RYEHC | Ch 13

13.

“…So what you’re saying is, the author couldn’t hurt you even if they wanted to, right?”

Laska muttered, quickly catching on to what Seleia meant. She smiled faintly, as if agreeing.

“And strangely enough, after all that misfortune passed, only good luck started coming my way. People, situations… everything.”

Of course, her greatest good fortune was her beloved daughter. But that overly mature child was oddly blind when it came to things like this.

“As long as you treat Rote like you always do, she’ll be fine.”

“…Then, my lady.”

Laska hesitated for a moment, then asked something unexpected.

“Do I count as part of that good luck, too?”

“…What?”

Seleia blinked her light-green eyes, startled.

Even though she looked surprised, Laska kept a serious face, clearly waiting for an answer.

“I mean… I’d like to think I’m a lucky presence in your life as well.”

The candle flame flickered quietly at that moment.

Its soft glow brushed across his blue eyes, curved lashes, straight nose, and lips—though maybe it wasn’t the light that wavered, but something else.

“…Of course. You’re in good fortune. You’re a life saved thanks to Rote.”

Seleia gave him her most natural smile.

At that, Laska’s face lit up with an even deeper smile.

“To me, you and young Miss Rote are also good fortune. The kind you never see coming.”

Seleia didn’t realize it, but in that instant, a selfish little plan sparked to life inside him.

He had decided: while staying by the side of the emperor’s former wife—this delicate woman he’d stumbled across—he’d gather information on the emperor, who was clearly still obsessed with her.

“…”

He lowered his gaze, staring at her quietly.

And when he raised his eyes again, there was a hidden, secret resolve glinting in that blue.

The next morning, while they were waiting for breakfast, Laska casually threw out,

“By the way, I’m thinking of volunteering to be the captain of Cheringen’s guard.”

Every head around the table turned to him at once. But he looked calm, like he’d just mentioned the weather, as he sipped his water.

“Really, Laska?”

Rote was the first to leap up and ask, still looking stunned even though it was her own question.

“Yes, young miss. Really. Once Lord Devonshire retires, someone will need to manage the guard anyway.”

Laska smiled brightly and nodded.

“What, you? Captain of the guard?”

Vera had just come out of the kitchen with a plate of stew. Laska grinned and replied easily, “Yep, Miss Vera. As long as I get chosen.”

Seleia, who had been quietly listening, asked carefully, “May I ask why? It feels a little sudden.”

Yesterday, he seemed reluctant when Rote offered him a position. Why the sudden change of heart?

‘Could it be… because of Hendrik showing up last night?’ she wondered.

“Well, this seems like a pretty stable job.”

His answer was unexpected.

“If you think back to how I ended up here, you’ll realize being a mercenary means wandering around until you die in some ditch.”

He waved his hand, catching a whiff of the stew’s aroma, and looked at Seleia.

“After nearly dying once, I figured it might be nice to have a job with some security for a while. And young Miss Rote happened to offer, too.”

At that, everyone turned to Rote, except Seleia.

“Uh…”

Rote blinked, admitting she had indeed suggested it.

“It’s not exactly something to brag about, but… we can’t pay you as much as you earned as a mercenary. And there might be more work, too.”

Elaine, looking tired, brought up the money issue bluntly.

The truth was, the “guard” of Cheringen was basically maintained by local volunteers.

Maximilian only trained them once or twice a year in battle basics.

“That’s fine. As long as I have food and a place to sleep, I don’t need a salary.”

Laska shrugged, flashing Seleia a flawless smile.

“This place just keeps feeling like good fortune to me.”

Seleia quickly turned her head to avoid his gaze.

She happened to meet Maximilian’s eyes—he was stroking his beard, nodding thoughtfully.

“…It’s true, we could use a new captain with actual combat experience.”

“Lord Devonshire.”

Seleia was at a loss when Maximilian agreed so easily, but then she understood.

‘Ah… that must be why.’

Earlier that morning, before breakfast, she had told Maximilian about Hendrik’s outrageous scheme: to attack the envoys of Teian himself, just to cover his tracks, and then conveniently “gift” land to his father-in-law, Duke Piel.

Maximilian had laughed bitterly in disbelief.

“If Teian finds out, Trophez will look like the aggressor—and they might retaliate immediately.”

Since Cheringen sat right on the border, they’d be the first in danger. Seleia had to prepare.

‘So that’s why Devonshire is agreeing.’

Devonshire’s retirement was overdue, and Haider, the other candidate, was basically the emperor’s puppet and absent too often.

Seleia looked back at Laska.

‘…I thought he’d leave right away.’

“Will you trust me with the position, my lady?”

Laska’s smile curved warmly, his white teeth flashing.

He was so dazzling it was almost disarming. Seleia took a breath, then finally said, “Let’s finish breakfast first. Afterward, we’ll talk it over.”

“Of course. Anything you wish.”

He answered cheerfully, like there wasn’t a worry in the world. Seleia, watching him, picked up her spoon.

After Vera’s special stew, Rote went off to read as usual, while the adults gathered in the study.

“Laska. Are you really not going to take a salary?”

Elaine, who managed the finances, asked first.

His claim of working without pay sounded ridiculous to her money-driven mindset.

“I’ve saved plenty from my mercenary days. Right now, I just want to settle down for a bit. And besides, I owe the lady my life.”

He shrugged, answering without hesitation.

“You don’t have to think of that as a debt.”

Seleia shook her head, but he wasn’t swayed.

“Anyway, I’m not exactly some fairy-tale prince charming, despite how I might look. I only ever wanted to protect myself and live comfortably—that’s why I became a mercenary. But honestly, mercenary life isn’t comfortable at all. So I figured, why not take a break and think things over for once?”

He paused, then added more seriously, his blue eyes steady on her until she flinched slightly.

“And truthfully… There are a few things here I just can’t ignore.”

“Such as…?”

“That green vase in the parlor. I don’t remember seeing it before. Did you receive it yesterday?”

Seleia and Elaine exchanged a look. He was right—the new green vase had been delivered by Hendrik’s man yesterday.

Elaine had said, “If the emperor comes again and doesn’t see it, he’ll complain. Let’s just leave it in the parlor.”

It was definitely expensive, elegant. But so what?

“You should get rid of it.”

“Why?”

“The paint on that vase… it probably contains arsenic. The famous painter Dren made a green pigment that’s beautiful—but deadly.”

“…!”

At that very moment, Rote was in the parlor reading.

Seleia gasped, then looked sharply at Vera.

Vera understood instantly, nodded, and rushed to the parlor.