Safe Marigold.

10.

What on earth was Marigold’s body made of? It was definitely not ordinary.

Lancel couldn’t help but think that as he looked at the top of her head, which had already reached his eye level.

It was all Noona’s fault. The absurd one-line setting, “If you train your body, your body will grow,” had created this result. She had grown over 10cm in less than a year.

“I can still grow more, Master.”

Marigold, the physical type.

Lancel had been watching her relentless Mercenary life from the shadows.

———

[Fallen Noble Lady Simulation]

Creating the schedule for the 1st week of September.

Mon – Security patrol duties (Mercenary).

Tue – Subjugation of thieves in the Imperial Capital (Mercenary).

Wed – Extermination of beasts invading the barn (Mercenary).

Thu – Proxy duel for a wealthy man (Mercenary).

Fri – Teaching material for the academy (Mercenary).

Sat – Swordsmanship training.

Sun – Swordsmanship training.

※Training is the best! Health is the best! Muscles are the best! (Strength, Stamina, Sensitivity UP!! Charm, Sex appeal, Elegance Down!!).

———

Was she aiming for the top spot in the Mercenary industry? Marigold didn’t let go of her sword for a single day.

It was truly the epitome of the ‘Warrior path.’

“Oh, Mary! I’m counting on you again today!”

“Leave it to me!”

“Mary’s on patrol duty today? It’s been a while since someone reliable came, huh.”

“You flatter me. I’ll do my best!”

Lancel watched her from afar, wiping away the sweat. She was even famous?

It had only been a few months since she started as a Mercenary, and her recognition and credibility were already better than those of seasoned Silver badge mercenaries.

Come to think of it, Marigold had been quite famous since the day she took the Mercenary exam. Her name was being mentioned everywhere on the streets.

‘It’s true that what happened that day couldn’t help but become a hot topic.’

A woman who had been working at a mere inn had crushed the spirits of Mercenaries who were acting tough, so it would have been strange if rumors hadn’t spread (although it was thanks to the Third Prince’s Enhancement magic).

Moreover, Marigold’s real scary point was something else entirely. It was the fact that she was still growing even at this very moment.

==========

—Imperial Calendar 818, September 9th. Weather: Cloudy.

—Marigold has mastered Intermediate Swordsmanship Training.

※You can now receive Advanced Swordsmanship Training.

※The list of part-time job interviews has been updated. Academy Swordsmanship Instructor, Elite Soldier, Guard Captain, Demon beast Hunter, Noble Escort, Ascetic, Wanderer, Watchman, and Rebel have been newly added.

==========

“Already?”

The time it took to complete Intermediate Swordsmanship Training, which was practically the first hurdle of the Warrior path. Exactly 3 months.

At this rate, she would definitely master Advanced Training within 2 years at the latest.

When that happened, Marigold would no longer be an ordinary person. There was a possibility that her status would rise to ‘Honorary Knight’ through festivals, competitions, wars, or unexpected events.

“Take this, Marigold. It’s a Silver Insignia.”

“Is it okay for me to receive it already?”

“On the contrary, others will be in trouble if you don’t receive it.”

As a result, Marigold truly became a celebrity in this area. At a dazzling speed.

Bang!

“Kkeuaaak!”

A man was thrown out of the house Marigold had entered. He was tossed through the window and rolled dozens of times.

“Aeuheuk!”

“You were robbing, weren’t you? Hand over everything you have.”

If you didn’t listen carefully, it was a statement that could make Marigold look like a robber.

“W-Who are you calling a robber, you crazy woman!”

“I’ve already heard everything. If you hand it over willingly, it’ll end nicely, but if not…”

“You little bitch, I’ve been holding back!”

The thief, who had instantly drawn a dagger, couldn’t even extend it properly. It was blocked so easily by Marigold’s sword.

The dagger, which flew up with sparks, soon landed on her palm.

“You’re someone who doesn’t understand with words.”

“W-Wait, wait!”

“Clench your teeth if you don’t want them to fall out.”

The thief was eventually handed over to the Imperial Capital guard with a swollen face.

If you only looked at this, Marigold was actually a very loyal talent for Lancel, and for the Mercenary Guild.

She completed requests every day, had a good reputation, and her skills improved day by day, so what better Mercenary could there be?

There was only one problem.

“Master.”

Marigold, having finished her mission, started looking for Lancel as if it were natural.

“Master, where are you?”

“Mary, what’s wrong?”

“Have you seen Master, Hesti Unni?”

“I think he’ll be back soon… Aren’t you tired? Go in first.”

“I’ll wait here.”

Whether it was the guild.

“Mary, what brings you here?”

“I came to find Master, Baron Shen.”

