16. Red Evil Mercenary Corps
In the dark, damp underground prison of the lord's castle, Karlson—his body a mangled wreck—was bound to the wall with iron chains.
How much time had passed? His vision was blurry, his mind hazy. He couldn't even tell how long it'd been. Before, under torture, time had lost all meaning anyway.
...No one's come today either.
The brutal torture inflicted on Karlson to extract the location of Behena and her followers had suddenly stopped. As if they'd lost interest. He'd realized it had been days since anyone had come looking for him.
Damn it...
If he judged by his body's state, more torture might've killed him—so in a way, it was a relief. But deep down, unease gnawed at him relentlessly. No more torture meant they had no more info to wring from him. Which meant Behena—the one they'd been after—had been found.
And Karlson's fears proved spot on. Some of Behena's retainers had betrayed her, sending letters to the count revealing her hideout. With that, the count and his men no longer needed to torture Karlson. They just tossed him in the dungeon with minimal guards and left him to rot.
That had been three days ago. Karlson now sensed his body reaching its limit.
In his fading mind, the first thought that surfaced wasn't of family, friends, or subordinates. It was his lord—the one he'd pledged his life to. Bellatrix.
My liege... forgive me.
He'd dreamed of serving her to reclaim the Mountain Kingdom one day. Who could've guessed a single lapse in judgment would lead to this? If only he could see her once more...
...Just one more time.
I wanted to see my liege again.
As he hung his head in that thought—
"Wh-who's there...?! Gahhh!"
"Aaaagh...!"
Screams of men echoed from outside the prison. Karlson's hazy mind sharpened in an instant.
What was happening? Had his subordinates come to rescue him?
...No, damn it.
That damned black panther was here. The beastkin woman who'd dared attempt to assassinate his liege. And yet, she'd matched his revered lord's skill.
Karlson knew Bella's strength intimately—and his men's. If those who'd killed the guards outside were his subordinates, they'd free him, sure. But they'd all end up dog meat under that black panther's claws. He could die, but his men couldn't. They had to survive, become the foundation to reclaim the Mountain Kingdom with her someday...
"Cough... kh, damn it...!"
It's my failure dragging you all down too.
Even as he spat blood, regret enveloped him. He'd accepted the request out of brash sympathy, swayed by memories of his liege's hardships...
As guilt for his men and sorrow for his lord filled his heart, the prison door creaked open.
"Oh, no."
He meant to shout at his men to abandon him and flee—but the voice that rang out was nothing like he'd expected. Yet achingly familiar and longed-for.
"Karlson... ha, fuck. You piece of shit bastards."
A rough voice laced with curses. But warm, husky—belonging to the woman he'd craved moments ago.
"L-liege...?"
"Yeah, it's me, Karlson. What the hell happened to you? Huh? Ha... you dumb fuck."
"Kh, ngh...!"
His vision blurred again. But not from exhaustion or torture this time. Tears welled from raw emotion. Overwhelming gratitude filled him.
Bella smirked, relieved at the sight.
"Ha, you bastard. Still got tears left, huh?"
She'd worried seeing him broken like roadkill. But if he could cry, he had some fight left.
Still, fury ignited in her chest. The torture chamber—or prison— was littered with horrors. Bloody fingernails and toenails scattered on the floor, yanked out whole. Severed fingers and toes nearby. Whips and branding irons crusted with drying blood and flesh.
"...Those fucking dogs. How do you do this to a man?"
"Liege, how did you...?"
"How? Dumbass. The boys sent letters when you got nabbed. Begging for help."
"...Those guys."
"Don't bitch at 'em. They were worried about you. Nah, you owe me an asskicking later. Sigh, fuck. Brace yourself once you're healed, got it?"
"Yes, my liege."
She itched to charge out and hack the culprits to bits with her greatsword. But she held back. Karlson seemed perked up talking, but he looked half-dead. Leave him like this, and he'd die. Even if he survived, permanent damage was likely.
