《Marriage and Sword》 Chapter 1 House Targayel, the sword of the Emperor and the glory of the Empire. House Targayel, whose name was respectable, was doomed. They weren¡¯t just doomed, they were ruined. ¡°I will use Crixus as my middle name.¡± Eljen¨¨s Targayel, the eldest daughter of Count Targayel, married the man under the orders of the Emperor. ¡°It will be mandatory for us to share a bed once a week. I will try to make it for breakfast every day.¡± Political marriage was unthinkable in Korea. If Targayel had as much power as they did in the past then this wouldn¡¯t have happened. Elje felt hopeless, she wondered why this had to happen during her generation. ¡°I hope that we won¡¯t meddle with each other, like asking for love or affection.¡± Fortunately, the man Elje was going to marry was handsome and she was satisfied with his appearance. If she were pushed to marry an old man then she would have planned to dry out the seeds of the Valoir Imperial Family. ¡°Of course I will make sure to do my responsibilities, so don¡¯t ask for more than that.¡± He had a pretty face and a great body but that¡¯s it. She¡¯s known for a long time that he had an awful personality. He was so confident and convinced that she would fall in love with him. Because of his confidence, he wanted to prevent any inconveniences by signing a contract with her. ¡°Do you have anything to say?¡± Men were narcissistic creatures, and he was one of them. However this man deserved to be full of confidence; he possessed not only his appearance, but also his ability, fame, and wealth. The only thing he lacked was a position and he would have that soon. ¡°¡­¡­Lady Eljen¨¨s?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Elje came to her senses belatedly which caused him to furrow his eyebrows. The man sitting in front of Elje was named Shan Crixus, the hero of the Valoir Empire who ended the Hundred Year War. Soon, he will become Count Targayel and Elje¡¯s husband. He watched her with his pretty purple eyes as she quickly read the contract in her hand. It was a life-long contract, so Elje looked at the clauses carefully. She pointed at the first thing that bothered her. ¡°Speaking of the bed.¡± As soon as Elje spoke, Shan sighed as if he was annoyed. ¡°More than once a week would be difficult.¡± However, he misunderstood Elje¡¯s intentions. Elje shook her head. ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not it. Let¡¯s do it once a month.¡± ¡°And I sleep a lot in the morning, so I don¡¯t think we should have breakfast together.¡± Using her finger, she scrolled down the contract sentence by sentence and mentioned the other clauses one by one. ¡°I¡¯d like to place more emphasis on the phrase ¡®guaranteed personal time¡¯. If either of us breaks this clause, then we should offer a financial reward.¡± ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± ¡°This clause needs to be revised a little. I want to review this and this again. Also, this seems to be advantageous only for you.¡± It was a continuous stream of words. Perhaps it was the first time in Shan¡¯s life that he had been questioned like this. Shan looked dumbfounded as Elje continued to speak for a long time until she suddenly stopped. ¡°Oh, and.¡± Shan looked at her as she frowned and asked in the same tone he was using earlier. ¡°Why are you speaking informally? I¡¯m still in a higher position.¡± * Elje had a secret that she couldn¡¯t tell anyone. She lived another life before she was born as Eljen¨¨s Targayel, the eldest daughter of Count Targayel. Elje was born and lived in a wealthy family in Korea. From a young age, she was very good at handling sticks so she learned kendo at the local kendo hall. Three days after attending the school, the director visited her parents and earnestly advised them. -Your daughter¡¯s talent is extraordinary. You¡¯d better visit a bigger place. Elje jumped into the world of swords, she was absorbed in kendo until she came across fencing. She changed her course to fencing and finally joined the national fencing team. Before participating in the Olympics, a jealous athlete pushed Elje down the stairs to injure her and she died a worthless death¡­¡­ She died at a young age without even a single Olympic medal, which was her dream. She was reincarnated as the daughter of Count Targayel. At first, when she realized that she was the daughter of a count, she was thrilled to have the opportunity to live a