Chapter 24: Is this a gift?

“You told me to get exclusive rights for arms trading in other places besides Kuzne?”

“Yes. That’s how you obtain a true monopoly.”

Argen, who had been watching a feverish Pessini chewing food like a person who had starved for days, calmly replied. 

It was after Iska brought the two people he encountered on the street to the restaurant in his hotel.

“Haha.”

Iska let out a refreshing laugh as if he had lost.

Once again, he admired Lavella’s actions.

He couldn’t believe she was doing this again behind his back. Honestly, he didn’t even expect it.

He wondered if Canpiden knew. He turned to him.

(TL/N: Iska is listening to a conversation at the table next to him)

“A herb farm? Are there any top groups of the Empire who go there?”

The loud voice of the restaurant owner rang out.

“Yeah, they must be in jail by now.”

“Are they smugglers?”

“Well, they claim to be a member at the top of Campanya… Have you heard of it?”

“Campanya? Where is that?”

A strange silence passed between Kirah and the party as they heard the men’s conversation.

Campanya. It was a name Lavella came up with.

“Hey, I haven’t finished.”

While Pessini grumbled, Iska got up.

“…Did you say Campanya?”

Iska, who headed to the next table over, gave a friendly smile.

“Hmm?”

The men in uniform nodded in suspicion.

“We’re from Campanya. I was worried because part of our group hasn’t returned.”

The men exchanged glances.

“Where are they now?”

Unlike the smile on Iska’s lips, his eyes did not follow.

*   *   *

“I have to say, it’s fortunate it isn’t a dungeon.”

Dabel, who had been snooping around the tightly closed iron cage, scratched his head and turned around.

“Lavella, what are you going to do now?”

“Well, I threw bait so I’ll just wait for them to bite.”

“This is bait?”

“Look, the fish is coming.”

“Huh?”

At the same time that Lavella put her hood back on, the man who had taken the two of them appeared.

“The Lord is waiting for you.”

‘As expected.’

A satisfied smile appeared on Lavella’s hidden face.

Seeing the Lord’s reaction, Argen and Pessini seemed to have finished their work well.

The place where the man took the two was the Lord’s office.

“It would be best to answer all the questions the Lord asks honestly.”

The man gave a serious warning and opened the big door.

“!”

And when Lavella saw the people waiting inside, she was surprised.

Their attire had changed a lot, but they were definitely Kirah’s men.

Several pairs of eyes stung her as they checked to see if she was in good condition.

‘How did you know?’

It was an improvised plan, so of course, she couldn’t share it with them either.

When Iska’s eyes met hers, he smirked and walked over to her.

“You were here, my Lady. Do you know how worried we were?”

“…….”

Lavella looked down at Iska, who was nagging as he knelt in front of her.

He wasn’t armed as usual. With his cravat tight enough to look ascetic, he was very well-groomed.

“Really, you always exceed my imagination.”

It was a word with many meanings. Lavella’s eyes lit up.

“You always deviate from my expectations, so it’s hard to keep up.”

Iska got up and let out a deep sigh.

‘Hmm.’

A faint smile appeared on the tip of Lavella’s lips as she heard his voice.

Iska seemed to have figured out her plan.

He was smiling calmly, but the gaze between the two was tight as if it would soon break.

“I’m sorry. The lady was curious so I brought her out….”

Dabel, who glanced at the lord, tried to make excuses tactfully. Everyone was acting like high-status people, so she needed to participate in the acting.

“No, he didn’t do anything wrong.”

When she saw Dabel with his head down, she grabbed Iska’s arm and clung to it at once.

Dabel bowed deeply as if he had committed a grave sin.

“I came out because I begged you. Huh? You’re not going to scold me, right?”

Unlike usual, a charming voice mixed with nasal sounds came out. She didn’t forget to make a sad face as if she were about to cry.

The way she whined to a man bigger than herself was the act of a young girl who was soft and ignorant of the world.

“…….”

“Uh, ah, if the lady is talking like that….”

“That, of course. We have to follow your will.”

The group, who managed their facial expressions, coughed in vain and took Lavella’s side.

Lavella, who smiled brightly with gratitude to the group, looked up at Iska for the last time.

