25-103

EP.103 [Jeanne and Vivian’s Catfight?] 

The Pierre family is a great noble house, counted among the five major houses of Cothand along with the Oblean, Medici, and Bayern families. 

However, unlike the Oblean and Bayern families, which produced swordmasters, or the Medici, which produced saints for generations, the Pierre family had not produced such figures. Even so, they remained among the five great houses for a long time. 

"Shouldn't we consider Duke Alexis as the next emperor?" 

The head of the Pierre ducal house, Alexis Saint-Pierre, is Vivian Saint-Pierre's father and the half-cousin of the current emperor, Louis XV. 

When he was mentioned, noble ladies would connect him to the absolute future power of the next emperor. 

Indeed, the Pierre family is always discussed as a legitimate imperial bloodline whenever a new emperor is needed. In other words, if fate aligns, they are a house that could produce the ruler of the Phaedon Continent, the emperor of the thousand-year-old Elysium Empire. As a ducal house with such latent power, the Pierre family has always been considered a Cothand in every era of the empire. 

"That's how it should be. Even our count said that Duke Alexis fits the image of the ruler this era wants. He's a careful man, so even I, as a woman, can't help but agree." 

Then, the time came for the little dragon to grow into an adult. 

About sixteen years ago, the 39th emperor of the Imperium Empire, Louis XIV, was fighting a serious illness. His life was nearing its end. Naturally, talk of succession was heating up. At that time, the candidate most wanted by Emperor Louis XIV and most nobles was Alexis Saint-Pierre, head of the Pierre family. 

"Some say he seems radical, but after a thousand years of empire and an era of peace, the consensus is that the empire needs a complete transformation. I’d be fine if things stayed as they are, but men..." 

After a thousand years of empire and an era without war, the world began to desire progress—militarily, economically, and culturally. A more dynamic and variable ruler was sought, and Alexis Saint-Pierre fit that image best. 

Alexis was politically, socially, and economically very progressive and open-minded. He worked to make this a trend in the imperial family and among the nobility. His long efforts took root in the hearts of the current emperor and powerful nobles, making him the favorite. 

But as if history was already written, Louis XV became emperor, and Alexis Saint-Pierre died suddenly a few years after Louis XV’s coronation. 

"I think I cried more than anyone back then. Maybe even more than Vivian. That’s how close I was to her, and I wanted to be there for her when she was grieving and empty after losing her father." 

It was Jeanne who stayed by young Vivian’s side as she crumbled. Jeanne truly wanted to help someone, so she did her best to comfort Vivian, not just at noblewomen’s gatherings but even by visiting Vivian’s home. But in the end, that kindness became a cold blade that returned to Jeanne. 

"I still can’t forget that look in her eyes. When I asked if she was the one who ordered me to be ostracized, the way Vivian looked at me..." 

At some point, Vivian began to avoid and ignore Jeanne. Then, the noble girls who usually followed Vivian started to ostracize Jeanne. The change was so sudden that Jeanne, not even ten years old, was deeply confused. 

But even then, Jeanne trusted Vivian. She thought Vivian was just avoiding her for some reason, not that she had ordered the bullying. But as time went on, Jeanne grew exhausted and finally confronted Vivian directly. 

"Eyes filled with hatred. She looked at me like I was a demon." 

When Jeanne demanded the truth, Vivian hesitated, then admitted she had ordered it. But more than the answer, it was the look in Vivian’s eyes that told Jeanne everything. It was the most hate-filled, angry face Jeanne had ever seen. 

"Was I really that hated and despised...?" 

Even though Jeanne now considers herself much stronger than back then, recalling Vivian’s demon-like gaze made her shrink and mutter quietly. 

"...." 

Eugene watched Jeanne silently. 

"But I love you and always stay by your side." 

He suddenly interjected, almost offhandedly. 

"Why? It’s simple. I know you’re not just kind, but angelic and lovable. That’s all there is to it." 

Sensing Jeanne’s rapidly dropping self-esteem, Eugene tried to lift her up. 

"But honestly, I only became certain of that recently. Even after being by your side for twelve years. When I think about it, being able to truly connect with someone is the result of many relationships and mixed emotions." 

Eugene sees Jeanne as someone who tends to blame herself. "I’m not good enough, it’s my fault, I’m worthless"—even now, she thinks that way. Jeanne truly considered Vivian a friend, so she believes it was her own lack that led to the outcome. If she didn’t think that, she would have been angrier and more indignant. So Eugene, recognizing Jeanne’s nature, reassured her that it was never her fault. 

