10.
‘What exactly was Marigold made of? It was clear she wasn’t ordinary.’
Lancel couldn’t help but think this as he looked at the top of her head, which had already reached his eye level.
It was undoubtedly his sister’s fault. This was the result of that absurd single-line setting: “If you train your body, it will grow.” In less than a year, she had grown over 10 centimeters.
“I can grow bigger yet, Master.”
Marigold was a physical powerhouse.
Lancel had been secretly observing her brutal mercenary life from afar.
———
[Fallen Noblewoman Simulation]
Schedule for the first week of September:
Monday – Security patrol proxy (Mercenary).
Tuesday – Bandit suppression in the Imperial Capital (Mercenary).
Wednesday – Beast extermination in the livestock shed (Mercenary).
Thursday – Duel proxy for a tycoon (Mercenary).
Friday – Teaching material for the academy (Mercenary).
Saturday – Swordsmanship training.
Sunday – Swordsmanship training.
※Training is the best! Health is the best! Muscles are the best! (Strength, Stamina, and Sensitivity has gone UP! Charm, Allure, and Dignity has gone DOWN!)
———
Was Marigold aiming for the top spot in the mercenary industry? She hadn’t let go of her sword for a single day.
She was the very embodiment of the “Warrior Route.”
“Oh, Mary! I’m counting on you again today!”
“Just leave it to me!”
“Is Mary on security duty today? It’s been a while since we’ve had someone reliable.”
“That’s too much praise. I’ll do my best!”
Lancel watched her from afar, wiping a cold sweat from his brow.
‘She’s even famous?’
After only a few months of being a mercenary, her reputation and trustworthiness had already surpassed those who were seasoned silver-ranked mercenaries.
Come to think of it, Marigold had been quite well-known since the day she passed the mercenary exam.Her name was heard everywhere on the streets.
‘It’s certainly hard to not have what happened that day become a topic of conversation.’
It was no surprise that word spread quickly when a mere woman working at a nearby inn had completely deflated the swagger of mercenaries boasting about their sword skills (though the Third Prince’s enhancement magic had played a role).
But the truly scary thing about Marigold was that she was still growing, even at this very moment.
============
—September 9, 818 of the Imperial Calendar. Weather: Cloudy.
—Marigold has mastered intermediate swordsmanship training.
※You can receive advanced swordsmanship training starting today.
※The list of part-time job interviews has been updated. New positions added: Academy Sword Instructor, Elite Soldier, Guard Captain, Beast Hunter, Noble Escort, Practitioner, Wanderer, Watchman, and Rebel.
============
“Already?”
It had taken exactly three months to complete the Intermediate Swordsmanship Training, arguably the first major hurdle on the Warrior Route.
If things continued this way, it was clear that Marigold would master the advanced training within two years at the latest.
By then, Marigold would no longer be an ordinary person. There was a possibility that she could even rise to the status of “honorary knight” through festivals, tournaments, wars, or sudden events.
“Take this, Marigold. It’s the silver insignia.”
“Is it really okay for me to receive it already?”
“On the contrary, if you don’t accept it, it’ll cause trouble for others.”
As a result, Marigold became a real local celebrity in this area, and at a dazzling pace.
Bang!
“Ack!”
A man was thrown from the house where Marigold had entered. He tumbled dozens of times as he was thrown through the window.
“Arrgh!”
“You were stealing, weren’t you? Hand over everything you’ve got.”
The statement, if not heard carefully, could make Marigold sound like the thief.
“Who are you calling a thief, you crazy woman!”
“I’ve already heard everything. Hand it over quietly, and this will end peacefully. Otherwise…”
“You damn bitch! You’ve gone too far!”
The thief barely had time to draw his dagger before Marigold’s blade effortlessly blocked it.
The dagger spun into the air, sparks flying, before landing neatly in her palm.
“This one doesn’t listen to reason.”
“Okay, wait, wait!”
“If you don’t want to lose your teeth, clench them hard.”
In the end, the thief was handed over to the capital guards with a swollen face.
From this perspective alone, Marigold was truly an ideal asset for Lancel and the Mercenary Guild.
She completed missions daily, maintained an excellent reputation, and steadily improved her skills. What more could one ask of a mercenary?
There was only one problem.
“Master.”
After completing each mission, Marigold naturally began searching for Lancel.
“Master, where are you?”
“Mary, what’s going on?”
“Have you seen the Master, Sister Hesti?”
“I think he’ll be back soon… Aren’t you tired? You should go in first.”
“I’ll wait here.”
Whether it was the guild.
“Mary, what brings you here?”
“I have come to find the master, Baron Ibil Shen.”