Iska, who looked at her deer-like eyes, exhaled.

“There will be no punishment. Everything will go as you wish.”

Iska bowed down and gently kissed the ends of Lavella’s hair.

*   *   *

“I can’t believe the day has come when I stay as a guest in the castle of a Lord.”

“Pessini, don’t be tacky.”

Argen, sitting on the sofa in the drawing-room, rubbed his temple as if he had a headache.

He was distracted by Pessini wandering around with his large body.

“Huh? What’s wrong with you? Aren’t you all amazed? I’m not the only one who’s coming here for the first time, right?”

“…….”

The ferocious eyes full of curiosity looked around at the group, but there was no reply.

“Am I the only one who’s never done this before?”

Whether Pessini felt betrayed or not, Argen and Canpiden had no intention of dealing with him.

“Canpiden, did you know? The Captain’s plan.”

“…….”

Canpiden shook his head slowly.

“…Right? Neither did I. Honestly, I didn’t even expect it.”

Argen, who was in the same situation, muttered gloomily.

The sudden appearance of unidentified smugglers sweeping the herbs of Promschel and the fact that the Lord was troubled by it.

It was only one of the many stories passed through the guild information network. 

That said, their captain was thinking ahead, not just passing by.

“Are you planning to monopolize all the weapons of Imperia? It’s a pretty aggressive move for a new top rank.”

“Haha, smugglers are an organization that needs weapons. Do you think we can be of any help to the lord?”

“…What do you want?”

“Let’s discuss it step by step, because stabilization of supply and demand for medicinal herbs comes first. Of course, I promise not to be overly greedy.”

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The deal was successful. 

Iska put out a carrot in front of the lord and waved it, and there was no reason to refuse from the perspective of the Lord who wanted a quick solution.

Thanks to this, he enjoyed the luxury of using the entire floor of the annex as a guest of the lord.

“And Iska, how did he know? There is no way the captain would have shared it first.”

“…….”

“At this rate, I may have to give up the role of Kirah’s brain.”

Argen, with his red hair clasped in his hands, smiled sadly and leaned back on the sofa.

As soon as they arrived at the annex, he remembered Lavella, who went to her room with a satisfied face.

Since the captain had someone who can move with her, it seemed like he(Argen) should like it. How should I deal with this strange sense of defeat?

“Anyway, it would be difficult to have Iska as an enemy, so we have to put him next to the captain somehow.”

“…….”

Canpiden remained silent at Argen’s words. As for him, it was difficult to readily agree or disagree.

Contrary to the disturbing atmosphere of the drawing-room, there was a strange tension in Lavella’s room.

“Lavella, you’re pretty talented at acting, huh?”

“Did you follow me all the way here to tease me?”

“No.”

Iska came closer, took off his hood, grabbed Lavella’s hand, and placed it on the left side of his chest.

“Are there any problems with your heart?”

Lavella didn’t try to shake it off, but spread her hand on his firm chest muscle. She raised one of her eyebrows as if intrigued.

“Can you feel it going crazy? Because of you, my heart can’t be calm.”

Only after confirming the irregular beat did he let go of her wrist, but Lavella’s hand remained still there.

“Hmm, you look tired.”

“Yeah. You’re the reason why I’m having a hard time these days in many ways.”

Iska tilted his head as he placed his hands on her waist.

“So what are you trying to say? Are you telling me to stay still?”

Lavella asked in a drowsy tone.

“No.”

“Then?”

“Do whatever you want. I’m curious to see how excited my heart will be.”

“Hmm.”

“And I’m going to help you no matter what you do.”

“Like today?”

“Yeah, like today.”

In response to Iska’s firm answer, Lavella raised her red tongue and licked her lips.

It was definitely an attractive story. Today, Iska moved exactly as she intended.

To be honest, I was pretty surprised too. Because I didn’t know that he could accurately grasp my plan and execute it in such a short time.

‘The more I look at him, the more useful he is.’

What if he hadn’t been a prince? It would be nice if he was just Iska from Kirah.

Lavella, saddened, clicked her tongue inwardly. What can I do? I have no choice but to use it well when I have it.

Lavella dropped the hood she was holding in her hand and stuck her body close to Iska.

