#11. Recruiting Talent (2)
2023.08.11.
“Vernon, Captain of the Royal Guard, correct?”
Vernon and Amy stood before the dark stable outside the inn, carefully studying each other while concealing their thoughts. Vernon had bushy brown hair and a beard, with deeply set gray eyes.
“…Former captain, Chief Handmaiden.”
Vernon replied bitterly. Amy smiled.
“You know of me? I’m honored.”
Vernon scratched the back of his head.
“Well, the ghost chief handmaiden of the Crown Prince’s Palace is famous.”
“Not anymore. I now belong to the Second Prince’s Palace—no, to His Grace the Grand Duke of Noirdelme in the North.”
“…So it was true about the Second Prince.”
Perhaps because so much information came at once, Vernon looked confused. Regardless, Amy quickly scanned his shabby clothes, rough skin, and calloused hands.
‘He doesn’t look like he’ll refuse our offer.’
Hiding her triumph, Amy spoke calmly.
“There’s no need to beat around the bush, is there? We wish to take you, Captain Vernon, to the Grand Duchy of Noirdelme in the North.”
Perhaps because her words were unexpected, he started in surprise.
“Me? Why? I was driven out of the palace.”
“It was because of the current Captain Martin’s frame-up. I know you are innocent, Captain.”
“….”
His gray eyes trembled violently. Amy quietly closed her mouth, giving him time to accept her proposal.
‘He’s another victim of the Empress.’
The problem was Martin, a distant relative of the Empress, who coveted a high position despite lacking skill. He betrayed Vernon, who had practically raised him, and used a sparring match as an excuse to smash his knee.
That wasn’t all. Wanting to finish the job, Martin struck another blow at Vernon while he was unconscious from his injuries. Suddenly, accusations of bribery within the Royal Guard erupted. Receiving pressure from all sides over the matter, he eventually resigned his post as captain and returned to his hometown.
Vernon, who had been lost in thought for a moment, gave a bitter smile.
“But… I’m a has-been now. I won’t be of any help to the Second Prince.”
His eyes settled on his knee. Amy sniffed and coolly scanned his body, then snorted.
“For a has-been… you’re exactly the same as before.”
“….”
Vernon’s face stiffened slightly. Amy clicked her tongue inwardly.
His rugged, muscular body and well-maintained sword made it impossible not to notice that he hadn’t neglected his training for a single moment.
‘What kind of has-been is identical to his active-duty days?’
Why were warriors ashamed to be caught diligently training? She had no way of knowing.
Amy coldly observed Vernon, who was visibly flustered and embarrassed.
‘Sir Vernon may be broken as a knight, but it’s not as if he can’t live without that path. Why does he think his life is over, really?’
In any case, she knew well that his injury was no small matter…….
Amy spoke in a businesslike tone.
“We want to put you in charge of the garrison. You won’t need to serve as an elite knight yourself, so train the Grand Duke’s garrison to protect the vast lands of the North.”
“….”
In an instant, his expression changed dramatically.
Learned helplessness, hope for a new future that contradicted it, a faint excitement at that prospect, and fear of whether he could do it. At any rate, it wasn’t a negative reaction, so Amy felt somewhat relieved.
‘Since we don’t know the exact situation in the North, we desperately need someone like Vernon.’
She added gently.
“We can match the conditions from your time as Captain of the Royal Guard, so think it over.”
“!”
It was a generous—no, an unprecedented offer. After confirming that he swallowed dryly, Amy turned without hesitation and entered the inn.
“Did it go well?”
Noah asked as Amy sat in the chair. Amy smiled faintly and nodded.
“I told you on the way, didn’t I? He’s the one I had my eye on for Garrison Commander. I’ve already told him to come to the Grand Duchy.”
Joseph at the next table had perked up his ears, but upon learning Vernon was a warrior, he became sullen. Amy glanced at him sidelong.
‘I also need a civil official to assist Joseph, someone excellent with calculations.’
Starting from scratch required several times more effort than when she had raised the Crown Prince. Moreover, trying to decide and push everything through alone from start to finish meant ten bodies wouldn’t be enough.
‘Still, I’m fortunate to have a liege who trusts and delegates to me.’
It was also fortunate that there was no one frantic to trip her up and put a leash on her like the Empress and Lady Esmeine from her days as chief handmaiden of the Crown Prince’s Palace. Amy was determined not to miss this opportunity and to make the Second Prince and the Grand Duchy prosperous.
“Have you finished your meal?”
“Yeah, you didn’t eat enough, did you?”
Just as Noah looked at her with concern and Amy was about to answer, the door burst open with a loud bang. People’s gazes turned to the newcomers in the doorway.
“Is His Grace here?”