“Master? You mean Sir Lancel. He’s been so busy lately that I haven’t seen him in a while. I’ve actually been wanting to find him myself.”
“Please find him for me..”
“Huh?”
The mansion.
“Master!”
Or the streets.
No matter the place, Marigold always managed to find Lancel. She seemed like a large dog, able to track him by scent alone.
“I completed another task today, Master.”
“…… good job.”
“…….”
“…….”
Marigold’s gaze was sparkling with adoration.
Only after Lancel patted her head did she walk away with light steps.
It was just that—nothing more, nothing less. Just a little praise, and a little recognition.
“Why does Mary always want to be praised by the Young Master?”
“Hmm.”
When Hesti tried to gauge Marigold’s intentions, Marigold reportedly pondered for a long time before answering:
“She told me it’s because the Young Master likes it…”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, didn’t Young Master once ask her to come see him?”
“What would I gain from that?”
“…….”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
Hesti’s eyes narrowed slightly, but Lancel was innocent.
‘Is it because she likes me, or because I like it?’
Lancel still didn’t quite understand what she meant. Rather, he was a little embarrassed by Marigold’s actions.
‘If this keeps up, you’ll end up marrying me again.
You are destined to become the imperial consort.’
Lancel couldn’t bring himself to say it directly.
‘What should I do?’
As he stood on the third floor of the guild, lost in thoughts that would surely earn him a scolding for being overly sentimental if overheard, the door burst open.
Bang!
Speak of the devil. It was Marigold.
“Master.”
“Mary. You have to knock first.” Hesti stated firmly.
Marigold’s expression paled.
“I’m sorry!”
Marigold stepped back out and knocked again.
“Come in.”
“Yes, Sister Hesti…….”
As Lancel watched her dejected figure re-enter, he suddenly realized how much Marigold had grown.
‘She’s about a span taller than Hesti, so I’d say around 170 cm tall.’
For someone who could remain stuck at 140cm on routes that didn’t involve physical activity, this was practically her peak height.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t grow any taller, but doing so would sever her ties with the princes forever.
“Next time you forget to knock, I’ll dump a bucket of water on your face. Understand?”
“Yes…”
‘No, no need to go to that extent.’
As Lancel was about to convey this, he suddenly noticed the paper in Marigold’s hand.
“What is that?”
“The client today asked me to deliver this to the Master. Here…”
She handed over a single, heavily crumpled scroll, looking utterly timid.
The wax bore a familiar seal.
‘The Imperial Family!’
It had finally arrived.
An escort mission.
Unlike the previous false alarm, this time it was real.
‘It was faster than I thought.’
Lancel carefully unfolded the document.
Almost simultaneously, the door burst open again.
“Knock!”
The moment Hesti flicked her wrist, water splashed from the bottle in her hand. The stream flew through the air and landed squarely on the face of the person who had just opened the door.
Splash!
A man who was doused in water the moment he entered.
Lancel stared blankly, his mouth agape as he recognized the visitor.
“Your Excellency Count Iceford of the Palace.”
11.
The Count of the Palace, Count Iceford.
Within the Imperial Family, he was known as the Lord Chamberlain.
The most influential count in the entire Empire.
Now, he sat before Lancel, wiping his dripping face with a towel.
“So, have you received what I sent?”
“I was just about to read it, Court Count Iceford.”
“If you haven’t read it yet, give it back to me.”
“Huh?”
It was being revoked.
“Could you just consider it a quick wash and return it?”
“I should be thanking you for waking me up.”
“But why did you take back the commission you gave me?”
“You’re trying to make me look petty.”
The Count of the Palace opened his mouth, thoroughly wiping away the water that had entered his nose.
“It’s nothing special. This is a request sent because there was a gap in the escort procession for His Highness the Fifth Prince, who is currently recuperating.”
Lancel knew this.
The escort procession that would accompany the Fifth Prince on his train. It included a full hundred mercenaries, and Marigold’s participation marked the beginning of this “escort event.”
A masquerade ball held in a banquet hall of the train. The accidental encounter between Marigold, the protagonist, and the Fifth Prince. Various incidents and accidents. A romance that unfolds amidst the swaying train.
Given the Fifth Prince’s attraction to physically strong women, mastering swordsmanship would make this one of the easier routes to pursue.
This was the reason behind Lancel’s decision to raise Marigold as a warrior in this life.
However…
“A great opportunity has come to you. I can’t reveal who made it possible, so I’ll keep quiet.”
A puzzled expression appeared on Lancel’s face.
“His Majesty will give you the details.”
“His Majesty….”
The dying Emperor.
He had sought Lancel.
“Prepare immediately. Time is of the essence.”
‘Why?’