leisurely life. However, the situation was not normal; it turned out that the Targayel family was heading to ruin. The Targayel family was known as the Emperor¡¯s sword for generations and produced knights. There was always only one child in the family with a special talent for swords who would then take over the title and participate on the battlefield while flying the flag of Targayel. However, for some time, no child with the talent of the sword was born. When the person leading the knights of Targayel disappeared, the family of Targayel showed no presence in the Hundred Year War. -Elje, sister¡­¡­ -Don¡¯t cry, Astin. Crows don¡¯t cry. (TL note: The Targayel coat of arms is a crow) Astin cried in Elje¡¯s arms. Elje hugged her younger brother and swore, I won¡¯t let you starve. Elje knew that the gift of the sword came back to the Targayel family since it was she who inherited it. Though she couldn¡¯t tell anyone because, in this Empire, a woman¡¯s place was by a man¡¯s side. No matter how talented Elje was with a sword it was impossible for her to go to the battlefield, let alone inherit the title of a count. Additionally, Astin blamed himself for not being born with the sword¡¯s talent. How could she tell him that she was born with it instead? She could never. In the empty mansion, Elje was contemplating what to do in the future. What she had learned as a young lady was of little use for survival. Even though they asked for help, the damn imperial family was silent in the end. A way to survive was for Elje to marry a rich merchant who had a ship, but she hated that idea to death. Elje valued her own life and didn¡¯t want to sacrifice that much for her younger brother. After contemplating for a few days, Elje decided to do what she did best; she grabbed a sword. From then on, she started practicing swordsmanship every night without Astin¡¯s knowledge. Fortunately, Elje quickly mastered the sword. It was the first time she ever held a sword as ¡®Eljen¨¨s¡¯, but she used it as if she had been her entire life. Within a few days, Elje was able to handle the sword with skills that far exceeded hers in the previous life. After mastering the sword, Elje headed to the battlefield to earn money. She bound her chest, cut her hair short, and dyed it a dark color to hide her identity as a woman. That was the beginning of the notorious mercenary unit, ¡®Elijah¡¯. Chapter 2 In the Hundred Year War between Valoir and Heglatan, the lives of countless men were lost in vain. However, it was an era for heroes. Skills meant everything on the battlefield, when a nobleman died, they were just a lump of meat. Elje volunteered at the first Valoir mercenary group she came across when she was heading to the battlefield. She didn¡¯t join them because she was patriotic, it was just easier for her since she was born and raised in Valoir. The Valoir mercenary group also paid more than Heglatan¡¯s. There was a shortage of mercenaries to be used as shields on the battlefield so it was easy for Elje to start working. The more she practiced swordsmanship, the scarier she became. Elje understood that this was the ¡°golden talent¡± that Targayel had trusted and followed so much. After a few battles, she realized that no one here would be able to beat her. The beginning of her trip was easy, but the journey was tough. Although she pretended to be a man, she still had a thin body compared to the other muscular mercenaries. Many of them would pick fights with her because she was pretty and some would sexually harass her. At first, Elje just ignored it because she didn¡¯t want to attract any unnecessary attention when she was trying to hide her identity and gender. However, she soon realized that there would be no end to the harassment if she remained silent. At the rate things were going, she was going to die out of anger and frustration before reaching the battlefield. She decided to take action against those harassing her. Shortly after making her decision, an opportunity emerged where she could act against her harassers. That day, Elje quietly stood in line to receive a meal ration, but one of the big mercenaries tapped her butt and laughed. -What, is this a little girl? He didn¡¯t just tap her butt, he was also rubbing it. Elje closed her eyes tightly and sighed for a long time. -Haaa. Elje then smashed the guy¡¯s head with the plate she was holding. -Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!! A