Chapter 29

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: No Mercy 29

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“Isn't it that Aden wants to take him along?”

“Sure, he's tempting, but I'm not about to fight you over a man you've set your sights on. If it were some other kind of battle, that'd be different, but this? I know when to step back.”

I had no idea what he meant by “some other kind of battle,” but Aden's words—promising to back off on his own—brought a small sense of relief.

He was a man we absolutely needed.

I turned my gaze from Aden's smiling face back to Jin.

Regardless, what mattered was that this man needed money.

That was enough.

I stopped thinking and reached into my pocket for my checkbook.

If I could win him over, no amount would be too...

“So, there's something I'd like to ask of you, Your Excellency.”

“Of me?”

“Yes.”

I looked up at the sound of Jin's voice just as I was about to open the checkbook.

Aden glanced at Jin with a puzzled expression, then shot me a quick look before nodding.

Jin paused for a long moment, his face etched with utmost caution, before slowly opening his mouth.

“Riplton is known for possessing the empire's strongest military force, officially recognized as such. Their knights are said to be on another level. And the one who rules it, Archduke Riplton, is renowned not just in the empire but across the continent as the unparalleled greatest knight.”

“And?”

Aden nodded along, looking thoroughly intrigued—almost like he was enjoying Jin's words.

He seemed pleased.

“I've admired you for a long time, Your Excellency. With your formidable martial prowess and exceptional leadership, you rule Harmonia, the lair of beasts. I wish to be knighted in Riplton, under your rule.”

...What?

I stared blankly at Jin's face, then lifted my head to see Aden wearing a look of bewilderment.

Aden hurriedly tried to speak, but Jin rose first, dropping to one knee before him in the formal posture knights took.

“I believe I could learn much from you, Your Excellency. If you accept me, then one day, when my name spreads across the empire, I could offer you great aid. Please, accept me.”

What on earth was he saying? I scowled up at Aden.

Aden furrowed his brow at Jin, then quickly shook his head at my gaze.

“I didn't...”

“Please accept my knighting, Your Excellency!”

This wasn't some marriage proposal...

Faced with the situation of losing the man I'd been eyeing without even getting a word in, I had only one course of action.

“...Enjoy your meal.”

“Sierra!”

I left the dining hall, ignoring Aden's voice behind me.

In the end, after all the twists and turns, I was the one who secured Jin.

Though Jin had chosen Riplton and wouldn't budge at first, Aden's persuasion finally wore him down.

‘I understand your wishes, but unfortunately, Riplton doesn't pay knighting fees. That's why we can't accept you.’

‘...I see.’

‘But the Brilloxen family is in need of knights and is famous for its generous fees. So choose Brilloxen. If you do, I'll write you a letter of recommendation alongside them when you apply for the guard knights. And if needed, I can even help with your training. What do you say?’

After much deliberation, Jin finally yielded to Aden's relentless convincing.

I got his word and contract to be knighted in Brilloxen.

I was thrilled to have won the man I'd so desperately wanted, but somehow, a corner of my heart felt unsettled.

“Still mad?”

As we headed to the tournament grounds, I glanced sideways at Aden, who had casually broached the subject.

His tone and expression were more cautious than usual.

Aden was gauging my mood.

It had been Aden who chased after me as I stormed out of the dining hall, persuading me relentlessly until I returned.

“This was my mistake. I'm sorry.”

Aden's ready admission of fault stirred complex emotions in me, and I let out a deep sigh.

I felt uneasy, but Aden hadn't acted with bad intentions, and the outcome wasn't bad.

There was no need to stay angry.

“It's fine. It wasn't about right or wrong, and you didn't do anything wrong anyway. If there was a problem, it was that I overlooked Jin, who was captivated by Riplton's strength and knightly honor, beyond just the fee.”

“Still, if I hadn't come along, none of this would've happened. Feels like I just made extra trouble for you.”

“...I've thought about that.”

I stopped in place, and Aden looked at me curiously.

Meeting his worried expression, I let out a small sigh.

“Even if I'd gone alone, it probably wouldn't have worked. From the way he talked, he's a stubborn martial artist through and through. He wouldn't have paid me any mind, no matter what I said.”

Recalling how Jin had refused my handshake and immediately turned to Aden, it seemed plausible.

Even tempting him with money wouldn't have swayed him easily.

To break a tough nut like that, money, force, or flattery wouldn't cut it.

What mattered was piercing to the core of who he was, like Aden had.

In that sense, coming with Aden had been a stroke of luck.

Thanks to him, things had gone smoothly.

