Sel stared quietly at the notebook held by the young noblewoman who called her “big brother.”

Then, with a shy smile, the noblewoman elegantly adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses with a finger.

“Writing is a hobby of mine. I came here to gather stories of mercenaries, their sweat-drenched romances, and battles.”

Sel could understand the “battles” part, but “sweat-drenched romances”? She only nodded silently.

“I’m planning to write a novel with the guild leader as the main character, but I couldn’t find a fitting counterpart for him—until now. I’ve just found the perfect match. It’s you, big brother!”

“…Me?”

“Yes. Do you have a preferred weapon type?”

“I usually use a pistol…”

“Wow, that’s so attractive.”

“…Pardon?”

“You must enjoy shooting. Well, I just got shot straight in the heart by you, big brother.”

“By me?”

Lately, Sel had been hearing so many outlandish remarks that she’d begun to respond with questions almost reflexively.

“Yes, you’re quite the sharpshooter. Do you have any particular tastes?”

Is she asking about gun preferences? Scratching her head, Sel replied plainly.

“While firing speed is important, I tend to favor ones with powerful impact. Though they’re often large and heavy, which can restrict movement in combat, they’re perfect for taking out enemies in one shot—uh, My Lady?”

“Big, strong, fast, and heavy…”

Though the young woman stared blankly at Sel, her hand moved swiftly, jotting down notes. Sel quickly pulled a tissue from the table and handed it to her, speaking urgently.

“My Lady, you have a nosebleed! Please, wipe it!”

A trickle of red was running down from the noblewoman’s adorable nose, pooling under her upper lip and forming a drop on her chin.

Despite this, she stared at the tissue Sel handed her and then carefully folded it before tucking it away. Taking out her own handkerchief, she dabbed her nose, though the blood had already stained her emerald satin dress.

“Are you alright?” Sel asked with concern. In response, the young woman silently patted the seat next to her.

Sel sat beside her, albeit awkwardly. She wanted to clean the stain from the dress but hesitated as a man. After a moment’s hesitation, the noblewoman’s head fell onto her shoulder.

“My Lady?”

“I feel dizzy… Just let me stay like this for a moment.”

The young woman nuzzled into Sel’s shoulder.

Sel lent her shoulder without much thought but quickly regretted it.

*Sniff* The sound of heavy breathing echoed near her ear.

Sel’s shoulders tensed as her eyes darted around, surprised by the intensity of the sound, quite unbefitting of this cute noblewoman. *Sniff*—*haa*.

The breathing resembled that of a beast, and Sel’s brow furrowed deeply.

At that moment, a hand landed firmly on the back of the young woman’s head, twisting her ear.

“Ow!” The noblewoman jerked her head up, crying out.

“Lauren Tylen. Didn’t I tell you not to come here?” Eric stood there, looking down at her with a stern expression.

Lauren was Eric’s younger sister and the fourth daughter of the Tylen family, the same age as Sel.

“I’m conducting research! Let go already!”

“Back here again, and all for that strange novel of yours. Go back to the capital now, or I’ll burn every last book on your shelf.”

“If you touch my books, do you think your notebooks will stay safe?” Lauren retorted.

Sel, watching the siblings bicker, widened her eyes as she glanced between Eric and Lauren. Now that she looked more closely, they did resemble each other, especially in their habit of taking notes.

“Is Mr. Eric the young lady’s ‘big brother’?”

“No way, Sel! I would never call this annoying man my big brother! Ugh, let go of my ear already!”

“Go back home immediately. Stop corrupting the guild with your misguided fantasies.”

“What did I even do to corrupt it? I said let go, you lousy…!”

Swearing seemed to run in their family. Sel watched them with a faint smile as they continued their spat.

Lauren got up and swung her fist at Eric, only for him to reach out, grab her cheeks, and pinch them so hard her lips squished like a fish’s.

Her flailing arms couldn’t reach him, leaving her helpless. Eric dragged her to the corner, where he began lecturing her.

Each time Eric’s cold words fell, Lauren responded with a fiery retort.

Taking advantage of the commotion, Sel bowed to Lauren, excusing herself as she returned to the counter. The brief consultation had been unexpectedly profitable.

She patted her pocket, pleased with the weight of the 50-rouble bill.

As Sel enjoyed some downtime helping around the counter, a striking figure entered the building. An elegantly dressed young man with silver hair, exuding an air of nobility, stepped in through the door held open by his attendants.

He looked like the type who brought the scent of wealth wherever he went.

Sel quickly approached with a polite smile.

“Attendants cannot accompany you inside. This way, please.”

She gestured toward an empty sofa, guiding him a half-step ahead.

But the client didn’t move. Sel glanced back at him.

The silver-haired youth stood frozen, staring her down as if he’d seen someone he shouldn’t have.

“…Sir?”

“…No, let’s proceed.”

Everything about him, from his numerous attendants to his refined attire and even his stride, radiated nobility.

There was something in his gait that reminded Sel of Lavi, drawing her attention naturally.

Once seated, he rested his arm on the sofa’s armrest and fixed Sel with an intense gaze. Feeling uncomfortable, Sel excused herself, saying she’d bring some tea, and hurried off.

His presence alone was overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Eric, busy scolding his sister, noticed the silver-haired man.

He jumped up, briskly wiping his hand with a handkerchief before darting over to him.

“Your Majesty…!”

Before he could say more, the man quickly covered Eric’s mouth.

“I’m traveling incognito. Keep it down.”