dozen mercenaries rushed at Elje. She broke the leg off a wooden table and swung it around. It was a good piece of wood and every time she swung her slender wrist, the number of mercenaries lying on the floor would increase. The situation was over so quickly that by the time the knights arrived after hearing about the fight between the mercenaries, Elje had already beaten the dozen to a pulp. Elje had a grim smile on her face and she was holding the bloody piece of wood. What she said then was still talked about among the mercenaries while drinking. -Stop touching my ass, you sons of bitches. After that, no one touched Elje¡¯s butt. Instead, rumors about Elje spread widely. Mercenaries as well as Valoir knights would snoop around the mercenaries¡¯ quarters to catch a glimpse of the ¡°beautiful beast.¡± The first battle that Elje fought in was the Battle of Kirkla. In 994 of the Innes calendar, the battle on the Kirkla Plains resulted in thousands of casualties and was considered one of the fiercest battles of the century. And there, Elje met Shan for the first time. The Battle of Kirkla ended with a complete defeat for Valoir. The Valoir Imperial Army was weak compared to Heglatan¡¯s Army, and they were wiped out. This was Elje¡¯s first time participating in a battle in the war and she didn¡¯t know what to do, so she just swung her sword instinctively. The order to retreat was issued when she was floundering around. -Retreat! Retreat!! Elje was desperately running with the retreating army. -Oh, my God¡­¡­! Blood splattered under her feet and she was soaked. She didn¡¯t want to die in a place like this. Something came into Elje¡¯s sight and she stopped. Elje was so busy running away that she almost didn¡¯t pay attention, but it was the oddest thing. -Oh!! A man who appeared to be a Valoir knight caught her eye. He was stabbed by a sword wielded by his fellow knight. The knights standing over the man¡¯s body spat and hurled insults at him. -What an unlucky bastard. They ran away from the Heglatan Army leaving the man twitching on the ground. Elje had to ignore him and run away quickly. It was none of her business whether Valoir¡¯s knights stabbed each other or not. However, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about him to the point where she felt strange. Elje, who didn¡¯t stop running, eventually swore and returned to the man. She checked his pulse as soon as she reached him and realized that he still had a heartbeat. She slapped his cheek to wake him up. -Oooh¡­¡­ The man twisted and groaned faintly. Elje talked as she supported him and helped him up. -Get a hold of yourself. I will save you. Fortunately, the man stumbled but he was able to walk. The Heglatan Army was in pursuit, so Elje turned in a different direction from where the Valoir knights were retreating. Elje was able to find an area with bushes and a small spring. She hid the man among the bushes and examined his wound. The stab wound was diagonal running from his shoulder to his side. Although the wound was large, it was not deep, and it didn¡¯t hit any vital spots. If she stopped the bleeding and treated it properly, there was hope that he would survive. She took water from the spring and washed her hands thoroughly. She then ripped his clothes and used them to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. When the bleeding stopped she cleaned the area around the wound. In case of an emergency, she even applied the precious ointment that she had. She then moistened the man¡¯s mouth with water using her hand. While treating him, Elje couldn¡¯t figure out why she was helping him, especially when she applied the ointment. The ointment to heal wounds was an item that she secretly carried because it was not easy to find and she wanted to survive no matter what. She didn¡¯t hesitate or even stop to think about her actions, treating him and using her valuable supplies was like an instinct. She sighed as she almost finished the treatment but she heard the man moan. -Ugh¡­¡­ As soon as she laid him down in the bush, he fainted and didn¡¯t wake up even as Elje was treating his wound, but it seemed like he was gaining consciousness. Elje quickly lifted the water to his mouth, she wanted to give him water as soon as he came to his senses. Fortunately, the man drank well and she felt proud. -Ooh, huu¡­ The man¡¯s resilience was amazing. It would be normal for him to pass out and not