16. Red Evil Mercenaries
The interior of the tent froze cold at Bella's declaration to the Red Evil Mercenaries. Amid the bewildered subordinates baffled by the inexplicable situation, Bella seemed to ponder for a moment before raising her pitch-black metallic arm—the one that had once been severed in the past, now regenerated by Ian's ability, so familiar now that its absence would feel empty.
"See this arm?"
All eyes locked onto the black arm at Bella's words. It had been a burning curiosity for the subordinates, who desperately wanted to ask but held their tongues out of deference to their lord. Even if she was now an exiled princess from her own kingdom, Bella was their sovereign. They'd figured she'd explain if it mattered and kept silent.
In response, Kalon, Karlson's younger brother and the acting captain, spoke on behalf of the others.
"Yes, we've been curious, but since you didn't mention it, Captain, we didn't pry."
Once the princess of the Mountain Kingdom, Bella had been flawless in both looks and skill. Her prowess was so extraordinary that, despite her youth, she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the continent's strongest, her fame resounding far and wide. Back then, she wasn't mocked with some pathetic nickname like "fallen princess who splits mountains and earth with her greatsword"—no, she bore a different title altogether.
But then... the previous king—Bella's father—passed away, and on the night of his funeral, tragedy struck. Her right arm was severed.
For the right-handed Bella, it was a devastating blow. Yet she didn't sink into despair and give up.
"Listen up, you brats. It was my arm that got cut off, not your necks. You think this little thing's gonna kill me? Don't worry about me— just follow my lead. I haven't lost yet. I'm Bellatrix. Bellatrix of the Pernalid royal line. You think this pisses me off enough to make me weak?"
With that bold proclamation, she relentlessly trained her remaining left arm, honing it to the point where she could wield her massive greatsword—infusing it with mana alone—without much hindrance in daily life, recovering most of her former might with one arm.
But that was Bella's resolve. What about her subordinates' feelings? They were heartbroken. Their once-radiant lord, braver and prouder than anyone, like the sun itself—seeing her flail like a gutter rat stripped of her glory felt like their own failing.
We should've protected her side. We should've saved her arm before it was cut... Guilt like a heavy burden lingered in their hearts.
Of course, as their sovereign, Bella bore even that guilt with dignity, boldly reclaiming her power with one arm. But afterward, to reclaim her kingdom, she'd do anything—even cut down old friends if the price was right, accepting without hesitation.
That, too, weighed on her men like a vise of guilt and pressure. When their lacking abilities forced her to take a massive bounty to assassinate her old friend, Princess Aria, their hearts shattered.
In the end, they lost to the adventurer Aria hired—no assassination, and they even secured support instead. But Bella took all the blame, parting from them to become an adventurer herself.
Over half a year passed. What trials had befallen their lord? Introducing a man she'd once seemed to despise as her husband, and that new arm where the old one was severed. Had she stumbled upon some fateful encounter as an adventurer?
The mystery unraveled in Bella's next words.
A smirk crossed her face amid their questioning stares. She yanked the arm of the dumbfounded Ian standing blankly beside her. His stance crumbled instantly.
"C'mere, hubby."
"Whoa! What the hell?!"
"Hah! Hold still."
Bella jammed his head under her armpit with a booming laugh, then addressed her men.
"This is my husband's doing."
"Pardon?"
"Exactly what I said. This arm grew back thanks to my husband's power."
The subordinates fell silent, struggling to process. Kalon recovered first.
"So... that man—no, your husband—used some kind of ability to make it grow back?"
"That's what I said, so why repeat it? Can't tell you the details... but basically, it's a power he can only use on people he loves."
"...Understood."
"Alright, no more questions—too annoying. Let's start the meeting."
While Bella discussed rescuing Karlson with her subordinates, I slipped out quietly.
"Ugh, damn... Shouldn't have gone in with her."
Introducing me like that in front of her men. I was a bit stunned, but it didn't feel bad. I'd worried her loyal subordinates might rebel at first sight of me, but surprisingly, they accepted it easily.
Bella said the first reason was they trusted her word. The second? I'd regenerated her arm.
After her explanation, their gazes turned welcoming—though some pitied me, which I ignored. They think I'm trapped with Bella... If only they knew she's a meek bitch in bed. Can't exactly show them that side. Not that I'd ever want to.
Lost in thought, I reached the tent assigned to us. Pushing the flap aside, Cheong-ah and Dina greeted me from the bed, rolling around. A sheen of sweat on their foreheads—they'd just unpacked from the magic carriage.
"Hubby, you're back?"
"Ah, Yeonja's here?"
"Yeah, just got back."
I nodded and sat beside them.
"Unpacked already? Take it slow—we could've done it together."
"Hehe, no need. Wasn't much anyway, you know?"
"Indeed. Trivial for this body and the shrew."
"Yeah? Thanks. Hey, Dina—what're you eating? Your cheeks are puffed."
Dina's cheek bulged like a chipmunk. As I asked, she chewed, shifting the bulge, then pulled round candies wrapped in paper from her pocket.
"Red ginseng candies. From the shrew. Want some, Yeonja? Delicious they are."
"...Red ginseng?"
Why the hell is she eating that? And why'd Cheong-ah buy it?
"Just thought Dina'd like 'em, you know?"
"I see...?"
Red ginseng candy—candy in name, but polarizing. Mostly old folks love it... Ah, right. Dina's ancient.
She looks and acts like a kid, so I forget, but she's from thousands of years ago. Sealed or not, she was elderly-age before that. Makes sense she'd like it.
"So, Yeonja—will you have some?"
"Nah, eat 'em all, Dina. Not big on candy."
"Hmph, pity. Would've been nice sharing with Yeonja. The shrew and beast-girl hate it too. Such a shame."
She says it's a shame, but her face lit up brighter than when offering me some, humming as she pocketed them swiftly.
...She really loves 'em.
Dina adores food. Despite her huge appetite, she'd always offer us her favorites. If rejected, she'd beam happily like that, humming away. We'd tease her—especially Bella rejecting to rile her up, then demanding some back when Dina brightened. Her moping handover was cute too.
"Anyway, hubby—what've you been up to?"
"Hm? Oh, nothing much. Just greeted Bella's men."
"Hmmm, really?"
"Uh, yeah..."
"Got it. Hey, hubby—I have a question."
"What?"
Turning to Cheong-ah's sly tone, she pointed to a large box in the corner.
"Know what's in that box?"
"That one? No clue."
Bigger than me, unfamiliar. Didn't remember loading it on the carriage...
"Bella's?"
"Hmmm, is it?"
I shrugged, chin in hand. Cheong-ah approached meaningfully, peeked inside, and said:
"Where'd all these magic tools come from, hubby?"
"...Ah."
Right. Busted.
"Uh, Cheong-ah, listen—that's..."
How to talk my way out? But:
"...Hubby."
Her voice cut in, icy.
"Y-yeah."
"Sit there."
"...Yes'm."
"Hubby, it's not that I hate you buying these. But lately, I've been—"
I endured Cheong-ah's lecture until Bella finished her meeting and returned.
"Yeonja, you alright? Blood from your ears."
"Dina, what? Can't hear."
"Hm. Red ginseng candy?"
"No, I'm good."