I chuckled at seeing a different side of Bill, who was usually so reserved. Everyone’s attention turned to me, and I quickly suppressed my laughter and linked arms with Bill.

“I’ll introduce him. Is that okay, Mother, Mother? This is Mr. Bill, who gave me a job and treated me like a daughter when I was in a difficult situation. He’s the owner of the Red Pub and also the leader of the Red Pub Mercenary Guild.”

“Bill Marcus, at your service,”

Bill said, taking off his hat and bowing politely. My mother took his hand and said,

“If you’ve been kind to my daughter, then you’ve been kind to me as well. Thank you so much.”

She then bowed deeply. Seeing Bill, who was obviously uncomfortable, I quickly forced him to sit on the sofa and invited everyone to take a seat. As soon as we all sat down, the old man, whom Bill had referred to as Francis, spoke with a grave expression.

“First, I ask for your forgiveness for having to decline the request from the head of the Keppel family.”

Mother’s expression darkened.

“Since you’ve placed your trust in the Red Pub Mercenary Guild, I will be honest. As the guild’s lawyer, I have a contract that prevents me from accepting external cases.”

“I wasn’t planning on making a formal request.”

“I understand. But it’s still a high-profile matter. There’s a risk that people might misunderstand and think that the Red Pub Mercenary Guild is working closely with the Keppel family.”

Mother started massaging her temples as if she had a headache.

“The Red Pub Mercenary Guild was prepared for any backlash as soon as Greta decided to become a knight, but this is a different matter. No matter how much I insist that I’m volunteering as a guardian purely out of goodwill, who would believe that there’s no hidden benefit?

Some might think that the Keppel family is granting special favors to the Red Pub Mercenary Guild due to personal connections. Others might question whether Greta truly earned her knighthood through merit.”

Ah, that was a problem I hadn’t considered. I nodded in agreement, realizing that it was a plausible scenario. If that were to happen, people might start to wonder about the nature of the relationship between the Keppel family and the Red Pub Mercenary Guild, which could eventually lead to gossip about me.

No, that couldn’t happen. The very thought of it made me shudder, and I said firmly,

“The lawyer is right. Whether there’s any real favoritism or not, people will definitely suspect it. And if public opinion turns against Greta, it could betray the hopes of those who saw her as a beacon of new possibilities.”

I’m living proof of that. People believed that my mother-in-law arranged my marriage to Ian because she valued my long-standing love for him. As a result, I was initially met with favorable sentiments, especially from young unmarried women who saw me as a Cinderella-like figure who ascended the social ladder through pure love.

However, once it became apparent that my marriage wasn’t as idyllic as a fairy tale and that I was more or less sold into the marriage, enduring Ian’s coldness, those who once admired me were the first to turn their backs. Cinderella became a fraud in their eyes. Of course, now that Ian’s attitude has changed, so have people’s perceptions, but…

This situation was even more serious. If those who believed that women could become knights through hard work started to doubt that Greta earned her position honestly, the consequences could be far worse. The gossip and criticism I faced would be nothing in comparison.

“That’s exactly what I’m concerned about. Greta may not have been pampered, but both the guild leader and I cherished her like a daughter or granddaughter. From a young age, she wielded a sword with more determination than anyone else, convinced that she needed to prove her worth within the guild or risk being abandoned.

Because of this, we couldn’t bring ourselves to turn away this stubborn orphan who had followed us from the battlefield, and eventually, we came to care for her deeply. Now that she’s grown and ready to stand on her own, what parent would want to cast a shadow over her future? I hope you understand.”

Mother slowly lowered her arms and nodded. Greta, looking utterly defeated, said gloomily,

“I’m sorry. I must have raised your hopes for nothing…”

“It’s not your fault, Miss Greta. If anything, I’m the one who nearly caused trouble. Thank you for your guidance.”

However, Mother’s face was as pale as could be, clearly having lost hope. Unable to bear it any longer, my mother spoke up.

“Then, could you perhaps introduce us to another lawyer? I’ve heard that other mercenary guilds also have lawyers.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible either. The workshop you run has recently become one of the most successful, hasn’t it? I don’t believe there’s a lawyer out there who wouldn’t covet such a prosperous business.

I know many younger lawyers who are kind and diligent, but whether they are morally impeccable is another question. Even though I’m a lawyer myself, I can’t deny that lawyers, as a breed, will do anything for wealth and prestige.”

This reminds me so much of my uncle.

“If word gets out that the head of the Keppel family is looking for a lawyer to serve as the guardian of a new female entrepreneur, I guarantee that every lawyer in Cadia Empire will come knocking. Among them, the best-case scenario would be those who try to marry into the family after becoming guardians, while the worst-case scenario would involve those who aren’t even qualified to practice law.”