A pale, gaunt man looked around the room and asked. Then, after blinking his eyes several times at Amy and Noah, he started in surprise and asked in a loud voice.
“Could you be the Grand Duke of Noirdelme?”
“!”
The moment Amy’s eyes sharpened, the mercenaries surrounding them sprang to their feet, hands going to the swords at their waists. At the suddenly sharp atmosphere, the man who had come looking for the Grand Duke flinched, but Noah raised his hand to calm the people and spoke.
“Who are you?”
“Ah, I am the aide to Baron Pallen, the lord of this region. You must be weary from your long journey; if it is not too rude, I beg you to relieve your fatigue at the lord’s manor.”
Amy let out a low hum. She wasn’t surprised, as she had anticipated this situation.
Noah was a newly risen grand noble who possessed vast territories in the North. It was only natural that people flocked to make their mark with him. Originally, they should have stopped at every lord’s castle along the way to the North and received all manner of hospitality, but disliking the fuss, they had disguised themselves as commoners to come this far.
Noah and Amy exchanged glances silently.
‘What should we do?’
‘Well, what shall we do?’
Whether he knew of their hesitation or not, Baron Pallen’s aide took their staying at the manor as a given and excitedly issued various orders to his subordinates. Seeing him order men sent to places throughout the territory, especially the main road connecting north and south, it seemed they had been waiting along every single road leading north.
‘What could be so desperate?’
This rural village wasn’t strictly part of the North. Meaning it wasn’t land Noah would govern. So why had they waited for him so anxiously?
‘I have a bad feeling this isn’t for a good reason…….’
Amy glanced at the aide’s rat-like face and cunning eyes, clicking her tongue inwardly.
Oblivious to how he had ruthlessly shattered Amy’s first impression of this territory, the aide put on an ingratiating smile and spoke sweetly.
“Let us go, Your Grace. I shall escort you.”
“….”
But Noah pretended not to hear and looked only at Amy. Amy nodded silently. Only then did Noah rise from his seat and speak.
“Lead the way.”
“Your Grace, Grand Duke of Noirdelme, it is an honor to meet you.”
Upon arriving at the manor, a middle-aged couple greeted them at the entrance. They were Baron and Baroness Pallen.
“So you are Chief Handmaiden Amelia. I have heard much of you.”
The baroness’s eyes flickered as she gripped Amy’s hand tightly. The cold, clammy hand felt unpleasant. Amy gave an awkward smile and distanced herself from the baroness under the pretense of attending to Noah. As she did so, she quickly sized up their attire.
Despite being from a small, not-so-wealthy territory, the baron and baroness wore gowns and tunics made of expensive fabrics in the capital’s latest styles.
‘And their jewelry accessories are genuine?’
A poor territory, a greedy lord and lady. She could roughly guess the reason for this invitation.
“….”
Noah, who was receiving the baron’s hospitality beside her, alternated his gaze between Amy’s clothes and the baroness’s, then silently frowned.
“Come, come, don’t just stand there, let’s go inside.”
The baron laughed obsequiously, pretending to be hearty, and led them inside. Amy quietly followed behind Noah.
Servants lined up on both sides of the entrance, bowing to greet them. Amy observed them closely. Every single one of them was shabby and steeped in exhaustion.
“We cannot let Your Grace eat poor-quality food at a low-class inn. We have prepared a feast; please enjoy it.”
As the baron stroked his beard and put on airs, Amy thought bitterly.
‘We already ate almost everything…….’
But when they actually arrived at the dining hall and saw the prepared food, her expression worsened further. The food was cold at best, and some of it was undercooked. Anyone could see it had been hastily prepared.
“….”
The baron and baroness watched Noah and Amy’s reactions and unnecessarily shouted at the maids.
“You’ve deliberately chosen to insult your master. I am so ashamed I cannot face His Grace!”
Not content with that, they pulled a young maid forward and took a whip from the wall to strike her.
“!”
Noah and Amy were startled.
‘For heaven’s sake, have some moderation.’
Unable to watch the maid continue being beaten, she quickly stepped forward and stopped them.
“We have already finished our meal at the inn, so please show us to where we can rest. Your Grace is weary from the journey.”
At Amy’s signal, Noah awkwardly covered his mouth and pretended to yawn. At that, the baron and baroness brightened and made a great fuss.
“We have offended such a distinguished guest. Please, this way.”
They gave Noah the best inner chamber and Amy a moderately good one. They had been riding since dawn with hardly a break, so Noah’s eyelids were already heavy with drowsiness.
Amy said she would attend to him personally and drove out the servants the baron had assigned, along with the baron and baroness themselves.
Thud—the door closed, and as the footsteps faded, Noah lowered his voice.
“Is the mercenary captain there? Have him report.”