Chapter 30: How a Mercenary Carries Out a Mass Firing

As soon as Regina left the reception room, she shivered from the cold floor. Unlike the carpeted room, the hallway was paved in stone and freezing.

“Regina.”

“Eek!”

She turned at the deep voice calling her—and suddenly felt herself being lifted into the air. Valentin had picked her up with one arm.

“Please put me down. You’ll strain your leg.”

“As long as you weigh less than Thomas or Allen, I’ll be fine.”

“But I can walk barefoot. I have tough feet.”

“This is a legendary romance. I can’t be the kind of husband who ignores his barefoot wife.”

Regina flushed a little, remembering what Valentin had said earlier. He held her with one arm, leaning on his cane as he walked steadily. She stopped struggling, surprised by how secure it felt. With the view from higher up, she was reminded of riding on Maut’s shoulders as a child—like asking for a piggyback ride.

“Valentin, did you really want to kill Count Shubel?”

She had thrown herself at him to stop him. She had felt the real murderous intent behind his grip. And now, his shoulders twitched slightly at the question.

“…Why? If I say it’s a request, will you do it?”

“Assassinations like that go against Persona’s rules. But I might be able to beat him within an inch of his life. Of course, it won’t be cheap.”

Where did the joke end, and the truth begin? Regina heard Valentin’s faint laugh—then it vanished just as quickly, like it had never been there.

“I don’t joke about requests. I never say things I don’t mean.”

She knew that well. Valentin tilted his head toward her golden-brown hair brushing his cheek as he walked.

“Then were you serious earlier?”

“Hm? About what?”

“When you said you’d protect me and this castle with your life.”

Ah. Regina finally remembered saying that to Shubel. She had been so furious at the time that she hadn’t even realized what kind of threat she’d made. But it hadn’t been a lie—it was part of the job.

“Yes. As long as I’m your wife, I plan to protect you like that.”

At her answer, Valentin lowered his head and smiled. It wasn’t his usual trembling, haunted smile—but a soft, innocent one, like a child’s. If Regina had seen it directly, she might’ve been surprised.

“I like hearing that more than I thought. Thanks to you, I don’t think the Count will ever come back to Valmen.”

“Then it’s a big win. I was afraid of what he might do next if he did.”

“You mean the Count?”

“No… me. I hated him so much, I might’ve killed him even without a request.”

Valentin laughed again, and Regina simply hoped his shaking shoulders wouldn’t drop her.

He carried her all the way to the sofa inside her room, ignoring every request to be put down.

Meanwhile…

After seeing Count Shubel off, Phinette was in the most awkward situation of her life. She had fully believed that the noble Count would kick Regina out of the castle.

But this? This is insane!

This shouldn’t have been possible.

“Phinette Baymon. I trust your skills.”

Even while running away with his tail between his legs, Shubel had thrown one last task on her.

“That crazy prince seems different now. I think it’s because of that woman mercenary. Keep an eye on her.”

If she failed here, the Renzier family would never take her back. But how was she supposed to handle this? That mercenary scared off nobles like it was nothing! And I acted like I was completely on Renzier’s side in that room!

Phinette didn’t even have the nerve to enter the castle. She just circled one spot, chewing her thumbnail until it bled.

“Ugh, they’re short on staff, so they can’t fire me right away. I’ll lay low and look for a chance.”

She decided to wait quietly for a while, and when the moment came, she’d find something useful to report.

“I can do this. Phinette Baymon.”

She truly believed she still had a chance. So she stayed hidden. Once the proud maid who strutted around the castle, she now hid in a dusty storage room during work hours—terrified of running into Regina.

She avoided attention and didn’t bully the other maids for a while. That alone, she believed, was enough to count as her repentance. But when people start to feel confident… that’s often when despair strikes.

Three days after Shubel’s visit, an emergency assembly was called first thing in the morning. The Duchess’s orders—famous now for kicking out a Count—were absolute.

Everyone gathered in front of the castle: maids, butlers, gardeners, even knights. A strange tension filled the air as people whispered.

“Is she going to punish the ones who bowed to the Count?”

“Yeah. We almost went to war with House Renzier.”

“Shh! Watch your mouth!”

Phinette growled, and the maids fell silent. But everyone knew—no one was more afraid of what was coming than her. Some even snickered behind her back.

But she didn’t have the energy to scold anyone. She was too focused on the nightmare unfolding.

She said nothing for three days… Why now? And where is the head steward?

Everyone was here, down to the last servant—except Confe. Phinette noticed the absence.

“W-where’s the steward?” she asked, gripping the shoulder of another maid.

“I’m not sure. I think the Duke gave him separate orders this morning… But Head Maid, are we going to be okay?”

“She’s coming! And… this feels serious.”

Whatever Phinette was thinking vanished the moment she saw the Duchess appear.

“Everyone, attention!”

Regina stepped out in a graceful dress. Thomas shouted loudly, and Phinette’s heart began pounding wildly. Sweat trickled down her temples.

“I’ve gathered you all here because I have something important to say.”

Regina’s voice echoed. Unlike the shy, soft-spoken noblewomen, her voice was strong and clear. Everyone listened.

“First of all, I’m firing everyone who received a letter of recommendation from House Renzier.”

Just one sentence—and a wave of shocked murmurs spread through the crowd. The most shocked of all was Phinette. She pushed through people to stand before Regina.

“This is unfair! Do you know how many people that is?!”

“More than thirty,” Regina replied coldly.

Behind Phinette, many flinched at her words. Regina scanned them quickly, then locked eyes with Thomas.

With things getting serious, it was likely suspicious movement would appear among the knights too. But it seemed Thomas had secured enough trustworthy people. Regina chose to believe in him for now.

When Regina looked away, Phinette grabbed her dress and clung to it in desperation. Shame meant nothing anymore.

“This is unfair! You can’t fire us without a reason!”

“No reason?”

Regina threw several account books at her. One was familiar. The rest were ones Phinette didn’t recognize—and then she realized they were from others.

“Anyone who stole from this castle should be rotting in the dungeon. But I won’t waste guards watching you. Since we’re short on staff after firing so many.”

“Th-that’s…”

“If anyone else thinks this is unfair, you may have your resumes back. Most of you only listed House Renzier as your reference anyway.”

People who’d relied on that name lowered their heads in shame.

“That name may have been powerful once. But not anymore. Count Renzier is now a threat to House Julius.”

“My lady! If you fire us like this, the castle won’t have enough staff! Things could fall apart. At least give us some time!”

Regina looked at the maids kneeling like rats and gave a cold smile. These were the same people who used to glare at her in the halls like they wanted to tear her apart.

“You’re not needed!”

“She’s right! Get out already! We’ll do your jobs!”

Shouts of support came from the maids and servants who had been mistreated by Phinette’s group. The backlash was loud and fierce. Phinette and her followers were stunned into silence. Regina raised her hand, and like magic, the shouting stopped.

“Who said we don’t have enough staff?”

Regina had stayed up all night writing letters—for this very day. One of them went to the Marquess of Felgburg, who owed her a favor.

“Come in.”

At her signal, about a dozen people stepped forward. At the front was a confident-looking middle-aged woman.

Everyone instantly understood: these were the new hires, replacing those being fired.

“Anyone with a Renzier recommendation—pack your things and leave today.”

Now, no one could fight back. All they could do was leave as quietly and quickly as possible—the only “loyalty” they could show to House Julius.

“…The lady is something else. Who knew she had ties to the Marquess?”

Allen whispered to Thomas from the sidelines. How could a mere mercenary be connected to someone as powerful as the Marquess of Felgburg?

There was no way to know.