Though softly spoken, the words carried an undeniable weight.

Eric bit his lip, glancing around. The few clients who had overheard the word “Your Majesty” had already scattered like they’d been spooked by something. Thanks to that, the lobby was now entirely empty.

Eric mumbled in exasperation, noting how everyone seemed to have excellent hearing.

“We might as well close for the day.”

“You certainly put a lot of effort into playing shopkeeper, Count Eric Tylen. Maybe take it a little easier.”

“What brings Your Majesty here so suddenly?”

It seemed the emperor and Eric were close. Eric’s demeanor toward the emperor was quite casual.

“It’s a break. I’m on my way to the Lakewood villa in the east.”

“So, why stop here?”

“It was on the way, and…”

The emperor’s words trailed off as he lowered his gaze.

“I took a nap in the carriage while passing by here and had a dream. I wanted Lavi to interpret it for me—it’s strange, but I saw my father, who I can’t even remember, in my dream.”

“…Ah.”

Eric sighed deeply.

The emperor jokingly threatened him for sighing in his presence, but Eric remained unbothered.

“But I think I have a new request for you, Count Eric Tylen.”

“And what might that be?”

“That blond young man from earlier—was he a mercenary here?”

“No.”

“Such a blunt refusal! You don’t even know what I was going to ask.”

“Your Majesty, I had a feeling you’d appreciate the company of men.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Your Majesty is always surrounded by unmarried men; there’s not a single lady around, nor are any of them even close to getting married.”

Eric held up three fingers: the knight commander, the chancellor, and the foreign minister.

They were all men who had missed their prime and were trapped in the palace’s endless business.

“You haven’t lost that sharp tongue of yours.”

“Your Majesty always listens to everything I say.”

“I’d just like to have some tea with that young man.”

Clearly, the emperor wasn’t planning to leave unless he got what he wanted. So, Eric raised his voice toward the back room.

“Rookie, His Majesty the Emperor is here. Bring out some tea, as hot as your loyalty!”

Immediately, the sound of shattering teacups echoed from the pantry.

“Oh, that mercenary is new, isn’t he?”

The emperor murmured.

After a while, Sel emerged with tea. Her face looked pale as if she had been hiding in the pantry for a long time.

Who would have thought she’d see the emperor of Latrancia, the highest and most revered figure in the empire, in person? The thought alone made her hands tremble.

The teacup wobbled slightly from her shaking.

“H-here you are.”

Sel, usually composed, could barely maintain her poise in front of the emperor.

As she set the teacup on the table, she wasn’t sure if she should bow lower or maybe even prostrate herself, but then the emperor spoke.

“I feel like I’ve seen you before.”

“Haven’t we met somewhere?”

The emperor spoke with the kind of line more suited to a bygone age. Eric grimaced at the emperor’s words.

“This is our first meeting, Your Majesty.”

“No, I’m sure we’ve met before.”

“I don’t recall, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm. Maybe I saw you in a dream.”

The emperor scratched his chin, lifting his brows in a flirtatious manner. Eric’s frown deepened.

It seemed he was trying a move that didn’t quite suit him.

Just then, Lavi descended to the first-floor lobby, his eyes fixed on Sel, who was visibly flustered before the emperor. His jaw clenched automatically.

Lavi’s cold gaze then shifted to the emperor. His walk, usually graceful, now carried a bit more force.

“Your Majesty. What brings you here?”

Lavi knelt on one knee, maintaining a dignified posture, like a swan folding its wings as it descended to the water.

The emperor, observing Lavi, furrowed his brows and asked Eric,

“Count Tylen, do you know why Lavirus is behaving so stiffly? Why is he suddenly so formal with me?”

“Ha, it seems something’s bothering him, Your Majesty.”

Eric sighed again, adding that the emperor had driven away all the customers, putting Lavi in a bad mood.

“People who have a lot are always the greediest.”

“Coming from someone with even more than me, I don’t know what to say. But why are you here?”

“Still as sarcastic as ever. Get up. If you’re trying to make me uncomfortable so I’ll leave, it won’t work. I have a request I really want to make.”

The emperor placed his hand on the teacup Sel had brought.

He noticed the golden trim of the cup matched the new mercenary’s hair as he took a sip of the tea. Then Eric revealed the emperor’s true request.

“He had a dream of the late emperor and wants it interpreted, Lavi.”

“…Do you even remember the late emperor’s face?”

Lavi sneered, suspecting the emperor was using a flimsy excuse.

The emperor shrugged innocently.

“I’ve seen enough of his portrait.”

“Then, I’d say it’s a sign to hurry back to the capital and attend to your duties, Your Majesty.”

Lavi replied with a wide, seemingly genuine smile.

Sel watched Lavi’s fake smile with fascination. How could someone smile so brightly without any real feeling? That must take serious practice.

“Well, I had a feeling you wouldn’t interpret anything for me, especially since it’s not a new moon when ghosts supposedly appear.”

The emperor nodded slowly and turned his gaze to Sel.

He examined her closely before speaking.

“That pretty young mercenary there—the new recruit?”

“Yes. He’s still lacking in many areas.”

Lavi subtly shifted his position, blocking the emperor’s view of Sel.

Oh, now this was interesting. The emperor looked Lavi up and down.

“My actual request is for that new recruit…”

Clink!

As the emperor was speaking, the teacup in front of him cracked and shattered.

Sel’s eyes widened in shock. There hadn’t been anything wrong with the cup—its sudden break was strange indeed.