"In other words, it’s not your fault. It’s just that fate didn’t connect you two enough. In my experience, people’s prejudices and wrong judgments just couldn’t accept your pure heart. So don’t blame yourself." 

And it was because of Jeanne’s nature that Eugene could be saved by her—her unconditional, non-calculating devotion and love. Eugene Schneider knows how rare and valuable that is, and he reminded Jeanne of her unique worth. 

"Mm... Blame myself? It’s just a mood, that’s all." 

Blushing... 

Receiving Eugene’s heartfelt comfort, tsundere Jeanne’s self-esteem and happiness were restored. But her tsundere nature being what it is, she blushed, looked away, and mumbled. 

"Come here, let me put my arm around your shoulder." 

Hug! 

"Y-you bastard... If you do this here, people will get the wrong idea..." 

"This is just friendship between comrades, nothing unusual in a mercenary band." 

But Eugene, who now knows Jeanne’s heart better than anyone, put his arm around her shoulder, showing even more affection. 

And just as Eugene said, the knights and Red Fox Mercenary Band members passing by didn’t think anything of it. 

Meanwhile— 

‘Hmm...’ 

From the highest building in the Iron Cross Knights’ camp, someone was watching the two through a strange telescope. 

‘Jeanne and that assault captain are awfully close.’ 

It was Vivian, daughter of the Duke of Pierre and head of the Pieta Guild. With perfect posture and a mysterious expression, she kept watching them through the telescope. 

"Ah, is it possible that the damage to Miss Vivian’s carriage was caused by the Tyrannos faction?" 

Two days later, another joint strategy meeting was held between the Iron Cross Knights and the Red Fox Mercenary Band. After the first day, the Red Fox Mercenary Band spent two days adapting to the area and setting up camp. Once that was done, the Pieta Guild’s secret trade would begin in earnest. 

At that point, a sensitive warning was raised. 

"Yes. After having the local master blacksmith examine the carriage in detail, we found materials used in Tyrannos swords and armor. It seems that before our people joined, their agents tampered with it and left. It was probably a warning." 

Antonio answered Jeanne’s question with a serious expression. After the Pieta Guild’s local branch finished the final preparations for the secret trade, they checked the trade route by heading toward Antonio’s camp. Somewhere along the way, before they met the Iron Cross Knights, the Tyrannos agents had done their work. 

"What kind of warning?" 

"They know that a warning like this won’t make Miss Vivian back down. It’s probably meant to scare the other guild leaders and people involved in the deal." 

No matter how bold Tyrannos is, it’s hard to target a duke’s daughter, especially one with imperial blood. That could provoke a full-scale war with the imperial family. But for the smaller affiliated guilds, it would be a huge blow. 

"If the other guilds are shaken, does that mean they’ll pull out, Advisor Ivan? What happens then?" 

"If that happens, the secret trade, which only happens four times a year, will be canceled. For us, that means quest failure, financial loss, and disgrace." 

The scale and complexity made it hard for Eugene to grasp, so he quietly asked Ivan. As a former high-level mercenary, Ivan explained it clearly. 

‘So that means everything depends on what Vivian does next.’ 

It was an internal guild matter that neither the Iron Cross Knights nor the Red Fox Mercenary Band could directly control. As Eugene realized, Vivian’s role had become even more important. 

"Miss Vivian is already planning meetings with the other guild leaders, anticipating their anxiety. She’s probably on her way to this meeting right now." 

Vivian was already taking action to fulfill that role. 

"Why is she coming to this meeting...?" 

Jeanne asked Antonio in a slightly awkward tone about the specific reason for Vivian’s visit. Since the first meeting, Jeanne hadn’t had to face Vivian directly, but now another uncomfortable situation was about to arise. 

"Because she needs a bodyguard. With spies around, of course I need to protect myself, don’t I?" 

Step, step, step, step. 

At that moment, Vivian herself answered Jeanne’s question as she walked into the main tent of the Iron Cross Knights. 

"I plan to hire the Red Fox Mercenary Band’s assault captain, Eugene Caesar, as my bodyguard." 

She immediately pointed to Eugene Schneider, revealing the reason for her personal appearance. 

‘What?!’ 

Vivian wanting to use Eugene Schneider as her bodyguard made Jeanne’s eyes go wide. 

‘Huh...’ Eugene’s eyes also widened.