eyes meeting. She saw herself in Shan's eyes.
“For a daughter of a Count...”
His fingers stroked the calluses on Elze's hands.
“Your hands are rough, Lady Erzenes.”
Do you know everything now? Or are you just poking around?
At that moment, all sorts of thoughts ran through Elze's head. Depending on whether it was the former or the latter, the actions Elze had to take would differ.
But given his personality, if he had been certain that she was Elze, he probably wouldn't have just asked that question. He would have swung his sword at her right away.
The purple eyes were staring intently at Elze. If Elze showed even the slightest hesitation or awkwardness, it seemed as if he would immediately find out the whole truth.
He fiddled with Elze's hand. If he could see the position of the calluses, he would know that she was holding a sword. Elze clenched her hand as naturally as possible. Then she looked straight at him and said.
“Count Targayel has no money.”
Shan's eyes narrowed. But Elze continued to speak stubbornly.
“The daughter of a Count has to work, so her hands are bound to be rough.”
Shan smirked. The corners of his mouth twisted upward. Still hugging her waist, his lips came close to her ear. He whispered, lightly brushing her hair back with his hand.
“What's going on?”
Elze flinched at the feeling of his breath on her ear. The part where they touched was hot. Finally, Elze couldn't bear it anymore and pushed his chest away. Shan obediently let Elze go. Elze glared at him and said.
“I want to remind you that we are not married yet.”
He laughed and talked nonsense.
“Wow, you’re stronger than I thought.”
Elze turned away from him, smoothed out her crumpled dress with a thud, and spoke harshly.
“You have no right to do whatever you want with me.”
“Not yet.”
“There is no later.”
Shan smiled at the retort. He was having fun watching Elze's squirming rebellion. Shan burst into a cheerful laugh and said to Elze.
“I will be waiting for you, Lady Erzenes.”
***
In a luxurious mansion in the heart of the capital, a sharp voice echoed through the quiet of this late night.
“Shan!!”
Shan, who was sitting in his office, grimaced at the loud voice that echoed throughout the mansion.
Marle, who was looking at the documents next to Shan, was flustered and quickly went outside. Then, he came face to face with a woman whose face was red from excitement. Marle quickly stepped aside, and she burst into Shan’s office.
She was Cecilia Epernon, the only daughter of the Count of Epernon, and the most recent woman Shan had met. Cecilia took a deep breath and asked Shan a question.
“You said you were getting married?”
Shan looked at Marle for a moment. His eyes seemed to be wondering why the guards outside didn't stop her, but Marle pretended not to notice and avoided their gaze.
The noble ladies were people who could not be treated carelessly. There were more than a few times when he had stopped them from coming to Shan and only caused trouble for his subordinates. That was why Marle told his subordinates not to stop the women.
Shan sighed. But he didn't get up from his seat. He just raised his head and spoke to Cecilia, still sitting there.
“I think it is too late for discussion, Lady Cecilia.”
The cold words were reprimanding her, but Cecilla paid no attention and asked pointedly.
“Are you marrying a woman who might have done business abroad or sold her body?”
“...That’s an exaggeration.”
Cecilia bit her lower lip hard at the sight of Shan's expression of anger. If she didn't, she felt like she would cry.
He's getting married...
She regretted that she should have made a strong request to her father, even if it meant committing suicide. However, the Count of Epernon hated Shan. To the Count of Epernon, who loved art, a war hero meant nothing.
The only consolation was that it was a political marriage after all. She felt a little better knowing that Shan would be making the Targayel woman cry like so many other women and herself.
Because he's not the kind of man who can ever settle down with just one woman.
“Shan.”
Instead of chastising and squeezing him, Cecilia decided to change her approach. Cecilia placed her hand on Shan’s desk. She took off her outer garment. A dress that exposed her shoulders was revealed. Cecilia slowly ran her hand over her neckline and whispered to Shan.
“I don’t care if you get married...”
The provocative whispers were stimulating. Her voluptuous, white cleavage was slightly revealed inside the dress. It was a sight that would captivate any man. Cecilia was confident that she would be able to continue her relationship with Shan even after they were married.
But unfortunately, Cecilia's thoughts were arrogant. Rather than wavering, Shan coldly asked back.
