59. If you give it like this, what's left for you?
59. If you give it like this, what's left for you?
From a young age, with her ability to judge people, the Gongnyeo had built a solid position.
To the point where it was unbelievable she was the child of an incompetent duke, she had shown tremendous resourcefulness.
At the foundation of that were ruthlessly cold decisions and the ability to push things through.
Her starting point in life was already at the very top—a winged tiger.
So what would the Gongnyeo's life have been like?
Whenever she appeared somewhere, articles about her were published.
Every business she invested in became a massive hit.
Commander of the Dungeon Raid Team members.
Just the rumor that she was coming to a banquet had men dressed up like peacocks fawning over her with all sorts of flattery to court her.
To her, men were simply low-priority existences she could pick and date whenever she wanted.
No rush. None at all.
Even such a Gongnyeo had once taken an interest in a man.
People saying he was the empire's top handsome guy or whatever... that seeing his face would make you lose your mind...
She thought, "That much?" and went to check him out herself.
But upon actually seeing those guys, she couldn't help but be disappointed.
Their limbs fluttered like they'd flap in the wind, and their faces were slathered with so much powder...
Heck, just a few years ago, jaw muscle exercisers were trending among men.
Rubber gadgets to hollow out their cheeks.
The moment she saw the empire's handsome men pursing their skinny cheeks, sticking out their lips, and winking, the Gongnyeo couldn't help but be disappointed in the world.
'The empire's top handsome man, my ass...'
Sure, their features were decently good-looking... but a visceral sense of rejection welled up inside her.
After that, the Gongnyeo cut off all interest in men.
She was just planning to casually import some kingdom prince or whatever to expand her business.
"Little Duchess-nim, you need to start preparing for the banquet soon..."
"........."
"Little Duchess-nim?"
Such a Gongnyeo had laid eyes on a sturdy eastern man and ended up with aphasia.
The shock and awe of someone who had witnessed pure, unadulterated beauty.
She was the Gongnyeo who had frowned in pity at the duke admiring a statue worth thousands of gold coins for hours.
"Ahem... Little Duchess-nim!"
"Huh? Ahem! What did you say, head butler?"
"Banquet preparations..."
"Make it so."
Now she finally understood how the duke felt.
But the Gongnyeo, who had lived her whole life suppressing her emotions, quickly came to her senses and changed clothes.
-swish...
"...... Public and private must be separated."
No matter how much she wanted to stare at that face for hours every day, today wasn't the place for it.
Today was the day to apologize for the unsavory incident and to honor the heroes of the future.
As a representative of the Duchy, she couldn't attend in such a giddy state.
The Gongnyeo erased Ryu-o's body from her memory... no, secretly hid it in a corner, then finished dressing up.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, the Gongnyeo furrowed her brow.
"... I need to look even colder."
For some reason, today she felt like dolling up more than usual.
She put on a few more accessories, then sat on the sofa.
Ignoring Ryu-o's naked body that occasionally peeked through cracks in her mind as best she could, she killed time...
-knock knock! Little Duchess-nim. Preparations are complete.
"Got it."
The Gongnyeo opened the door and headed out.
Vowing never to show a dazed look again, she knocked on Ryu-o's door.
-knock knock!
The Gongnyeo organized what she needed to say upon meeting Ryu-o.
There'd be an official apology, compliments on how beautiful she looked today, respect for future heroes, this is a huge honor, blah blah blah...
It really was a scene worthy of shocking the empire's nobles to the floor, since the Gongnyeo herself had come personally as his partner to greet him.
But the one who ended up shocked was...
-creak...
"..."
"Ah, Gongnyeo-nim. Um... I don't know much about etiquette, but..."
"Slurp..."
"You look beautiful today?"
"Huh..."
The heavy, ornate door opened to reveal a marble floor.
Light from the crystal chandelier added luster to the formal attire and jewels of those walking on the marble.
The orchestra played a soft melody under the conductor's lead.
Hanging from the pillars were large crests of the Duchy, exuding pride.
A golden eagle that gave the illusion of looking down from above.
People looking up at that eagle gaped at the ceiling, which looked like a scene from mythology.
In such a grand banquet hall, there was a boy thriving like a fish in water...
"Haha, Count Hardin must have no worries. His daughter Jenin has grown up so beautifully already."
"Ohoho! Viscount Lindel-nim, you charmer~"
"Hm, our family's daughter just came of age recently... how about a visit sometime..."
Jenin, who had zero intention of marrying into a viscount's family, managed her expression and refused.