“By the way, did you like my gift?”

Lavella slid the hand that was resting on Iska’s chest and pulled off the glasses that were sitting quietly on the high bridge of his nose.

Originally, she ordered Argen to use it, but it went well with him. To the point where the gift was worthwhile.

“Hey, Iska.”

Lavella’s body slid down.

“Why do you believe in me and help me? There’s no guarantee that what I do will help you ascend to the throne, right?”

“I know. But I just want to believe it.”

“Iska, don’t trust people recklessly.”

Lavella shrugged her shoulders with her arms crossed and placed the tip of the thin glasses’ temple between her lips.

This was a consideration and a warning for him.

Believing in one’s ability enough to entrust them with work and trusting in the person themselves were completely different.

And Lavella knew better than anyone how dangerous it was to trust someone.

‘It’s not once or twice I’ve seen a job go wrong because of a mixture of feelings such as trust when carrying out a mission.’

“When I see you saying that sweetly, I don’t think I’m in my right mind either.”

Iska responded casually, grabbed her wrist then pulled out the tip of his glasses from between her fingers.

“I am grateful for this unusual gift from you. So I’m going to give you a gift too.”

Iska, who folded the temples of the glasses and put them in his pocket, soon put the bracelet on her wrist.

“…Is this a gift?”

Lavella’s eyes became thinner as if the bracelet was not satisfactory.

“I’d rather receive a weapon. Kuzne’s sword….”

“Ha, I knew you’d say that.”

He didn’t want to be embarrassed and ashamed but how could she not deviate from his expectations?

“It’s a tracker. I’m anxious because I don’t know where you’re going to go. In short, it’s shackles.”

“…Huh?”

Iska swallowed a laugh when he saw Lavella’s eyes go wide.

“Tracking, are you serious?”

Lavella narrowed her eyes. Aside from being displeased with Iska’s words, if it was true, it was something that was quite coveted.

“What, you don’t believe me?”

“…….”

Realizing that he was trying to tease her, Lavella coldly lowered her eyes.

“Don’t take it off. It has a lot more features than tracking.”

As her pale finger tried to pull off the thin leather strap, Iska laughed and dissuaded her.

Lavella lifted her chin as if to tell him to keep talking.

“If it’s you, you’ll soon be able to feel the effect.”

Iska blinked slowly as he looked at Lavella, who was doubtful as if she couldn’t understand.

“Then maybe you’ll see me again?”

Iska smiled and lightly kissed the bracelet that was wrapped around Lavella’s wrist.

*   *   *

The next morning. Lavella, who opened her eyes in a fluffy bed, raised her wrist and looked at the bracelet that Iska had given her.

“Hmm?”

She guessed it wasn’t a lie when he said she could feel the effect. 

I thought it was like a medicine dealer because I didn’t have to see a doctor with this bracelet.

However, Lavella felt the energy that she felt once in a while that made her stomach churn, as if turning her intestines over, had calmed down. Also, the condition of her body was better than ever.

“Is it really because of this?”

Heh, it’s kind of interesting if that’s the case. It was when Lavella, who had dragged her bracelet and tied it up, raised her body.

“Are you awake?”

With a knock, the door slowly opened and an innocent face appeared. She was a maid given by the Lord for her convenience.

“You have to eat breakfast, so I’ll help you prepare.”

‘It’s going to be annoying for a while.’

Suddenly, she imitated the appearance of a young lady.

Lavella sighed inwardly as she put on a neat dress and pulled her hair into a fine braid to one side.

“Good morning.”

When Lavella, who had finished getting ready, entered the restaurant, the eyes of the group who had come first poured all at once to the entrance.

“Wow, our Cap… No, My Lady, you look like a princess from this point of view.”

Lavella glared at Pessini, who was laughing and teasing, and sat quietly in an empty seat.

The Lord had not yet come, but the servants who would be his eyes and ears were moving around.

‘If you talk nonsense, the meat on this table will be you.’

“Oh, that…!”

Dabel’s eyes widened as she gracefully warned Pessini with gestures instead of words.

“Hmm?”

Lavella expressed her curiosity, seeing Dabel’s gaze fixed on her wrist.

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