“Since when have you had the power to make decisions?”
“...!”
“There is a limit to how much I can tolerate rudeness.”
Cecilia's eyes widened. An unmistakable sense of humiliation rose over her face. Cecilia grabbed the hem of her dress with her hands, almost tearing it. She turned around and slammed the door shut, running out. The thumping noise could be heard from inside the room.
And then Marle, who had been quietly sitting in the corner until now, slowly crawled out and spoke.
“There is talk that Lady Cecilia recently had a fight with Count Epernon over her marriage proposal with Lord Cirxus. You should be careful.”
“I see.”
Shan checked the documents he had been looking at before Cecilia arrived and signed them. Then he stood up and picked up the coat hanging in the corner and said,
“Has Liv come back yet? I should go see him.”
The hem of his coat fluttered and fell over Shan's shoulders. Shan nodded and blurted out a word.
“Elijah.”
Marle quickly understood and answered.
“They are still moving around without a leader. They seem to have had a secret meeting a while ago, and Elze is said to have attended.”
“Targayel.”
“In 994 of the Ines calendar, the previous Count and his wife died. After that, Astin Targayel entered the University of Aquis, and Erzenes Targayel’s whereabouts are unknown. It is said that she went abroad to do business.”
“Hmm.”
While Shan buttoned up his coat, Marle continued talking.
“Erzenes Targayel returned to the Baluar Empire in 996, and has not left the Targayel Manor since.”
Shan, who had been listening, said something.
“The tuition at Aquis University is not cheap.”
Marle, who was reporting on Shan's words, hesitated. There was no way that the daughter of a failing Count's family would go abroad to do business and earn money. Not to mention that she would be able to pay for tuition at the famously expensive Aquis University.
In addition, Aquis University is located in the Kingdom of Britain. In addition to the tuition, studying abroad in a foreign land is expensive, something that even the most noble families cannot afford. Marle immediately admitted his own shortcomings.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not sure about that part yet. I’m currently trying my best to find out.”
Shan nodded lightly. It was during the war. It was a time when even things that existed were gone, so it wouldn’t be easy to find someone who had disappeared. Shan picked up the sword he had let go and thought of Elze for a moment.
What would have happened if I had caught you then?
The path not taken is more regrettable because the answer is unknown. Memories of the past are fading, but the memories of Elze remain deep inside Shan like a burn scar.
If he ever met Elze again, Shan wanted to ask him why he had saved him. He wondered if he would just say, “No, I saved you,” with a cold face again... or if he would give him a proper answer.
Shan put the sword he had released on his waist and fastened and tightened his belt with a click, while Marle cautiously asked a question from the side.
“Lord Cirxus.”
“Speak.”
“Do you think of Erzenes as Elze?”
Shan's answer was neat.
“I don’t know.”
Really, Shan didn't know. Nothing was certain yet. There were only vague guesses. First of all, Elze and Erzenes looked very different, and their genders were different.
But those eyes. The clean, clear blue eyes were exactly the same. The temper of placing Shan in the palm of his hand and playing with it was also the same. Shan, recalling the memory of meeting Erzenes briefly earlier in the day, muttered with a smirk.
“Of course, it would be nice to see you use a sword just once...”
Marle hesitated for a moment after hearing Shan's muttering before speaking.
“Lord Cirxus. Although it has nothing to do with the report, there is something I would like to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I heard that Master Harbin has received an order to manufacture a rapier and a mangosh.”
“Master Harvin? That old man?”
Master Harbin was a famous blacksmith in the Baluar Empire. He was a quirky and dirty man, but his skills were unparalleled, and he was given the title of Master. Everyone in Baluar who was good at using swords wanted a sword made by Harbin.
However, he did not give the sword he made to just anyone. That is why the sword made by Harbin had a value that could not be converted into money.
He makes rapiers and mangosh...
As Elze of the Elijah Mercenary Corps became famous, it became fashionable for everyone to use rapiers and mangosh.
However, as far as Shan knew, there was only one person in Baluar who was skilled enough to receive a rapier and mangosh from Master Harbin. Shan gave the order without further thought.
“Plant someone nearby.”
“Yes, Lord Cirxus.”
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