It was a highly plausible scenario. When both Bill and Greta fell silent, Francis spoke again, seemingly apologetic.

“I’m truly sorry for bringing up such unpleasant matters, but I hope you will make a careful decision. Judging by the fact that word hasn’t gotten out yet that you’re looking for a lawyer, it seems you haven’t had detailed consultations with anyone else. Is that correct?”

“Yes, I’ve only mentioned that I’m seeking a guardian for my maid…”

“In that case, I suggest keeping it a secret that the maid will be taking over the embroidery workshop. Hm, it seems my old man’s worries have caused you ladies some concern.”

“No, thank you for your wise advice.”

The atmosphere grew heavy. If it weren’t for the scoundrels who used the guardian system as a pretext for affairs, we wouldn’t have to worry about such things. Then again, just sponsoring Walter and taking him to two parties was enough to spark a scandal.

Because of this, noblemen who genuinely wanted to support real artists ended up suffering and had to be cautious. Some noblewomen even formed secret societies for artist patronage to keep the identity of the direct sponsor hidden.

“Ah…”

A thought suddenly struck me, and I grabbed the old man’s sleeve just as he was about to say his farewells.

“Wait, just a moment, Sir Francis.”

“…Yes?”

“What if the guardian isn’t an individual but an organization?”

The old man’s eyes lit up at my suggestion.

“…Please, go on.”

I paused briefly to choose my words carefully. The concept of a law firm doesn’t exist in this world yet. In Cadia, being a lawyer was essentially a profession created for those who couldn’t inherit the family title, often the younger sons of noble families. Most lawyers worked for the family they were born into, earning a salary, or were employed by the state. Those without such positions often worked for mercenary groups or large companies, like Francis.

“So, I’m suggesting the establishment of a legal company. If the guardian isn’t an individual, there would be no risk of scandal, and the individual lawyers wouldn’t have to bear any dishonor.”

To be honest, at the time, I had no idea that the company would grow so large. If I had known, I might have asked for shares.

***

Anyone could start a company, but the consensus was that it would be better if the head of the company were someone wealthy and reputable. Someone who wouldn’t risk their honor for a few coins. That’s why I was on my way to meet Benjamin.

“Liv, I’ve been meaning to come see you… But those bastards won’t leave me alone… How have you been?”

“Good. Busy?”

“Feels like I’m dying.”

Benjamin, with his sallow face, complained. I glanced around his office, which seemed hastily arranged but still had a semblance of order. Since the Imperial Wizard Corps building wasn’t completed yet, they were temporarily using an empty palace. This was possible thanks to Cade not having a mistress.

“I expected it to be a mess, but it’s surprisingly tidy.”

“There are people here who get mad if I make a mess.”

Benjamin roughly cleared the piles of papers off the sofa table and retrieved a tea set from somewhere. The moment he opened the lid of the teapot, a pleasant aroma of coffee filled the air.

“Oh… I only have coffee.”

“I like coffee.”

I brightened up in anticipation, but he silently closed the lid and shouted outside his office.

“Hey! Bring some tea!”

Hey? That’s a bit informal, isn’t it? I was about to be shocked when I heard some explicit swearing from afar, which startled me. Benjamin nonchalantly closed the door and spoke kindly.

“You should’ve just called me instead of coming over. You’re not feeling well…”

“I’m fine now. As long as the magic issue is resolved, I’m in good health. By the way, this place…”

I spoke softly, suddenly overwhelmed with emotions.

“It reminds me of Father.”

Benjamin’s office reminded me of my father’s study. I was reminded of my childhood, when Benjamin used to hide somewhere in the mansion whenever my uncle visited. The place he hid the most was in my father’s study. Feeling embarrassed, Benjamin changed the subject.

“Why are you here? It’s not just to see me, right?”

“Well, I wanted to see your face, but I also have a favor to ask. Do you know any good lawyers you could introduce me to?”

Benjamin’s face hardened.

“Are you planning to get divorced?”

…Oh, right. I forgot that I would need to hire a lawyer for the divorce as well.

“That’s one reason, but I also have another favor to ask.”

I explained the situation to Benjamin, including everything about Ellen and how Ian and I had agreed to divorce. There was a moment when someone barged in, left tea without a word, and left without greeting anyone, which was a bit bewildering, but no one except me seemed to care. It really was an unconventional place.

“Why bother with the Dowager Duchess’s maid if you’re getting divorced anyway?”

“The Dowager Duchess agreed to invest in my mother’s school.”

And Ian had also agreed to support me after the divorce. Honestly, in the past, I would have been too proud to accept a penny from Ian, but after seeing his tears, I had softened a bit. Maybe the fact that I had confirmed my ability to support myself through my singing career gave me some peace of mind.

TL NOTE: Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories