Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 134

On one side of the forest, a tent had been set up exclusively for women. It was a place where noble ladies could fix their makeup and attire or rest comfortably without worrying about the eyes of others.

Brianna spotted someone suspicious when she entered the area with Veronica.

That woman isn’t a palace maid.

Brianna carefully observed a maid who was serving drinks. At first glance, she looked no different from any other ordinary maid. But when she extended a drink, the sleeve of her garment rose slightly, briefly revealing a tattoo on the inside of her wrist before it was covered again.

Mercenaries tattoo their bodies. In case they are abandoned as corpses on the battlefield and their bodies are too damaged to be identified, they hope someone might still recognize them. That’s why they engraved their unique marks in visible spots.

If Brianna’s father had returned with a mutilated corpse, she would have identified him by the tattoo on the back of his hand. And because she often looked at that mark, Brianna could immediately tell that the woman was a mercenary.

Why is a mercenary here? Disguised as a maid, no less?

There were few women in mercenary groups, but they did exist. Some of them fought in battles with strength and endurance equal to men, but most served as messengers or liaisons. Seeing that the woman had an ordinary female build, Brianna judged that she was likely a liaison.

The fact that she had disguised herself as a palace maid clearly meant royal influence was involved.

Brianna quickly recalled that the Kazakh Empire was suffering from a serious financial crisis. In such circumstances, what they needed most would be trained soldiers who could immediately head to the battlefield.

But they didn’t have enough money for that…

Brianna inhaled sharply. She knew mercenaries well. Her father had been one, and Harzen had many mercenaries who hunted monsters. In contrast, people raised in Bastogne rarely encountered mercenaries. Because the standing army was well organized, mercenaries had no reason to seek jobs there. That’s why people in the capital had no understanding of how mercenaries operated.

You can’t hire mercenaries without money. But what if, under someone’s approval, something other than money was offered to them?

“Brianna.”

At Veronica’s call, Brianna turned around. Veronica, supported by a maid, was reclining on one of the long benches in the tent. She had looked tired earlier, which is why they came to this place.

“Come rest beside me. You must be tired from walking.”

Not only Veronica but several other noble ladies were resting on the benches. Some had even dozed off. Noblewomen with weaker constitutions often tired easily just from walking.

Brianna smiled and replied to Veronica, “I’m not that tired. I’ll take a look around a bit more. Please get some rest.”

Then, as she turned her head back toward where the woman had been, she found the spot empty.

Where did she go?

Brianna quickly looked around. The only possible exit nearby was the tent entrance. She parted the fabric and stepped outside. The woman’s back was visible heading into the forest—and then she disappeared into the thick trees.

“Ah…”

Anxious, Brianna ran after her. Not long after entering the forest, she suddenly recalled a similar incident. She had once chased a pickpocket who stole her bag at the train station, and Lucius had severely scolded her afterward. Running in front of a carriage, chasing a thief—he’d called them reckless, foolish acts. This time was no different.

I should go back and tell Lucius.

Brianna turned around. But she couldn’t take another step.

The maid who had disappeared into the forest now stood before her.

“I thought you were watching me from earlier. I wasn’t mistaken, was I?”

At some point, the woman had drawn a sharp dagger.

“What could such a noble lady possibly know to chase me this far?”

Brianna stared at the woman approaching her with trembling eyes. If this woman were someone under the direct command of the Crown Prince, she wouldn’t be threatening her like this. She would know better than anyone how serious the consequences would be for harming a noble.

But this woman was a mercenary. For mercenaries, their own survival came first. They would do anything for that. The aftermath wasn’t their concern. Mercenaries just needed to escape and hide.

“If you do this, the Crown Prince will be in a very difficult position. Even for him, it would be hard to deal with the consequences of harming a noble.”

Brianna deliberately brought up the Crown Prince to test the connection between them.

The woman took the bait rather easily. “What, you knew that much? Strange. There’s nothing good for the Crown Prince if this gets out. How does a mere noblewoman know about this?”

Then the dagger’s blade was aimed at her throat. Brianna raised her chin and opened her mouth.

“Because I am the Duchess of Carlisle.”

The woman’s expression changed instantly. Seeing that she hadn’t recognized her face, it seemed she was here solely as an intermediary. But even so, she should have known that the Duke of Carlisle and the Crown Prince were political enemies.

“Tch. Even if I wanted to spare you, I can’t now. Of all people, you had to be the Duchess of Carlisle.”

The woman let out a laugh.

“It’s not just any noble I’m threatening—there’s no way I’ll get out of this unharmed unless I kill you. But it’s fine. Neither the Crown Prince nor I will be in trouble. Accidents happen all the time in forests like this.”

What she said was partially true. That’s why most assassination attempts took place during events like hunting tournaments—because it was easy to disguise the death as an accident.

“Even if that weren’t the case, the Crown Prince’s problems are none of my concern. I’ve already got the answer I came for, so I just need to get out of here in one piece.”

“What did he promise you in exchange for deploying mercenaries?”

The woman smirked and looked at Brianna. Perhaps thinking she was already as good as dead, she spoke without hesitation.

“The Mont region.”

Mont was a region of the Kingdom of Schwerin located right next to Sierra. It had long produced high-quality cotton fabrics and, being near Sierra, the Kazakh Empire, and the Kingdom of Basel, it had become a hub for trade. Even now, it was a wealthy area overflowing with capital.

“…He said he’d give that land? To mercenaries?”

It was the first time Brianna had heard of mercenaries demanding land instead of money. Puzzled, she asked, and the woman burst into laughter.

“Why would we want land? It’s not like we plan to govern it or take care of the people.”

“Then… ah!”

Brianna immediately realized what she meant.

They intended to pillage it. Instead of taking money, they would take everything of value from that land.

At last, Brianna understood what the Crown Prince was aiming for. The mercenaries would side with the Empire in the war, and then, claiming they hadn’t been paid, raid the Mont region. Then, the Kingdom of Schwerin—which had been passive in the war—would be dragged into the conflict for the first time.

Many people would die, and even more would lose everything they had. And where would their anger turn? Naturally, toward the nobles in the parliament who had decided to enter the war. Everyone would blame them for their foolish decisions.

And amid the chaos, the one who could speak the loudest would be the Crown Prince.

In the end, the Crown Prince would be the one to gain the most from all the deaths and destruction.

“It’s unfortunate, Duchess of Carlisle. Our conversation ends here. If I waste more time and someone else shows up, I’ll be in trouble. Now, how should I disguise this?”

The woman began to consider how to kill Brianna. Just as she seemed to reach a conclusion and started to speak, she gasped.

“What the…”

“Step away from me. Slowly.”

Brianna pressed something she held in her hand against the woman’s stomach. The woman tried to swing her dagger, but as the sharp click of metal rang out, she quickly stepped back.

Brianna raised the gun and aimed it at her. It was the one the woman had worn on her belt just moments ago.