5. Fallen Princess Bellatrix - Conclusion
“Uh, I’ve always wanted to try being an adventurer... Got any room in your party?”
Even as she blurted it out, Bellatrix felt a wave of embarrassment crash over her. Ian and Ju Cheong-ah just stared at her, silent. Sure, she acted like she had skin thicker than dragon hide on the outside, but deep down, she had her pride—and a sense of shame. Still, she had no choice. To achieve what she wanted, she had to join their group right now.
...Because that was the condition for Aria forgiving her.
Three days after her crushing defeat at Ju Cheong-ah’s hands.
When Bellatrix woke, battered and bruised, it wasn’t just her Red Evil Mercenaries who greeted her. By her bedside stood the vice-captain of her mercenary band—and a bespectacled man waiting beside him.
“Greetings, Fallen Princess.”
He bowed politely, introducing himself as a staffer from the Tronen Kingdom’s Mercenary Guild head branch. Apologizing for delivering bad news first thing, he dropped a bombshell on her.
“So you’re saying the Red Evil Mercenaries are getting kicked out of the guild?”
“Yes, unfortunately.”
“By whose fucking authority?”
“...Here are the reasons.”
The guild staffer laid out the expulsion order. The reasons were as follows:
“First: Accepting a private commission without going through the guild.”
“Wait, hold up. Weren’t private commissions at our discretion? As far as I remember, A-rank or higher mercenaries and bands could take them freely, guild or no guild.”
“Yes, that’s correct. A-rank and above can.”
“Then we should be able—”
“No, you can’t.”
“...What the hell does that mean?”
“You seem to have forgotten... While you, Fallen Princess, are classified as an S-rank special mercenary, the Red Evil Mercenaries are still just B-rank.”
“...What? No fucking way.”
In response to her denial, the staffer pulled crisp documents from his bag and handed them over.
“No, it’s true. These records for the Red Evil Mercenaries are all here. Your achievements are solid, but...”
“...Solid, but why?”
“Not enough high-rankers. To qualify for A-rank, at least 30% of your members need to be A-rank or higher. You’re at about 28%. Just shy.”
“Th-that’s bullshit...! Back when we got A-rank recognition, they said since I was special-rank, we didn’t need to meet the full quota!”
“Yes, that was the policy then...”
The staffer adjusted his glasses at her shout and continued.
“But recent proposals from the Tronen Kingdom changed guild policy.”
“...Tronen Kingdom?”
In that instant, Bellatrix knew. This was payback for accepting Aria’s assassination contract and attacking her.
Aria probably hadn’t reached the capital yet. Even as crown princess now, her influence in the kingdom was weak. No way her faction moved this fast.
So who? Only one answer.
The guy who’d always seen Bellatrix and her band as thorns in his side: the Tronen Mercenary Guild head branch chief, whom she’d never gotten along with. He’d been waiting for this moment—she was sure of it.
“Tronen, my ass... That branch chief fucker’s work, huh.”
“Think what you want.”
The staffer shrugged shamelessly at her growl. Cocky bastard. Normally, she’d grab his collar and slam him into the ceiling, then hunt down that branch chief and stomp him—or skewer him with her sword.
But right now, her body was a mess—wounds everywhere, tendons and muscles torn. Her men had rushed a priest for holy magic, but full recovery would take time.
“Fuckin’ piece of shit.”
All she could do was lie there growling like some bedridden loudmouth. Ignoring her, the staffer read on casually.
“Now, the second reason.”
But his words barely registered anymore. Nitpicky bullshit. Most of the rest were just excuses.
Once he finished reading everything, Bellatrix sorted her thoughts. No way to stop her own expulsion from the guild.
But it wasn’t over.
“Hey.”
“Yes, Fallen Princess?”
“Sadly, my mercenaries can’t be expelled.”
“What? You can’t just—”
Bellatrix cut off the staffer’s incredulous words with a scoff.
“Everything you read? That was all me, got it?”
“Pardon? What nonsense is—”
“Literal. The Red Evils just tagged along. I did it all solo. Even the hit on Tronen’s Princess Aria? Private contract, just me. Clear?”
“You’re joking with me ri—gack?!”
In a flash, Bellatrix’s arm shot out, seizing his nape. Pain throbbed through her body—wounds not fully healed, agony everywhere.
“You think I’m some crippled bitch just ‘cause I’m laid up?”
Even so, she glared fiercely, her amber eyes blazing red. Wounded or not, a beast was a beast. Not just any—a red lion, king of beasts.
Forgetting that and running his mouth? Costly mistake.
“F-Fallen Princess, I didn’t mean—”
Crunch.
His airway tightened. As his face turned blue, she released him with a snarl.
“Shut up and listen.”
“Y-yes, s-sir...”
“Tell that branch chief dog: I’ll take full blame and step down like he wants. But.”
Her thick killing intent enveloped him.
“Don’t touch my mercenaries. Got it?”
“Y-yes...”
His legs shook violently. A wet patch spread down his pants.
“Disobey, and he’s dead. I ain’t gone yet.”
After scaring him off, before even tending her wounds properly, Bellatrix sent her men away.
“Princess. Stay safe. We’ll... build our strength until you achieve great things.”
“...Yeah. I trust you.”
A day or two resting... Once she felt mostly healed, word came: Aria had reached the capital.
“So after that, I went to Aria and begged. ‘Sorry,’ all that shit.”
Bellatrix shrugged, finishing her tale. Honestly? My reaction was meh. And? What’s that got to do with us?
“What’s that got to do with us?”
“Oh, right...? Whoops. Shoulda started there, sorry. Here—take this.”
She handed over a letter. Sealed neatly with melted wax and an official stamp.
“This is...”
“From Aria. Read it—you’ll see.”
“The princess?”
“Yeah, go on.”
Royal seal or something? I tilted my head, carefully breaking the seal and unfolding the paper inside.
Not long. Greeting, thanks for safe arrival. Then...
Dear Ian and party,
Thanks to you, I arrived safely at the capital.
I know Bellatrix has wronged you greatly, but please—take her into your adventurer party.
She’s paid for her sins. She’ll be useful, I promise.
As thanks, I’ve enclosed a promissory note for 50 gold coins.
— Princess Aria of Tronen
...No way.
A request to accept Bellatrix into our party. Why’s the princess meddling? And why us? I’d heard she and Bellatrix were childhood friends, but this?
Irritation bubbled up—then melted away at the next line.
—Enclosed a promissory note for 50 gold coins as reward.
Though you might not like her, please.
Now that changes things.
“Hey, Bellatrix.”
“Call me Bella. Full name’s a tongue-twister.”
“Alright, Bella.”
She grinned and bumped her fist against mine.
“Sweet. Guess I’m in your party now?”
I fist-bumped back and nodded.