Powder Scent
"Not a bad joke, all things considered."
But it wasn't thirty men, or even three hundred—it was three thousand. The mercenaries and mages that the Emperor and the Sachsen Duke were trying to foist off on Manrmursk like an unwanted burden numbered a staggering three thousand. At least if they had their equipment, they could be thrown straight into border defense or other duties. But three thousand completely disarmed mercenaries and mages were little more than vagrants—refugees without a home, no different from three thousand homeless wanderers.
No matter how shameless they were, they wouldn't make a request that bald-faced.
"I don't think I have the spare moment to whisper jokes in Your Excellency's ear."
"Fair enough."
The main two-day banquet hadn't even begun yet. Arriving late to an appointment was naturally a flaw, but showing up too early was also seen as discourteous in noble society. As a result, the Palatium felt emptier than expected.
The Manrmursk Border Count might be excused as the host, but the gazes prickling all over Seolhwa's body were clearly wondering who this man standing beside him was.
"If that wasn't a joke..., honestly, shouldn't you have just come to me yesterday and laid it all out?"
"Would Your Excellency have believed me if I'd shown up in the dead of night to tell you?"
"Hrm...."
Would any elector in this world seriously listen to a deputy prison warden who appeared in the middle of the night? Especially claiming that the Emperor and Sachsen Duke were dumping three thousand fully disarmed mercenaries and mages onto his territory. If he was lucky, there might be a quiet expulsion order. If the noble had a nasty temper, who knew what kind of quarrel he'd pick over wasting his precious time—it didn't bear imagining.
"And besides, won't Your Excellency be able to verify if my words are true soon enough?"
"You think the Emperor will tell me the straight truth? He knows damn well I won't swallow it sober."
It wasn't just the Manrmursk Border Count—no noble anywhere would accept such terms.
"Why not ask him first yourself?"
Watching to see what excuse they dredged up to broach the topic wasn't a bad idea, but it would hand the initiative to the other side. Better to catch them off guard by bringing up the equipment at an unexpected moment.
"Ah~ whatever! Neither option sits right, so let the other guy handle it! I'm done thinking."
He still couldn't fully trust Seolhwa's story. It had been less than an hour since this guy spouted the insane idea of cutting off Sachsen's roads.
"Whatever it is, we'll find out when we see. Go enjoy yourself appropriately. I've got business to attend to."
Manrmursk Byeon Gyeongbaek stuffed a few fruits into his mouth and headed toward the second floor. Gustav, who had been silently guarding his lord from a distance, gave Seolhwa a light nod of acknowledgment before vanishing in the same direction.
Impressed by the knight's ingrained consideration—far enough not to intrude on the conversation, yet close enough to rush in at a moment's notice—Seolhwa set off to find Jepeto and Helena, who had to be somewhere nearby.
"Did you enjoy the conversation, Your Excellency Border Count?"
"How can business talk be enjoyable?"
"Your expressions were quite varied for that...."
Manrmursk Byeon Gyeongbaek turned back with a look that seemed to say, Really?
When Seolhwa had first arrived at Manrmursk Castle, he'd pegged him as some naive academy-bred city bumpkin clueless about the world. If the Sachsen Duke hadn't rammed into him, they never would have gotten tangled up like this.
"Seolhwa Romanov—how much do you trust this man?"
"Not even the width of an eyelash."
He was only playing along because he seemed useful. There was no reason to stop him from taking on those three thousand rice-munching headaches that made his skull throb just thinking about them. Whether the Border Count used it to crash Sachsen's road guards into oblivion was none of his business.
"Did he mention any conditions?"
"Not even a hint. And it didn't feel right to ask first."
"He's got a bad vibe."
"His tongue's slick enough."
He swallowed the fruits he'd roughly shoved in earlier. The second round of talks with the Emperor and Sachsen Duke wouldn't drag on too long, so his stomach shouldn't start growling yet. The guards on the second floor looked relaxed, suggesting the guests hadn't arrived. Unlike yesterday, arriving early to wait wasn't a bad move.
"Good luck, my lord."
"Luck, my ass... Knight Commander, relax and grab something to eat. It's all stuff I bought anyway."
Leaving that gruff advice, Manrmursk Byeon Gyeongbaek entered the second-floor reception room. The old knight watching his lord's back held a complex worry in his eyes.
"They're taking their sweet time chatting, huh?"
"Whoa, you scared me. You're like a ghost."
The moment Seolhwa finished with the Border Count and started looking for Jepeto, the man popped up from a blind spot like he'd risen from the shadows.
"They say your footsteps get quieter with age, and it looks like it's true."
"Hey, you... What the hell are you saying!"
