# 40
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Episode 40
Ruelia's heartbeat quickened.
She thought she had escaped fate, but was she wrong?
It was not common for a knight from the Aber Family to visit the Mercenary Guild, especially since the Aber Knights, who were considered the best in the empire, had no reason to rely on mercenaries.
“Isn't he?”
Ruelia muttered as if to convince herf, in response to Melissa's voice next to her.
“Indeed, Mr. Belin can't be walking around like this.”
The man was wearing normal clothes, not a knight's uniform.
Belen, who is proud to be part of the Aber Knights, is rarely seen without his uniform.
Height, hair color, and body build were similar, but...
As she looked in confusion, the man quickly disappeared.
"He really looked like him. Does he have a twin brother?"
“No, I know he only has a sister.”
"So, is it the same? Maybe he came to recruit knights?"
“Knights of the Abir family are chosen through public examinations.”
“Really? Then maybe they have a secret mercenary mission.”
Melissa’s questions were innocent, but Ruelia’s lips dried up.
《If you stay with the Abir family, you may get involved in dangerous matters.》
Countess Bellona's letter increased her anxiety.
'The temple is full of impostors, isn't it? The Duke no longer had reason to rebel. He didn't quarrel with Miss Ayla.'
Ruelia breathed deeply, trying to calm her terrified heart, as she remembered the face of the Duke she respected.
- Ruelia, why do you keep touching my face?
- did not? Is it prohibited?
-Hof...do whatever you want.
It was the opposite effect.
She suddenly remembered an embarrassing memory, making her heart beat even harder.
* * *
The sisters entered the guild building.
The place had not changed: dim lighting, a strong smell of wine and sweat, and harsh expletives.
When the two sisters, who did not belong to this cruel world, entered, there was suddenly silence.
“Who’s here? Melissa, Ruelia!”
A large, middle-aged man, with a long scar over his eye, opened his arms to the sisters.
"my paternal uncle!"
Melissa and Ruelia ran towards him.
“Aren't you two very late? Your father would have been offended.”
It was Bradley, their foster father's companion who was like a brother to him.
“Every time we come, don't be here!”
Bradley laughed and scratched his head at Ruelia's rebuke.
“I was busy. I had a difficult client, and I was summoned to the capital after half a year.”
Bradley, like their father, was a distinguished mercenary in high demand. It is rare for someone to afford to hire him for a long assignment.
Ruelia looked at him in astonishment, and he laughed and said:
“Ruelia, you work for the Abir family, right?”
"Yes, correct."
“How do you deal with a difficult boss like that?”
His mustache twitched as he spoke, as he did at the mention of his difficult client.
“The Duke is not as difficult as people say. I do my part well, and that is enough.”
“Haha, you talk just like your father.”
“Of course, I am his daughter.”
Ruelia shrugged, and Bradley laughed out loud.
“Haha, Ilk raised an amazing daughter without relying on a strong family. Really cool.”
"family?"
“Yes, your son was the son of a great family. If his relationship with his father was good, he would have supported you more.”
Ruelia and Melissa exchanged glances.
Their father had never told them this before.
“Great family?”
Melissa asked with round eyes.
“Yes, he ran away from home because his family opposed his relationship with your mother.”
The sisters exchanged glances again and laughed loudly.
“That looks like my dad.”
"Right? Very romantic."
He was a handsome man, but he remained faithful to his dead wife, rejecting other women. Their love was evident.
"Aren't you curious? Who was your father's family?"
"do you know?"
Ruelia's eyes sparkled. For Melissa, they may be blood relatives.
She wanted to find them. If there were grandparents, they would not ignore their blood granddaughter.
"No, he never told me. Do you two know anything?"
Unfortunately, there was no evidence.
“No. But, was my father’s family really noble?”
Melissa asked excitedly this time.
“Maybe? Or a wealthy merchant family? He didn’t talk much, I don’t know.”
“I see...”
Melissa looked particularly disappointed.
Ruelia took advantage of a quiet moment and asked what she saw.
“By the way, is there a relationship between the Mercenary Guild and the Abir Family? I saw an Abir Knight here.”
"Aber? No, they have better knights than us. Why do they need us?"
Bradley laughed openly, sounding sincere.
“Right, maybe.”
Ruelia nodded.
Maybe it wasn't Belen. If it had been a secret mission, he would not have appeared in public.
Feeling relieved, she prepared to leave and held out the basket.
“Oh!”
Bradley recognized the bottle of wine as soon as he saw it.
"gift."
She gave him the champagne she had received from Countess Bellona.
“Don't share it with the mercenaries here, take it home.”
“Mercenaries prefer beer to this sweet kind. My wife will love it.”
After handing over the gift, Ruelia looked at Bradley seriously.
“Uncle, if a request comes to recruit a large number of mercenaries, can you tell me?”
“It's not difficult, but I can't reveal customer information.”
She was confident she could figure it out through calculations.
“It's okay, that's enough.”
It is best to check the bridge before crossing it.
She hoped this was just another misunderstanding.
'Even after all my drunken ramblings, he graciously forgave me.'
The more embarrassing memories came back, the more she believed in the Duke.
* * *
At that moment, Caelce was in his office reviewing papers that Senior had sorted.
After staring at the papers for a while, he said indifferently:
“Rulia, bring the knights’ operating budget documents…”
Kyles stopped suddenly.
Senior laughed and placed a cup of tea next to him.
“Miss Assistant is off today.”
“Right, I forgot.”
Kyles rubbed his forehead.
Maybe he felt embarrassed or surprised. He was not the type to make such mistakes.
“Do you feel uncomfortable without help?”
"… a little."
Just missing one day made things messy.
Is this how a dog feels waiting for his master to return?
Running a dry hand through his hair, Signor gently arranged the Duke's desk.
“By the way, Miss Assistant is very popular. Even after being rejected, some people still sent invitations.”
“She would rather work with you than be elegant like a noblewoman at tea. It's admirable, but also sad.”
Cayce's nose and lips twitched slightly.
It was he, not Gallion, who knew Ruelia best. She was not interested in meeting other men.
Senior handed over the papers that Caelce requested.
“Perhaps it would be a good idea to have a tea session at the Duke’s house with the help. Miss Emile or Miss Melissa could be invited, as she is close.”
“I'll think about it.”
Kyles answered casually as he read the papers.
Suddenly, he frowned as if something had come to his mind and called out to Senior.
“Is Viscount Levenel among those who sent back the invitations?”
“No, he didn't send it again.”
But before Senior could complete, Viscount Levenel himf arrived at the Duke's house,
Carrying a cart full of gifts.