“It deflates me a bit, but I learned from it. No matter how thoroughly I prepare, I can't do everything alone.”

I approached Aden, who stood rooted like a sturdy tree.

His ears flushed a faint red against the sky where the sunset was beginning to settle.

A hot breeze blew, and I smiled lightly as I brushed past him.

“I didn't plan it, but thanks for coming along. I got help because of you.”

I stopped three steps ahead, twisting my waist to look back at him.

Meeting his gaze as he stood motionless, staring down at me, I lifted my chin.

“Let's head back. Dinner's over, so we should go watch the final match of the day.”

“...Yeah.”

Aden let out a soft chuckle and approached.

He drew near slowly, stepping over the sunset stretched out like a long rose-colored carpet.

‘...What is it?’

A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me.

It felt like something I'd seen before somewhere.

The emotion was too vivid to dismiss as mere illusion.

“Sierra.”

I lifted my head at the sound of my name.

Before I knew it, Aden was right in front of me.

I stepped back, shaking my head as he leaned in, asking if I was alright.

I turned away again, keeping Aden at my back as I headed for the castle.

‘Must be my imagination.’

I hurried my steps to shake off the odd feeling.

The semifinals, which began after the break, ended on a rather anticlimactic note.

One matchup was a nail-biter, swords clashing evenly and gripping the audience with tension.

But the other was decided swiftly by an overwhelming gap in skill.

It was Jin who crushed his semifinal opponent with sheer power.

A nameless swordsman from commoner stock.

He was the tournament's top talent, not allowing a single attack through until the very end.

Most already assumed Jin would win the finals, so the nobles eyeing him for recruitment fidgeted in their seats.

Even before the finals concluded, those coveting Jin vanished from the venue, trailing after him.

As the semifinals ended, the spectators ebbed away like the tide.

I confirmed people were leaving and moved to stand, but Aden rose first.

His adjutant slipped in through the door and whispered something low to him. Aden nodded.

Something urgent?

Sensing my gaze, Aden turned to me.

“Looks like you're busy. Your adjutant was rushing around.”

“To achieve what I came here for, I have to hurry.”

His words reminded me that Aden hadn't just come to watch the tournament.

Aden gathered his things, bid farewell to the castle lord, then looked at me.

“Heading back now?”

“For now, yes. I've achieved my goal, so it's time to rest.”

Aden nodded curtly.

He glanced over his shoulder and smirked faintly.

“Better hurry back, then.”

I shrugged at Richel Lady's blatant stare, which had been fixed on me the whole time.

Aden exchanged final nods with the rising castle lord and me, then turned away.

As soon as Aden vanished through the open door, Richel's voice followed like she'd been waiting.

“Sier...”

“Good work, Lady Baylor.”

I gave Piolett Baylor a brief greeting and brushed past them quickly.

A voice trailed off behind me—“Where...?!”—but I ignored it and kept walking.

On my way back to my room, the world outside the window had sunk into deep darkness.

Most people had retreated to rest, but the majority of nobles were bustling to attend the castle lord's party.

Some had come for the party rather than the tournament, striding off in their finery.

I dodged the crowds heading to one place and slipped into my room, locking the door before rolling my stiff neck.

Who knew just sitting and watching a tournament could be this exhausting?

It was more tiring than poring over documents all day.

“This counts as hard labor too.”

Rubbing my nape, I felt the sticky film of sweat and humidity.

Hot, muggy, and too lazy to even bathe—what a day.

With a sigh, I dragged my heavy feet to the bathroom.

Time to wash up and sleep.

I just vaguely wished tomorrow would come soon so we could leave Genoa in a hurry.

“Everyone here?”

Rick rolled his eyes, confirming Hautman and Altas had arrived.

Unlike the dark outskirts of the castle under nightfall, the interior blazed with candlelight.

The three huddled together, skipping the ongoing party—suspicious to anyone watching.

“All prepped?”

“No issues. But really, you think this'll change anything?”

“Of course. Like I said earlier, just knocking down Brilloxen's arrogance will make the Duke's Daughter thrilled. Plus, you heard the rumors? The ones tying her to Riplton are bad enough, but now she's being treated like she got her fiancé stolen. Slap some weird rumors on Brilloxen in this mess, and it's done.”

Hautman and Altas nodded reluctantly.

Rick took a deep breath to steady his pounding heart.

Repeating to himself that it was no big deal, he brainwashed his nerves.

“Party's wrapping up soon— that's our chance. Got it?”

Rick nodded to himself and led the two away.

“...”

While the three conspired, someone on the opposite side eavesdropped in secret.

Only after the trio noisily vanished did the listener melt into the shadows.