get up for three days and nights, but he had already come to his senses and was speaking in a rather clear voice. It was truly admirable. -I¡¯m gonna kill¡­¡­ I¡¯m gonna kill them all¡­¡­ Except, of course, what he murmured was filled with hatred. Elje blinked. Perhaps it was a curse to the fellow knights who betrayed him. She didn¡¯t know what he did to get abandoned so cruelly, but it was a very cheap act to leave him fatally wounded while retreating from the enemies. Elje swept her hand over his head which was soaked with cold sweat. -Even if you kill, kill them not me. The man finally noticed Elje and asked sharply. -Who are you? -A mercenary. -A woman? -A man. He was quite arrogant toward the person who saved his life, but Elje understood why. War was a place where one couldn¡¯t even trust a fellow soldier, who you relied on, to take your back. The man gasped in pain but looked at his condition quite calmly. He relaxed after confirming that Elje had treated him then he hesitated and asked. -Why¡­¡­ did you save my life? -Just because. There really was no reason. If there was, she didn¡¯t even know it. Elje stood up as she answered him. She couldn¡¯t stick around this man any longer, if she didn¡¯t go back, she would be considered a deserter. -That¡¯s all I can do for you, so you can survive on your own now. It looks like the wound is healing fast. I¡¯ll leave a piece of bread for you. -¡­¡­ The man stared at Elje as she packed her luggage. The moment Elje was about to take a step away, he shouted. -Name! The man asked as Elje looked back. -What¡¯s your name? Elje and the man¡¯s eyes met for the first time. He had very beautiful purple eyes. Elje asked as she raised her head. -Isn¡¯t it polite to say your name first then ask? The man paused a little at Elje¡¯s words and then responded softly. -Shan Crixus. -Elje. It was a nickname and a pseudonym for her real name, Eljen¨¨s. Elje gave him her name and left without looking back. -If we have the opportunity, let¡¯s meet again on the battlefield. She said that without knowing that he would be her husband in the future. * Chapter 3 Warning: this chapter briefly mentions rape. After that meeting, Shan and Elje did not run into each other. However, it was impossible to avoid hearing the rumors that spread about them. The rumors claimed that there was a knight in the Valoir Army who had demonic skills and that there was a beautiful beast among the mercenaries. Even though the two knew of each other, neither looked for the other. As the battle went on, Shan and Elje gained fame. When a battle broke out, the two were always at the forefront and they were always seen by others. Shan¡¯s reputation, in particular, became so great because the army was not defeated whenever he led the battle. Even if they retreated, the losses were minimal. Shan was favored by the Crown Prince, the Commander-in-Chief of the Valoir Imperial Army, and he began to make rapid progress as a knight. Of course, there were numerous oppositions from the nobles. However, the prince was a wise man and he knew what was important on the battlefield. The prince even appointed Shan Crixus as Deputy Commander. Shan became the star of Valoir and Heglatan trembled hearing his name. It was the appearance of a shining war hero. While Shan¡¯s popularity was increasing, Elje wasn¡¯t just playing around. Elje created the mercenary unit, Elijah. The unit played an important role in the Hundred Year War and became just as famous as Shan. The mercenary unit ¡®Elijah¡¯ was created for a simple reason; the mercenaries needed to unite and work together to survive, and at the center of the group was Elje who became their leader. The first member Elje met was Tarkan. -Are you that beautiful beast? He was a mercenary in the same Valoir camp that Elje joined. Tarkan made an absurd remark and challenged Elje, this happened a few days after the so-called ¡®dining table incident¡¯. However, unlike those who usually harassed Elje, Tarkan¡¯s eyes were clear. There was a desire for victory in his eyes instead of the unpleasant sexual desire she was so used to seeing. Tarkan raised a huge two-handed sword. -Let¡¯s go for it. Unlike ordinary two-handed swords, the wide blade of the sword could kill a person even if they were beaten with it instead of stabbed. Elje wondered how much power was needed to wield a sword like that. Elje picked up a rapier and a parrying dagger (*rapier is a