"Sorry, Viscount-nim~ I'm not thinking of meeting anyone yet..."
In other words, anything below a count's family was out.
Normally, noble daughters married into families one rank lower.
Countesses to viscounts, viscounts to barons, and so on.
Well, it could vary by family circumstances...
But Jenin was brimming with ambition.
She'd even made a connection with the Gongnyeo-nim. Her eyes were shooting straight to the heavens.
She couldn't give up prematurely when she'd already seen too much.
Like this villa planted smack in the golden egg land of Labyrinth City, several times larger than her own count's estate...
'Then what's the main estate like? Haaa~'
Jenin, blissfully unaware of her place and dreaming of a happy future, was rejecting all the marriage proposals swarming her.
"Haha, my father says marriage is still too early..."
A lie. She was just on a grace period before being sold off to some rich family.
"Huh? A baron's regular knight? ...... Our family has no knight positions open..."
Meaning she'd tolerate it just this once since it was a good day. Who does a commoner think they are...
Thanks to people probing just in case, Jenin's stress was skyrocketing.
In his view, he spotted Magna devouring a massive turkey.
The star of this banquet, the northern priest!
Whoa, look at that body... hyaa~
I hear northern women are killer in bed...
Oho... for real?
Well, a friend who went south said when they go all out, bam!
-Hahahaha!
Magna, being sexually harassed by husbands with lecherous expressions.
Magna glared around once while eating.
-Eek!
The husbands who had crept closer shrank back from Magna's aura.
Seeing Magna like that, Jenin's eyes lit up.
'That's it.'
Found my breakwater.
Jenin sauntered over to Magna.
The nobles' gazes naturally gathered on the two stars of the banquet.
Comrades who had broken through the battlefield together.
The two who had protected and carried each other between fresh sword blades and arrow tips.
They'd growled at first, but a sticky bond had formed between them.
They exchanged glances.
Magna set down the turkey and said to Jenin.
"What do you want, mutt boy."
?????
The surrounding nobles gaped at the northern... no, barbarian's blunt remark.
Weren't they close?
-What the... haha...
Northerners gonna northern.
Haa, if only she called me mutt in bed...
Jenin felt the same as everyone, despite hearing some weird comment in the middle.
"Huh?"
Ridiculous. Suddenly?
Jenin, raised preciously, burned with rage at the insult he couldn't handle.
"You vulgar barbarian scum, I was just trying to talk to you... what? Mutt???"
Magna just frowned and glared at Jenin.
"Streets are crawling with kids. Because of your mom."
The ominous remark made the surrounding nobles whisper.
Kids? Did the Varden Count House do a daycare business or something?
Not that I know of, and are there only one or two daycares in Labyrinth City?
In social circles, no bait, however small, is ignored.
Excited by the fresh gossip fodder, the nobles murmured their speculations.
Where else could you get such a dopamine rush?
They were already more interested in how to spin those 'kids' against a certain count's family than the kids themselves.
Suddenly at the center of the storm, Jenin yelled loudly for all to hear.
"What bullshit is this?!?! The Varden Count House has zero businesses involving kids!"
Magna wanted to explain in detail but frustratingly thumped his chest.
-Thud! Thud!
"Phew... your mom... is just trash."
Words too grave for even a northern priest to utter.
If the person in question were there, chopping off his head on the spot would be innocent.
But these people lacked the confidence to cause a scene at the Ducal House's banquet.
Everyone except Jenin clamped their mouths shut.
"I was going to show mercy since we partied together briefly... Hey!! Someone get security right now..."
A guard cut off Jenin's call for guards.
Selana Ain Bellatus 2nd Princess has arr—
Ah, forget it! Open the door quick!
-Bang!
-Huh?! Gongnyeo-nim!!!
"What? Move!!"
The 2nd Gongnyeo, fuming the moment she entered, pointed at Jenin.
"Hey! What the hell are you screaming about!"
Jenin panicked.
"G-Gongnyeo-nim... this barbarian..."
"Magna! What's going on!!! "
Magna looked around once, then sighed deeply.
"Nothing."
The prettily dressed Gongnyeo was displeased with the two.
"Argh! It's Jang Ryu-o's arrival day, so why are you two causing a scene!"
"G-Gongnyeo-nim... I'm a star today too..."
"Yeah! Who said otherwise! But why are you fighting so loud the whole hall can hear!"
"I got angry."
"Tsk! Don't fight! Sis and Jang Ryu-o are coming soon!"
