PLMYP 24

Chapter 24 —

Leonard’s mouth fell open. In a trembling voice, he asked Irenea, who still had her eyes closed,

“Was there such a clause in the contract?”

“You should’ve read it carefully before signing. Don’t go around signing contracts carelessly. Someone might sell you off next time.”

“I’m really learning my lesson…”

A breath escaped Leonard’s mouth—whether it was a sigh or a laugh wasn’t clear. A moment later…

His lips finally touched Irenea’s. It was a light, soft kiss, just a gentle brush.

Irenea, who knew how passionate Leonard could be, found it a little disappointing. But since this man was still new to romance, she decided to be satisfied with this small first step.

Still feeling unsatisfied, Irenea kissed him loudly on the cheek.

“You belong to me now. So don’t go around getting hurt or letting just anyone touch you, okay?”

“I’ll remember that.”

“Now, a little confession from your fiancée.”

Irenea smiled sweetly, eyes curving.

“Actually, there’s no such clause in the contract.”

“What?”

Seeing his shocked face, it was obvious he truly believed the clause existed. Irenea burst out laughing.

“What? You really thought that clause was real?”

“Well, the contract already included things like ‘groom lessons.’ I thought a farewell kiss wasn’t too strange either.”

“Aww, if I knew you’d sign without reading properly, I really would’ve added it.”

As she giggled, the carriage arrived at Boyle Inn on Ivy Street.

“Um… Lin, do you have a moment?”

“Of course. I always have time for you.”

Though her tone sounded playful, her smiling face made it feel completely sincere.

“Then please wait a moment. I’d like to introduce you to my assistant.”

Leonard scratched his neck awkwardly as he got out of the carriage. Just then, as if he had sensed Leonard’s arrival, Edward rushed out of the inn.

“Count! Why are you so la—Whoa!”

He had probably already moved out of their room and was carrying a huge travel bag. But when he saw Irenea inside the carriage, his eyes went wide.

“L-Lady Blair?!”

“She’s not Lady Blair. She is the Marquis Blair. Lin, this is my assistant, Edward.”

“Nice to meet you, Edward. I’m Irenea Blair. Please take care of me.”

“It’s… It’s truly an honor to meet you!”

Edward, flustered like an excited puppy, nervously stepped in place. Irenea held out her left hand with a smile.

Edward’s face brightened, and he reached to kiss the back of her hand, but stopped, noticing the ring on her fourth finger. Instead, he kissed the ring.

It was proper etiquette: for unmarried women, you kiss the hand, but for engaged or married women, you kiss the ring—but only if given permission by a lady of high status.

Aside from the late Countess Elpheus and Janice, Edward had never done such a greeting before. He was visibly thrilled.

Clearing his throat, he asked Irenea, “Um, Lady Blair, about the ring you’re wearing… Did I greet you properly?”

“Yes, you did. I’m currently engaged to Count Elpheus.”

“I knew it! So the article in the newspaper was true!”

Edward waved around a newspaper, and Irenea nodded to confirm it was all true.

He looked at Leonard with new eyes—full of admiration.

“Count, you’re amazing… How did you manage to get engaged to Lady Blair…?”

Leonard looked slightly annoyed. They had worked together for years, but Edward had never looked at him like that before.

“You once told me to be careful or I might get snared. Remember?”

“Huh? Oh! If Lady Blair is the one snaring me, I’d gladly let her!”

“You hear that, Lin? My assistant wishes you’d tie him down.”

“Shall I? I wonder what I should use. A needle?”

“I’ll lend you a sword.”

Leonard pretended to draw the sword at his waist. Edward squealed and backed away, covering his nose.

“Th-They say in the capital, even your nose isn’t safe!”

“Exactly. So keep your eyes open so it doesn’t get taken.”

“Count!!”

Such an amusing assistant.

Irenea giggled and looked at Edward with fresh eyes.

‘First time I’ve seen his face.’

She hadn’t even known his name. In the past, Leonard had only mentioned having an assistant.

“He was a good guy. Even after our family collapsed, he still wanted to work for me.”

But the Leonard of the past had sent Edward back to his hometown.

Not because the Elpheus family was bankrupt from unpaid debts…

But because Leonard had killed a noble to avenge Janice and became a wanted man.

“Did you pack everything?”

“Yes. I saddled the horse and packed the canteens and dry rations, too.”