long and slender one-handed sword; parrying dagger is a defensive dagger, sometimes used independently). Before leaving Targayel, she purchased the swords with the money she had left. Raising his sword in both hands, Tarkan asked, frowning. -You¡¯re gonna use double swords? You won¡¯t be able to stop me. Usually, when a sword was held in one hand, a shield was held in the other. However, Elje¡¯s method of attack was different, she aimed to take down her opponent before they even attacked. -I don¡¯t need to stop you. -What? -Before that, you¡¯ll already be on the floor. Elje beat Tarkan coolly. Tarkan laughed as he was beaten. -Amazing! You¡¯re really a beast! After that, Tarkan followed Elje around. The second member she met was Rafin¨¦, who was a mercenary in the Heglatan camp. He was called the ¡®invisible shadow,¡¯ he was a sniper who terrorized the Valoir camp by shooting arrows at the heads of major Valoir generals. As Elje¡¯s reputation grew, she became one of his targets. In a chaotic battle, Rafin¨¦ shot Elje, but she cut off all of his arrows with her sword. Even though he used all of his arrows, Rafin¨¦ still couldn¡¯t hurt Elje. According to Rafin¨¦, in a fit of anger, he came down from his vantage point and confronted Elje. -How the hell did you avoid all of the arrows? Elje responded calmly while Rafin¨¦ struggled with his pride. -Shoot well so you can hit your target. -¡­¡­ After that, he immediately ended his contract with Heglatan. Heglatan begged and offered Rafin¨¦ millions, but he refused and traveled during the night to head to Valoir. To be more specific he went to join Elje¡¯s side and then there was one more man following her around. The last member, Ivanna, was brought in by Elje. Ivanna was only 16 years old and she was originally not very noticeable as a mercenary. Ivanna dressed up as a man and headed to the battlefield. She stayed quietly without any presence, but as she was about to get raped, the others realized that she was a woman dressed as a man. -You were a bitch! -Was this all makeup? The beard too? The mercenaries dragged Ivanna to a dark place, shut her mouth, and tried to satisfy their greed. Elje was coincidentally walking by when she witnessed the scene. -What are you doing? -Hey, Elje! This is a bitch. I¡¯ll let you in too. -¡­¡­ There was a bitter taste in Elje¡¯s mouth. She didn¡¯t get caught as a woman because others couldn¡¯t touch her, but Ivanna wasn¡¯t like her. Elje¡¯s heart ached. In the end, Elje pulled out her sword. -Stop it. The mercenaries¡¯ eyes widened at Elje¡¯s words. The women found on the battlefield were insane. Eventually, Elje rescued Ivanna. Ivanna picked up her torn clothes and thanked Elje. -Hey, brother¡­¡­ Thank you¡­¡­ Elje covered Ivanna¡¯s bare shoulders with her jacket. -I¡¯m not your brother. -¡­¡­Yes? -I¡¯m your sister. Elje replied as if it was nothing and Ivanna¡¯s face paled. -I believe in you, so don¡¯t tell anyone. Ivanna nodded a little and asked carefully. -Hey¡­¡­ can I follow you? Elje raised an eyebrow. -What can you do? Ivanna spoke with a serious face as if she was confessing a grave secret. -I¡¯m an alchemist. I joined this war to obtain important materials for alchemy¡­¡­ An alchemist was a very valuable asset. Alchemists were accustomed to handling various chemicals, and they were welcomed wherever they went. It was strange that someone like her would go to a battlefield. Perhaps she was hiding a secret, however, Elje didn¡¯t care. -Stop, that¡¯s enough. Ivanna¡¯s purpose was not important. All she needed was the ability to follow along and take care of herself. After cutting off Ivanna¡¯s lengthy explanation, Elje reached out to her. -Follow me. Thus, a mercenary unit of four, Elijah, was created. Elijah had an outstanding performance in the Hundred Year War, and at the same time agonized both Valoir and Heglatan since they didn¡¯t care who they sided with as long as they were paid well. Heglatan tried to recruit Elijah, but Valoir also generously offered a huge amount of money to them. Thanks to this, Elijah remained with Valoir, and it definitely paid off. As Shan and Elijah rose to fame, the Shan-Elijah Battle broke out. The Battle of Shan-Elijah, which took place in 995 of the Innes calendar, was considered one of the most dramatic victories in history and was the decisive moment for the defeated Valoir Empire to seize victory. Shan and Elje met for the second time in the