Revenge could wait. First, heal her living subordinate.
Bella swung her greatsword, severing the chains binding him in one blow.
Clang...!
The overwhelming power surging from her cleaved the irons instantly. Karlson's body slumped toward the floor; Bella caught him swiftly.
He bowed his head apologetically as she supported him.
"...F-forgive me, my liege."
"Shut it. Wasn't your fault. Can't walk with half your toes gone anyway."
"My apologies."
"I said shut it, you fool."
As they escaped the dungeon, Karlson asked cautiously.
"Liege... did you come alone?"
"Nah, with my comrades."
"Comrades... ah, I see. Then I'm relieved."
Bella shrugged nonchalantly. Karlson paused at "comrades," then remembered she was an adventurer now—and who she partied with. That Eastern swordswoman who'd beaten his liege, no doubt.
"Something wrong?"
"Well... the black panther woman's here."
"Oh, her? I know. Dealt with her already."
"Pardon?"
"Yeah. Fought her recently. And she's not in the castle now."
"What...?"
"Uh, something like... Kalon said one of Behena's retainers was gonna betray her."
Karlson bristled despite the pain.
"Betrayers? Those damned scum!"
"Eh, he didn't actually. Faked it, though."
"Faked... the betrayal?"
What did that mean? As he blinked in confusion, Bella nodded.
"Yeah. Made 'em pretend to betray us, send a letter to the count. Lure the black panther our way. Meanwhile, we snag you. Easy without her."
"Such... recklessness."
"What if the count sent his whole army?"
"Eh? Would've been better."
Karlson blanked. Bella chuckled at his dumbstruck face.
"...Pardon?"
"Got this badass comrade. Tiny kid, but legit. Never beaten her once."
"Even you, liege?"
"Yep. With her? Army? Bring it. She'd hold half a day solo."
"I see. Still, risky if the panther hadn't left."
"Nah. She's toast now anyway."
"Eh? Uh..."
He didn't doubt Bella's strength. But matchups mattered. Regina held the edge over Bella. She'd struggled against the assassination attempt for that reason. So why this confidence?
Did liege have some fateful encounter?
Karlson eyed her expectantly. Bella shrugged like it was nothing.
"Nah. My husband's ability lets me wreck her now. Super easy."
That moment, Karlson thought he'd misheard.
"Liege, what did you just...?"
Ears damaged from torture?
But her follow-up left him stunned.
"What? My husband? Yeah, that's a thing now."
"...Huh?"
Pain vanished from his mind. His liege had a husband?
Bella was stunning—no denying her princess beauty. Toned yet voluptuous from training, she turned heads anywhere. The scar over one eye, missing arm? They only added allure.
Karlson, who'd served her longest, knew it well. But reality differed. Her bluntness bordered rude. Her mouth was filthier than a sailor's. He'd once fretted if she needed a gag. Fists flew at slights. She was a daily drunk too.
Good qualities abounded as a ruler... but as a wife? Total dud.
And yet.
...A husband?
What lunatic took her as wife? And when she said it, her cheeks flushed shyly. Karlson knew: she was head over heels.
Our liege found her match! Who cares about my pain?
"Wh-what noble took you as...?"
"Noble? Well, he is. See this?"
"Pardon? Uh...? Th-that's...?"
Bella grinned, flexing her right arm. Karlson's eyes bulged.
Come to think of it...
Liege's right arm... it's there?
How? How hadn't he noticed? He felt like an idiot.
As he berated himself, Bella explained.
"Told the others, but roughly... yeah."
She smirked, lip curling naturally. Karlson had raised her since childhood—like a father or uncle. Showing him felt good, different from bragging to subordinates. Proudly, she declared:
"My husband's power, sorta? Cool, right?"
"Your lord husband's... huh."
"Yeah. Says he can only use it on women he loves. Heh. Ugh, look at me gushing in front of the wounded. Sorry."
"N-no. Quite the opposite..."
Seeing you happy makes me happy too.
He smiled warmly.