“Master? You must be talking about Sir Lancel. He’s been so busy lately that I haven’t seen his face in a long time either. I’m the one who wants to find him.”

“Please find him.”

“Huh?”

Or the mansion.

“Master!”

Or the street.

Regardless of the place, Marigold eventually found Lancel. It was as if she could smell him, like a big dog.

“I did a good job today, Master.”

“…Yeah, you did well.”

“……”

“……”

Marigold’s gaze, sparkling in her eyes.

Only after stroking her head did she leave with light steps.

No more and no less, just that much. Yes. A little praise and a little recognition.

“Why does Mary always try to get praised by Young Master?”

“Hmm.”

When Hesti probed her intentions, Marigold thought for a long time and then answered, “Because Master likes it… that’s what she told me.”

“What does that mean?”

“Well. Maybe Master told her to come find him sometime?”

“What do I get out of that?”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

Hesti’s eyes narrowed, but Lancel was innocent.

‘Not because she likes it, but because I like it?’

Lancel still didn’t quite understand the meaning of those words. Rather, he was a little embarrassed by Marigold’s actions.

“At this rate, you’ll say you’re going to marry me again.”

You’re a woman who should become an Empress.

He couldn’t say that directly.

‘What should I do?’

Just as he was having thoughts in the guild’s 3rd floor that would make others tell him not to be so cheesy.

Bang, the door opened.

Speak of the devil. It was Marigold.

“Master.”

“Mary. You have to knock first.”

Hesti sternly scolded her, and Marigold’s expression turned pale.

“Knock! I’m sorry!”

Marigold went out again and knocked.

“Come in.”

“Yes, Hesti-nim…”

Looking at her coming back in with a dejected face, Lancel felt anew that Marigold had grown taller.

‘She’s about a hand taller than Hesti, so she must be in the early 170cm range.’

For her, who sometimes stayed in the 140cm range in routes that didn’t use the body, it was almost the highest point.

It wasn’t that there was no way to grow even taller from here, but if she did, her connection with the Princes would be over forever…

“If you don’t knock next time, I’m going to pour water on your face. Got it?”

“Yes…”

No, not that far.

As Lancel was about to convey that, he suddenly saw the paper in Marigold’s hand.

“What’s that?”

“The client today told me to give it to Master, so here…”

A roll of documents that she handed over in a very subdued state.

A familiar seal was stamped on the sealed wax.

‘The Imperial Family!’

It came.

The escort event.

Unlike what he had sent as a preview, this time it was real.

‘It’s faster than I thought.’

Lancel carefully unfolded the documents.

The door opened again with a bang almost at the same time.

“Knock!”

It was the moment when water was splashed from the water bottle in Hesti’s hand. The stream of water that flew in an arc landed on the face of the person who was just opening the door.

Splatter!

A man who was drenched in a shower of water as soon as he came inside.

Lancel gaped as soon as he saw his face.

“Ahem, didn’t I knock?”

“Count Palatine Your Excellency.”

11.

Count Palatine Iceford.

Inside the Imperial Palace, he was called the ‘Chamberlain.’

The man with the most solid position among those with the title of Count in the Empire.

He was now sitting in front of Lancel, wiping his damp face with a towel.

“Well, did you receive what I sent?”

“I was just about to read it, Count Palatine Your Excellency.”

“If you haven’t read it yet, give it back.”

“Yes?”

It was taken back.

“Can’t you just pretend I washed my face and give it back?”

“I’m thinking of thanking you for waking me up.”

“But why did you take back the request you gave me…”

“This person is trying to make me look like a petty human being.”

Count Palatine Iceford opened his mouth while carefully wiping the moisture that had gotten into his nostrils.

“It’s nothing much. This was a request I sent because there was an empty spot in the escort procession of the Fifth Prince, who is currently in convalescence.”

He knew.

The escort procession that would accompany the train the Fifth Prince was riding.

It included as many as 100 Mercenaries, and the start of this ‘escort event’ was that Marigold would also go along with them.

And the masquerade ball held in the train’s party hall. The meeting between the protagonist Marigold and the Fifth Prince, who happened to participate. Various incidents and accidents. Romance unfolding in the shaking train.

Given the Fifth Prince’s tendency to be attracted to physically strong women, it was one of the easier routes if she just mastered swordsmanship well.

That was also the decisive reason why Lancel had raised Marigold as a Warrior in this playthrough.

But.

“A good opportunity has come to you. I can’t say who it’s thanks to, so I’ll keep it a secret.”

A question mark appeared on Lancel’s face.

“His Majesty will tell you the details.”

“His Majesty…”

The dying Emperor.

He was looking for Lancel.

“Prepare immediately. Time is of the essence.”

Why?