battle which was named after them in commemoration of their brilliant performance. Shan and the Elijah mercenaries were assigned to a unit. Shan, whom Elje saw again, had changed a lot; he was no longer wearing an old knight¡¯s uniform. Riding on top of a huge black warhorse, he was dressed in shiny armor. The sword in his hand was no match for the wretched iron sword he had in the past. On the other hand, Elje was shabby. There was no time to take care of her appearance in constant battles. Her skin was tanned and rough, and it was grimy because it was not properly washed. Her clothes were stained with blood too. Shan looked around as if he were looking for Elje, but Elje fell behind the troops. -Leader! Why are we going back? -I prefer the back. -I like the back, too. Elje answered the question awkwardly. -I want to stand behind you today. Elje couldn¡¯t figure out why she was avoiding him, but she felt the need to. The battle against Heglatan began and Elje saw Shan fight for the first time. Until now, the unit had never been assigned near him so she never had the opportunity to see him in action. Elje understood why Shan was called the Devil. Elje boasted that she was second to none with the sword, but Shan was beyond imagination. If Elje was a rare genius, then he just wasn¡¯t a human being. Shan did not have a specific style in swordsmanship. His sword seemed fast and slow at the same time. Even though Elje wanted to be constantly changing, she was honest and straightforward in her style. He wasn¡¯t even picky with the weapon he held. He ran like a madman and when his sword broke, he immediately picked up any sword laying around. Usually, if a soldier was not using their own sword, their skills would decrease, but Shan could use any weapon well. He was skilled with not only swords but spears and even axes. Shan had nothing and everything at the same time. It was truly a demonic ability. With Shan leading and the Elijah mercenaries following, no one could stop them. The battle with the best warriors of Valoir began and the troops advanced without hesitation. Soon after, Elje realized this was a trap. She ended up saving Shan¡¯s life for the second time in her life. * Chapter 4 The group that resented Shan still remained. The victory of the war was not important to them. They only cared about the honor and titles they could gain from the war, and Shan was the bad guy who took it from them. The Elijah mercenaries were also a thorn in the side of Heglatan. So, it was not surprising that they were trying to deal with Shan and Elijah at the same time. When Elje came to her senses, all the Valoir soldiers were gone. After provoking Shan and the Elijah mercenaries to move forward, the enemies completely surrounded them. The knight who led them spurred his horse forward as the soldiers surrounded them and shouted. -You¡¯re surrounded! Give up your weapons and surrender. The knight then looked toward Elje¡¯s side and said. -Elijah! Stand by Heglatan¡¯s side. Elje blinked then pointed to Shan standing next to her with the edge of her sword. -What about this guy? -He¡¯s a demon! I can¡¯t let him live! The atmosphere was tense as he shouted, it was probably because there were so many things that Shan had done to them. Elje thought for a moment, if Elijah went to Heglatan it would all be over. They would be safe with a lot of money and in many ways, it would be a comfortable path. But¡­¡­ Elje glanced at Shan. It¡¯s been a long time since his horse was lost, and he was holding a large mace in his hand, not the first sword he was holding. The gleaming armor was dirty and his black hair was drenched in blood and some had dried on his coppery skin. He looked back at her as if he felt her gaze. Elje and Shan¡¯s eyes connected. There was no expectation in his beautiful purple eyes. Perhaps if Elje abandoned him, Shan wouldn¡¯t be surprised at all. That was annoying, the fact that she would meet those expectations. -Sir. What should we do? -I will follow the leader¡¯s will. -I¡¯ll do whatever I¡¯m told. As always, the Elijah mercenaries were ready to follow Elje¡¯s orders. Elje hesitated, she couldn¡¯t put them in danger. Ivanna, who was quick to notice, shouted loudly. -Oh, I hate Heglatan so much! At Ivanna¡¯s words, Tarkan and Rafin¨¦ joined in. -The Heglatans are dreary. -They are unbelievable. The faces of the Heglatan soldiers crumpled after hearing Elijah¡¯s words. Elje knew that they were doing it deliberately because she hesitated. She took a deep breath, fixed her stance, and apologized. -¡­¡­I¡¯m sorry. There was nothing more to say. As soon as the words came out of her mouth, Elijah moved. Heglatan¡¯s leading knight shouted in bewilderment at Elijah¡¯s attack. -Attack!! Heglatan¡¯s soldiers rushed endlessly. