episode_0012

The maid with silver hair put away the silk she had been covering.

Then, she took out a red gem from within and handed it to the disguised princess as Yeongae.

“It’s a high-grade Barrier Stone.”

It was only then that I understood why Irina had disguised herself like this.

The gem she was holding right now.

It was an artifact supplied only to the royal knights.

When inserted into various protective gear slots, it forms a shield that can withstand not only arrows but also explosions.

Furthermore, the strength of the red stone approaches twice that of a typical protection stone.

Thanks to its overwhelming performance, it was exclusively kept within the palace.

“She was smuggling equipment behind the Crown Prince’s back.”

The palace does not welcome new competitors.

Instead, they tend to restrain and threaten anyone who starts to gain power.

Irina was smuggling high-grade equipment to create a knight order capable of recruiting me.

In the past, Irina used to secure equipment like this to stop the Crown Prince.

But now, is she moving in advance to recruit me…?

I swallowed deeply.

And I stared intently at Irina as she appraised the protection stone sharply.

“Is this… different from the sample you showed me?”

“Oh- Is that so?”

The merchant avoided Irina’s gaze with his characteristic slick tone.

Then, clasping his hands together, he spoke with a regretful voice.

“Since it’s a replica, there may be ‘occasional’ quality issues.”

“Of course, I was aware of that beforehand. However, isn’t one-third of them a mess?”

Replicating protection stones is a very challenging task.

Moreover, if done secretly, the quality is bound to be even more chaotic.

“I apologize. We will pay more attention during the replication process from now on.”

The man apologized leisurely, placing his hand on his chest.

However, Irina’s blue eyes remained stern.

“Take it back. When you have the proper ones, we can talk business again.”

The woman who transformed from a princess to Yeongae.

She casually tossed the protection stone she had been holding onto the carriage.

“Isn’t that difficult?”

The merchant picked up the dropped protection stone.

Still wearing a relaxed expression, he smiled at Yeongae.

“What…?”

Perhaps due to her disguise.

The merchant treated Irina as a poor noble who couldn’t even afford to buy the protection stone at its regular price.

He began to engage in blatant extortion.

“It took as many as ten alchemists just to replicate 200 of these.”

He placed a finger on one palm as if calculating.

“And the bribes given to the guards during the transportation of this carriage, not to mention the escort troops.”

His finger moved vigorously.

Soon, he clapped his hands as if finishing the calculation.

“You already owe us 1000 gold.”

1000 gold.

In a world where a noble’s meal costs only 1 gold, this was outrageous.

“Even though they are replicas, the price is quite steep.”

I glanced briefly towards Irina.

As expected, she seemed to think it was excessive, as she pursed her lips.

“To place an additional order, you would need to pay another 1000 gold. Would that be acceptable?”

The noble girl shook her head dumbfoundedly.

“That won’t do.”

Upon hearing this, the merchant knelt before Irina, aligning himself with her gaze.

And with his deep-set southern eyes, he fixed her with a piercing look.

“In that case, please take this and just pay 1000 gold.”

The merchant’s gaze shifted towards the thick pouch of gold coins held by the maid.

He reached out towards the bag.

However, at that moment.

Yeongae grabbed the merchant’s thick wrist.

With her fair and soft hand.

“I said no.”

A fierce expression she hadn’t shown me before.

Tolliso, who had been relaxed in her composure, was taken aback by this stern expression.

“There might be issues in the replication process. But, when did a third of them start being classified as ‘occasional’ defects?”

Perhaps because of her blonde hair.

Her stern face resembled that of the Emperor, who shared the same hair color.

“Since when has a significant portion, about one-third, been considered ‘occasional’ defects?”

The merchant coughed incessantly at her straightforward words.

“When we made the contract, did we agree on how many defective items would be accepted?”

He wore a weary expression, seeming tired of explaining further.

From the start, Tollyso had no intention of honoring the contract properly.

“Just hand it over obediently. After all, you nobles are wealthy, aren’t you?”

Lea, the backing behind Tollyso.

Even if he were to go to prison, he would soon be released.

However, Irina would be dragged into the royal inquisition.

Perhaps this incident might lead to the disappearance of the carefully crafted knighthood.

“If money is the issue, well, there are other ways.”

The merchant raised his head firmly.

His thick eyelids gazed directly at Dasha dressed as a maid.

“In our Ekina, we sometimes accept women instead of money.”

The moment those words were heard,

Irina’s blue eyes sparkled.

“If you hand over that girl, I will even give the next replica for free…”

As the man was admiring Dasha’s appearance and mumbling,

A white hand flew towards his cheek.

￣￣￣!

A resounding, intense sound echoed.

Even the mercenaries who were watching the scene turned to look at the two of them.

“We let you off as a mere defeated merchant, but you’ve crossed the line.”

Irina put on an expression overflowing with the demeanor of a conqueror.

However, her pupils were flickering in no time.

Because she had been weak, she had brought trouble upon both herself and Dasha.

“Ah… This is quite unpleasant.”

The merchant flexed his facial muscles and put on an intimidating look.

Then, with fierce black eyes, he glared menacingly at Irina.

“Even if you’re a noble, do you think you can just hit people as you please?”

Empowered by his words, the mercenaries began to move.

They all approached Dasha and Irina, placing their hands on their swords.

“Although I cannot touch nobility, I can handle scum like you to some extent.”

Ekina’s mercenaries drew their swords simultaneously.

Their blades were so sharp that they gleamed even in the dark.

“Dasha, the deal is off.”

However, Irina showed no signs of fear.

Instead, as if wanting to make them pay an excessive price, she snapped her fingers as a command.

“Teach these scoundrels some manners.”

Dasha nodded in agreement.