Situation sorted in an instant. New topic tossed out.
-Jang Ryu-o...
-That guy who subjugated the Orc Hero...
Rumors inflated by the Ducal House...
Hey! How dare you say that in the Ducal House!! Shh! Lower your voice!
Ryu-o drew all attention without even appearing.
Jenin felt shitty, then annoyed.
'This is all that barbarian bitch's fault... and Jang Ryu-o... no way he's coming with the Gongnyeo-nim...'
"Haa, when's Jang Ryu-o coming..."
The hall went dead silent in an instant.
All eyes gathered to confirm the banquet's protagonist.
The door opened...
-Huuuh...
-Ah...
-My god...
-Huh, huhuhu...
Everyone couldn't hold back sighs, Jenin included.
"Ah..."
Jet-black hair neatly tied up, jet-black eyes shining clearly.
The black pinstripe suit filled out Ryu-o's body perfectly, boasting impeccable tailoring.
Mocking the nobles draped in jangly decorations, Ryu-o's suit had zero accessories.
Just the middle button of the suit jacket gleaming brilliantly...
"Jang Ryu-o... oooh... ooo..."
The 2nd Gongnyeo drooling, forgetting decorum.
"........."
Magna clenching his fists.
"Ah..."
Jenin, feeling the difference in masculine caliber.
Jenin blankly stared at the Gongnyeo with her arm linked in Ryu-o's.
That ever-cold Gongnyeo was gazing up at Ryu-o, out of it.
Seeing no jealousy even arise, Jenin's spirits plummeted.
"Um... Gongnyeo-nim?"
"......"
I whispered into the ear of the Gongnyeo looking up at me.
'Gongnyeo-nim, what do I do next?'
-Eek!
-Huh?! To the L-Little Duchess-nim...
No way...
He's still a commoner, right?
I'd heard the procedure, but what after entering?
Greetings? Self-intro? Just stand?
The Gongnyeo who'd said to trust only her wasn't showing reliable form.
People around were staring at me... no, the Gongnyeo with sparkling eyes.
Overwhelming. Should've come alone.
The Gongnyeo, glancing around, spoke.
"When do they arrive..."
"Gongnyeo-nim?"
"... Ahem, my apologies."
Letting go of my arm, the Gongnyeo ascended the dais.
Just a few steps, yet her presence overwhelmed like someone above all heads.
The hall froze like doused in cold water.
"From now on, we shall hold the ceremony honoring the heroes."
Her low voice echoed through the quiet banquet hall.
"The heroes who took their great first step, come forward."
My comrades and I went before the Gongnyeo and knelt.
"We praise the merit of your sword tips saving our house's members and straightening the Ducal House's discipline. First, Selana Ain Bellatus, step forward."
"Forward!"
The Gongnyeo named each one's merits one by one, bestowing rewards.
Thunderous applause poured, tickling the nobles' mouths.
And then my turn arrived...
"Lastly, Jang Ryu-o, step forward."
"Forward."
The Gongnyeo's lips curved up as she looked at me.
"Your feats are no small matter. You led everyone to break through the front lines, then got covered in the most blood!"
-She smiled?
First time seeing that...
Is that true too?
"Furthermore, you single-handedly subjugated the Orc Hero and repelled an evil organization!"
(The evil organization was taken down by Cheon Hwa-ryeong, but I kept my mouth shut wisely.)
The nobles who had been whispering started buzzing.
-That's real?
Di-did she say single-handedly just now?
Daughter, ready? This is our chance...
Huhu, looks like the rumors were true.
The Gongnyeo smiled as if the surrounding noise pleased her.
She shouted my reward for all to hear.
"500 gold coins! And the chance to take any one item from the villa's treasury!"
Hearing 'Ducal House treasury,' my eyes flashed open.
Seeing my expression, the Gongnyeo smiled even wider.
The Gongnyeo beckoned a knight.
A knight presented her with a beautiful sword on a cloth.
The Gongnyeo drew the sword and whispered to me.
'Kneel on one knee.'
As I knelt, she placed the sword on my shoulder.
"From this moment, I appoint Jang Ryu-o as the Ducal House's Honorary Knight. This is a position free from the Ducal House's duties, one of honor alone. Henceforth, Jang Ryu-o, who became the Ducal House's benefactor, shall be protected under the name of I, Hilda Ein Bellatus."
Looking at me gaping blankly, the Gongnyeo smiled proudly.
So... no responsibilities, just the perks?
Best girl ever...