The Widow's Patronage
The banquet continued, and throughout the evening, I found myself drawing significant attention from the nobles and distinguished guests as the leader of the Kether Mercenary Group, which worked alongside the Lion Heart Unit. Among the noblewomen in particular, whispered conversations swirled with embarrassing compliments—his voice is so charming, his broad shoulders look so reliable, his waist seems perfectly flexible for all sorts of movements. Countless women sent longing glances my way. But they all had enough tact to hold back. Earlier, when I had been sitting cozily with Dana, sharing an intimate and affectionate moment, they had only stolen furtive glances, careful not to interrupt what seemed like a good time.
Then Kelly appeared, causing a small commotion that naturally separated me from Dana. The moment that happened, the people who had been eagerly waiting for any chance to approach me lit up with excitement. The first to make a move was a certain wealthy businesswoman.
“Madame Marte wishes to sponsor the Kether Mercenary Group. She asks if you would meet with her now.”
It was an abrupt offer of patronage amid a gathering meant for eating and drinking, but I had heard somewhere that social connections often led to business opportunities, and that a wide network helped businesses flourish. When I had first founded the mercenary group, many people had approached me solely because of the Lion Heart Unit’s reputation, so I had turned down every sponsorship offer. But now that the name Kether Mercenary Group had gained some recognition in the Nobern territory, I was willing to accept if the conditions were right. Even if I were to suddenly part ways with the Lion Heart Unit, I needed someone who would continue supporting the Kether Mercenary Group to the end.
If the Kether Mercenary Group had been at zero—completely starting from nothing—then now was the time to expand its scale and evolve from stage zero to stage one.
I rose from my seat.
“Where is she?”
“Please follow me.”
I followed the attendant sent by the noblewoman and was led to a private room. The highest-ranking nobles and distinguished guests in the region did not mingle in the outdoor banquet hall; instead, separate rooms had been prepared where they could drink in comfort. The reason Adelia was nowhere to be seen was likely because she was making the rounds with Sinclair, visiting each of these rooms to greet the occupants.
“You came. I’m delighted.”
As I entered the room, a middle-aged woman wearing a purple dress that accentuated her ample bosom stood up to welcome me. I was surprised by how few wrinkles she had and how slender her figure remained, and surprised again by her dignified, alluring smile. She possessed a refined beauty so graceful that it was impossible to guess her exact age. Yet despite her delicate appearance, an undeniable charisma flowed from her—something that could not be underestimated, especially for a businesswoman.
“I had only heard that people from the distant eastern lands looked different from us, but seeing you in person… you are incredibly handsome. I’m quite taken aback.”
Madame Marte possessed a calm, gentle, and pure voice. As she faced me, her chest seemed to rise and fall with emotion, so she kept one hand modestly placed over it while continuing the conversation.
“I am…”
After a brief introduction, I learned that she had lost her husband—an early businessman—some years ago and had taken over his work, amassing great wealth through silk and textile trade. A lover of culture and the arts, she had become a patron to many artists active in the Nobern territory. Recently, while searching for promising mercenary groups to help promote her business, she had learned of the Kether Mercenary Group by chance and taken an interest in its leader—me.
“Captain, you haven’t had your emblem made yet, have you?”
“How did you know?”
Since I had not yet decided on a symbol to represent the mercenary group, I had been unable to produce the emblems to attach to our armor. Madame Marte smiled as she answered.
“A few days ago I happened to see some of your members passing by. None of them were wearing emblems. It seems you don’t even have a flag yet.”
“Ah…”
I immediately sensed where this was going. She must be planning to do something about the emblem and flag. Otherwise, there would have been no reason for her to pay such close attention.
“Lord Hyeonu. In my eyes, the Kether Mercenary Group that you lead has the potential to achieve great things. Above all, you yourself, as its captain, strike me as no ordinary man. My intuition has never been wrong. If you give me the opportunity, I would like the Avignon Leche Merchantry to sponsor your group.”
“Are you evaluating us based solely on intuition?”
“I enjoy taking risks. That’s why I believe investment isn’t about compiling visible numbers and making a calculated decision—it’s entirely a matter of luck. The reason I was able to grow the merchantry so much after losing my husband wasn’t because of skill, but because luck was on my side. Therefore, I intend to trust that same luck once again and sponsor the Kether Mercenary Group.”
She added,
“However, the sponsorship I’m offering the Kether Mercenary Group is not unconditional like the support I give to impoverished artists. As I mentioned earlier, I wish to sponsor you in order to promote the Avignon Leche Merchantry.”
“What kind of promotion do you have in mind?”