And confidently approached the group of men.

“What, wasn’t she just a simple maid?”

Tollyso chuckled as he watched the maid walk confidently towards the mercenaries.

Eventually, he walked clumsily closer to get a better look at the beautiful Dasha’s face.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

I know because I met her last night…

Dasha is not an ordinary woman.

“Indeed, imperial women are as arrogant as they are beautiful. How could one resist such charm…”

Just as the hairs on his hand were about to touch Dasha,

Her skirt fluttered.

Her slender waist twisted.

Simultaneously, she extended her long leg and struck the merchant’s cheek.

―――!!

Between the folds of her skirt, her white stocking was revealed.

Beneath it, the merchant fell to the ground powerless.

I know from facing her blade.

Dasha’s strength is much greater than that of an average knight.

“Draw your weapons! She’s no ordinary woman!”

The merchant shouted, holding his stinging cheek.

The mercenaries rushed towards Dasha.

Seeing this, Irina didn’t hide but instead commanded with a fierce gaze.

“Let them live. It will be troublesome if they die.”

Dasha clenched both sleeves.

Between her raised sleeves, small daggers poured out.

“I will comply with the orders.”

She inserted the falling weapons between her fingers.

It was a gesture that she would not hesitate to kill for her master.

The moment I saw that expression,

I calmly entered the scene.

No matter how elite the intelligence unit may be.

It would be difficult to subdue all those mercenaries without killing any.

If even one of them were to die by my hand…

I would have to face a murder case from my first day of patrol!

“Everyone, please stop for a moment.”

Everyone turned their heads towards my voice.

Irinya, too, looked at me with a surprised expression.

“I was patrolling nearby,” she said.

She rummaged through her pouch.

Then, she showed me the newly issued stiff knight’s badge.

“Defense Knight, Veil Mihail.”

The mercenaries bristled as they saw the nameplate.

They looked at each other with bewildered expressions.

“Given the current situation, can we assume it’s right before the incident breaks out?”

Just a while ago, the bold Yeong-ae, Irinya.

She met my eyes and made a puzzled expression.

Like any ordinary innocent girl.

“It seems like there was some private trading going on.”

Yeong-ae approached the merchant slowly.

First, she glanced down at Irinya.

With golden hair and blue eyes…

Disguised like this, she resembled Princess Leia.

Of course, she exuded a much more girlish vibe than her.

“This is the Empire’s Yeong-ae, and who is that? I’ve never seen that face in the capital before.”

“He’s a merchant from Ekina, called Tolisora.”

When I asked, the merchant greeted me casually.

However, his composure didn’t last long.

“Why would a mere foreign merchant threaten the Empire’s Yeong-ae?”

Before the guy could come up with an answer, I cut straight to the point.

“Oh, no… Actually, I was in trade with the princess, but for some reason, she suddenly slapped my cheek because she didn’t like the deal.”

He looked aggrieved, as if unjustly treated.

In response to my sudden probing, he shamelessly defended himself.

“Moreover, she even kicked me!”

Tolisora held his cheek, whimpering like a pitiful small business owner.

Ah… Did this exaggerated performance catch Leia’s eye?

Maybe this is also a skill.

“When the employee was attacked, the mercenaries had no choice but to protect him…”

The soldiers smiled approvingly, as if agreeing.

But I know.

This guy who’s bowing his head now.

His smirk tells a different story.

“The crucial part of the story is missing.”

The helpless Irinya stepped forward.

She explained her situation methodically.

“That side violated the trade first, and even insulted my attendant!”

Dasha nodded in agreement.

Yes.

Certainly, the merchant is more at fault given the circumstances.

Just mocking a noble is enough to warrant punishment.

But did he have to be so rude?

There’s a princess behind him.

Damn it…

Just when I thought I had escaped the princess’s entourage, why am I still involved in this mess!

I need to end this on my terms for the sake of my comfortable knight life.

I cleared my throat calmly.

Then, with a decisive tone like a judge, I spoke.

“Well, regardless of how the trade went, these are all illegal replicas.”

I reached into the cart and picked up a red gem.

Then, I waved it in front of everyone.

“As this is unlawful behavior, I will arrest everyone for now. Any objections?”

I alternated my gaze between Irinya and Tolisora.

Yeong-ae tried not to show any emotion, but she looked uncomfortable.

However, Tolisora seemed unfazed and even smirked.

“Very well, let’s discuss this at the Knight Order.”

That’s right.

Even if you get imprisoned, Princess Leia will bail you out.

I casually placed the illegal gem back in the cart.

And I bluntly told him.

“Yes, let’s go and check your property list first.”

Tolisora’s eyes lit up at the unexpected turn of events.

“What…? Why do you need my property list?”

This is the reaction I wanted.

But this is just the beginning.

Now, you won’t want to go to the Knight Order even if you’re dying.

“We confiscate all illegally earned money in the Empire.”

“Illegal? Is that so? This is the first time I’ve traded like this!”

Yes, it must be the first time.

Because you’ve only traded with the princess so far.

But from my perspective, meeting Tolisora today for the ‘first’ time, it’s an entirely unbelievable statement.

“How can I believe that?”

“If you wish, I will show you all the transaction records.”

He confidently made the offer.

However, I firmly shook my head and demanded more than that.

“Exactly. Let’s go and see for ourselves.”

At those words, Toliso let out a relieved sigh.

Until now, he had dealt with the royal family, so there should be no issues in the records.

However, soon he fell into contemplation once again.

Because I had gone beyond the records.

“Oh, of course, we’ll also need to ‘personally’ meet everyone on the list.”

All the individuals listed in the records.

Among them was Lea, the First Princess.

“Verification is essential.”