It wasn't even lunchtime yet, so Jepeto held freshly brewed black tea instead of liquor. Seolhwa, who'd barely touched his egg-and-toast set at the lodging, was starting to feel hungry himself.
"Anyway, what's left on our schedule now?"
"Nothing."
"Pardon?"
"We've reported my inauguration to His Majesty, clearly conveyed my intent to retire..., and made your 'political declaration unrelated to Jepeto Cervantes.' What else is there? Time to eat, drink, go home, wash our feet, and sleep."
They said nothing could beat a child's innocence in its brazenness? Whoever said that clearly hadn't dealt with a boss who hated work.
"If there's nothing left, that's fine by me..., but couldn't you introduce me to some local influential nobles? Something to grease the wheels, network a bit?"
"You know I fled the capital to avoid that crap?"
"A man can't live on dew alone. In a way, isn't this banquet Seolhwa Romanov's debut into Manrmursk high society? Perfect chance to cash in on debut hype, sniff out some powder..., er, mingle with noble ladies. Is there a better day than today?"
"Never seen such a lecherous bastard. Gwahaha!"
The Palatium interior was quieter than yesterday. Nobles who hated rushing more than death wouldn't show up until after noon. The people here this early morning were either like the Border Count with appointments, staff preparing the event, or non-noble guests like merchants.
"What's so great about girls who just powder their faces and fan themselves?"
"You don't get it. The latest capital makeup trend is natural looks. Not like the old goblin-face days."
"Powder's powder—same everywhere. Lift those skirts, unlace those corsets, and you'll just see flab from a lifetime of no exercise spilling out."
"Warden! Did you pour booze into that teacup? How can you say such vulgar things with a straight face.... It's deplorable. If I could charge you with moral corruption, I would."
Jepeto shot Seolhwa a look that said, What's gotten into him?
Seolhwa's face had turned stern, dignified, utterly serious—worlds away from their back-and-forth banter moments ago. He'd been the one to bring up powder and such first; there was a limit to shamelessness.
"Indeed, Deputy Warden. I wholeheartedly agree."
"Gahk!"
A golden ghost appeared between Jepeto and Seolhwa, who had been trading words that would make the Palatium bishop blush. Helena's doll-like eyes held a faint trace of contempt—or so it seemed, not a trick of the light.
"Ch-Chief Clerk said she'd brew some coffee and comes back already. Brew it a few more times and your liver'll drop out."
Jepeto nearly fumbled his teacup, grinning sheepishly.
"The coffee's long done, but I didn't want to interrupt you two having such fun without any powder on your faces."
This time, even Seolhwa startled. He'd spotted Helena before Jepeto and donned his mask, but apparently too late.
"Heh... Helena, you haven't eaten much either. How about that buffet over there? Looked tasty on the way."
"Oh my, may I have the honor of sharing Seolhwa Romanov Deputy Warden's debut Manrmursk society meal?"
The nuance dripped with teasing rather than contempt. Helena seemed done harping on their crude banter.
"I've wanted to dine with you since my first day at Utopia. The honor's mine."
With exaggerated flourish, he dropped to one knee and offered his hand. Helena took it, still expressionless, but Seolhwa felt like he was starting to read her subtle shifts.
"Youth is a privilege, alright. Seeing you young punks not grate on my nerves proves it. Yeah, damn right it is."
Jepeto downed his tea like liquor, muttering with an expression between laugh and sob.
"I still don't know how to broach it with the Border Count."
In an open clearing not far from the Palatium, the Emperor's guards and infantry scanned their surroundings with eyes sharp enough to slice falling snowflakes. Add the invisible magic barriers from the palace mages, and they could probably cut snow itself.
"Your Majesty need not worry at all."
The Sachsen Duke appeared with unwavering stride, ignoring the escorts entirely.
"I'll handle all the uncomfortable, arduous tasks, so please don't trouble yourself, Your Majesty."
Don't trouble yourself... It sounded like, You do nothing and stand there like a rice straw scarecrow.
"How could I? At least explaining it myself gives the Border Count the bare minimum trust."
His response carried the unspoken: I don't fully trust you yet.
"Three thousand men. A full three thousand mercenaries and mages to Manrmursk. And utterly unarmed, to boot. What lord would welcome that?"
"Dedication to the Empire and all its people can't be sweet, Your Majesty. And we're not sending them without conditions, are we?"
Then if I offer better terms than your conditions, will you take them in Sachsen? The retort tickled his throat, but he swallowed it. As long as their interests aligned in checking electors and nobles, the Duke was the Emperor's attack dog for dirty work. No need to sour things first.
The Emperor answered with heavy silence and started toward the Palatium.