“It’s simple. In exchange for us producing your group’s emblem and flag for free using our finest, most expensive fabrics, we ask that you allow us to embroider the words ‘Avignon Leche Merchantry’ and our brand logo on the reverse side. All we want is to let the world know that the emblem and flag were crafted with Avignon Leche’s superior techniques and that we are the official sponsor of the Kether Mercenary Group.”
Without waiting for my reply, she continued.
“Of course, that alone might sound more like a transaction than sponsorship. Therefore, on top of that, the Avignon Leche Merchantry will cover the wages of ten mercenary members. How does that sound?”
“You’ll cover the wages of ten members…?”
“Yes.” She smiled sweetly. “I understand you currently have six members in total. Is that correct?”
Dana, Pasvachio, Unia, Marcus, Epibia, and Kelly.
“That’s right.”
“Once we begin our sponsorship, you may hire ten more members immediately. We will fully cover the wages of every new recruit.”
Pasvachio and Unia were experienced, highly skilled mercenaries whose three-month salaries came to 2,000 veni each—roughly 7.5 million won. Hiring ten more at a similar level would mean they were offering to pay 20,000 veni over three months—about 75 million won. For me, that was a tremendous sum of money saved. There was no reason to refuse.
“Very well. You may engrave the name and logo of the Avignon Leche Merchantry on the emblem and flag as much as you like. Just make sure they aren’t too conspicuous—keep them small.”
“Of course. And if anyone later asks where the emblem and flag were made, please tell them all about the Avignon Leche Merchantry. That is all we desire.”
“I will. I wish you continued success and prosperity in your business.”
Finally, Madame Marte offered to have an artist she knew create the official symbol for the Kether Mercenary Group. She promised it would be crafted with dignity and refined taste. Naturally, it would be free of charge. I gladly nodded in agreement.
In that way, our business discussion concluded pleasantly and enjoyably, with both sides benefiting. In the remaining time, I sat alone with Madame Marte, chatting about various topics while drinking comfortably. The more we drank, the more the initial awkwardness of being strangers melted away.
What I liked most was how excellent the liquor tasted. She had sent someone to fetch it urgently from her personal collection at home just for me. The more I drank, the more the conversation flowed and energy surged within me. Along with it, my sexual desire began to rise sharply as well.
At some point, Madame Marte had scooted right up beside me. She began stroking the inside of my thigh in a caressing manner, then started asking lewd questions—how many women I had embraced, saying my thighs were thick and firm and looked full of vigor. It was hard to believe this was the same woman I had thought of as a refined, proper lady. However, I was quite drunk and simply let the lustful widow grope my body and satisfy her desires without minding it. I answered her naughty questions without hesitation. I, too, was enjoying the suggestive atmosphere.
As if I were sitting with a tavern madam tucked against my side, I wrapped one arm around Madame Marte’s waist, openly kneading her soft breasts while continuing to drink.
“Captain, I’ve heard rumors that you don’t have any women you’re seeing. Shall we go somewhere else for another drink—just two lonely people?”
“In honor of the day I first met you, Madame, I’d like to keep drinking until the very end tonight. Let’s go.”
We slipped out of the banquet hall in secret, took a carriage, and headed to Madame Marte’s residence. What happened after we entered her home and how we spent the night is completely lost to me—like a film cut from my memory.
When I woke up the next morning and found Madame Marte sleeping naked beside me without a single thread on her body, I unconsciously clutched my head.
“I must have gone crazy last night…”
If it had been Dana, I could have understood, but why was this random woman here?
“Mmm…”
Madame Marte stirred, then slowly opened her eyes. Looking at me with half-lidded eyes, she smiled contentedly.
“Darling, did you sleep well?”
Calling me with such a cringeworthy pet name, she sat up and gently wrapped both arms around my neck from behind. I could feel the soft, warm press of her full breasts against my back.
“I was so surprised last night.”
“Why…?”
“Because your thing is just so magnificent.”
“……”
Madame Marte gently kissed my cheek.
“I’ve never seen anything so splendid in my entire life. It was so impressive that even paying to see it would have been worth every coin.”
Suddenly she cried out.
“Oh my, what am I going to do!”
“What’s wrong?”
I turned to look at her. She had both hands on her flushed cheeks, looking shy and embarrassed.
“Just thinking about last night makes my heart flutter again! You were so bold and vigorous! I keep remembering how magnificent you looked in bed, Lord Hyeonu, and it’s hard to even breathe! Ahh!”
Her face was bright red as if she were burning with fever, and she collapsed dramatically onto the bed. She looked exactly like a lovesick teenage girl suffering from a crush—only far more intense. I could only stare in utter bewilderment.
Is this how noblewomen behave with their secret lovers? Well, of course I have no intention of becoming her paramour.
Lying on the bed, she spread both arms toward me.
“Hurry and embrace this poor woman. The only one who can calm this wildly beating heart is you!”