“Well done.”

While Edward ran to the stables to bring the horse, Leonard turned to Irenea.

“Then, Lin, I’ll be off.”

“Take care.”

She wanted to follow him to the outer gate and see him off, but time was tight.

Hurrying the coachman, Irenea rushed back to the mansion and immediately summoned Kiri and Hawk.

“You called, my lady?”

Kiri quickly arrived and gave his report. Hawk, who had been training, arrived a bit later.

Water was dripping from his silver hair—he must’ve come straight from washing. Irenea, expecting this, handed him a towel.

“Hawk, I need you to run an errand. Get ready now and go to Count Elpheus’s territory.”

Count Elpheus’s land… It wasn’t a place you could travel to and from in just a day or two.

As Hawk dried his hair, he sighed.

“With all due respect, my lady… I think you forgot that I’m your personal bodyguard.”

Kiri nodded in agreement beside him.

“Isn’t there someone else you can send?”

“No. I have too many things to entrust.”

Irenea handed Hawk a bag she had prepared after hearing Kiri’s report.

After checking its contents, Hawk agreed with her decision to send him—it was clearly something important.

“Don’t worry about my protection. I have knights with me, and Sellen is watching over me too.”

“Even so…”

“I’ve been ordered by His Majesty to reflect for a month, so I won’t be going out anyway. Plus, I’ll be busy with wedding prep, so I won’t be seeing guests either. You don’t need to stay by my side.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“I’ll explain later.”

Whichever way, the news was shocking. Hawk blinked his gray eyes as Irenea gave him his instructions.

“Once you leave the mansion, the first thing you do is…”

The more she explained, the more confused Hawk became—but since it was a task from the lord he swore loyalty to, he nodded and agreed to follow her instructions.

---

Jingle jingle.

The large doors of the Mercenary Guild opened, and the bell rang loudly.

The sound echoed across the wide lobby—past the reception desk and notice board—into the tavern, which was separated by low partitions.

Among the red-faced drunkards sat two middle-aged men, who turned their heads at the sound.

Luckily, their long wait paid off after six failed tries.

“Michelle! Why are you so late?”

“Come sit. Rayhan didn’t catch you, right?”

“What do you take me for? I’m the one who taught her stealth, remember?”

Instead of pointing out that Leonard had already mastered stealth before Michelle taught him, Heath just pulled out a chair for her.

Meanwhile, Bean brought over a glass of dark beer and placed it in front of Michelle.

She took a big drink to wet her throat, and Heath immediately pressed her for answers.

“So? What happened?”

“Well… I was so hungry, I don’t even know if what I saw was really Lady Blair…”

“Oh, come on. Not this again.”

But everyone at the table was just as eager to squeeze each other for intel when they had the chance.

“Figured you’d say that. That’s why I ordered early. Here’s the sausage trio.”

“Ugh… After all that effort, you give me ground meat? I’m gonna cry.”

“Will roasted pork leg do, then?”

“Also order me another dark beer.”

Bean ordered the pork leg and two beers, then sold the sausage plate to the next table at half price.

“After what I’ve been through, I deserve a whole pig roast. But fine, this’ll do.”

Michelle polished off the pork leg down to the bone before finally speaking.

“It’s true. They’re engaged. I saw Ray get out of Lady Blair’s carriage.”

“Seriously? The family crest was clearly there?”

Michelle nodded.

“She also had Ray’s Messer sword at her waist. And they left together through the west gate.”

“West gate…”

Bean, who had memorized the empire’s geography, stroked his chin.

“Then they must’ve gone to Count Miles’s territory?”

“If they got the money, they probably went to pay it back. The due date’s coming up.”

Considering all the signs, the newspaper article seemed true.

Leonard had gotten engaged to Lady Blair, and she had given him five hundred million lark as a wedding gift.

“…Something’s fishy.”

Heath muttered, and Michelle nodded.

“Yeah. Lady Blair is a businesswoman. She wouldn’t do anything that wasn’t profitable.”

“Exactly. There must be some trap. Five hundred million? No way.”

“But the auction record shows she really paid 500 million for Ray’s Messer.”

Bean smiled widely. Understandable—he was suddenly a lot richer.

“All your fortunes are mine now.”

“No! No way! This must be a trap!”

 

Realizing the pork leg she just ate might be her last feast, Michelle cried out in despair.