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for them to die here, since they were only five. You¡¯re crazy, Eljen¨¨s. You¡¯re really out of your mind. However, she had no regrets, her heart was light and a genuine smile blossomed on her face. Elje wielded her rapier and parrying dagger. She heard a sound from above and ducked just in time for a huge mace to pass over her head. Three Heglatan soldiers were hit by the mace and their heads burst. It would have been four heads bursting if Elje had not ducked. When she saved him, she thought he would pay her back with grace. Shan stood with his back against hers. -Elje. Standing back to back, he asked. -Why did you do that? Before hearing the answer, he swung his mace again and Elje lightly jumped over it. Shan¡¯s mace broke the legs of those in front of Elje, and Elje¡¯s rapier stabbed the chests of those behind Shan. The two then turned back to back. Elje replied. -Just because. -¡­¡­ Shan remained silent. Elje felt him on her back. The hot body temperature, the dampness of blood and sweat, and¡­¡­ a slight tremor. Elje said aggressively. -And if you swing that without a word one more time! Elje finished her sentence by sticking her dagger into a vital spot of the person closest to her. -My dagger will be stuck in your neck then. But contrary to what she said, Shan was a great partner. It was as if they were always together, he was better suited to fight by her side than Tarkan who she fought with longer. Her heart was about to burst, the adrenaline warmed her body, and her nerves stood on edge and raged. Everything flowed slowly in front of her enlarged pupils. While swinging her sword, Elje felt a strange sense of freedom. Would it feel like this if souls could communicate? She felt like¡­¡­ she was one with Shan. Perhaps Shan felt the same way as Elje. All of a sudden, Elje and Shan were communicating without saying anything, their eyes were enough. That day, Heglatan¡¯s soldiers were annihilated by five people only. Shan and Elijah returned to the Valoir camp and told the truth, but no one believed them. This ridiculous incident was buried for a while and then spread to the camps of both countries by the testimony of the Heglatan soldiers who survived the battle. As a result, the morale of the Valoir camp soared, and the morale of the Heglatan camp, who had to deal with monsters, plummeted. In commemoration of their legendary performance, the battle of the day was named the Battle of Shan-Elijah. * The war didn¡¯t show any signs of ending. However, after the Battle of Shan-Elijah, the Valoir Empire had a clear path to victory. The war was now completely in the hands of Valoir. Elje didn¡¯t see Shan again since that battle and they didn¡¯t look for each other. As the leader of Elijah, Elje used the money she earned for Astin¡¯s tuition and for the maintenance of the Targayel mansion. She spent the least amount on herself and saved most of the remaining money. Astin wasn¡¯t born with the talent of the sword, but he was born with a brain more brilliant than anyone else¡¯s. Astin, who entered college, was always the top student. Elje planted sources to hear news about Astin from time to time and that brought her great pleasure in the harsh battlefield. Elje received news that Astin was injured after falling down from his horse during a joust. -I have to go home. Despite Elje¡¯s sudden declaration, the Elijah did not pry. They only wanted to know one thing. -Is the unit disbanded? Rafin¨¦ asked and Elje looked at them one by one. Rafin¨¦, Tarkan, and Ivanna were all looking at her nervously. Elje shook her head slowly. -No. I¡¯ll contact you. -Leader!! Ivanna couldn¡¯t stand it and hugged Elje. Elje soothed Ivanna, who was crying a lot, and she promised to contact them again. Elje decided to go back to her hometown and the other three would remain to end the tedious war. -I¡¯ll be there after the war, so wait. Tarkan said with red eyes as he held back his tears. Elje smiled and nodded. That night, Elje quietly left the Valoir camp. Elijah¡¯s leader, Elje, left without saying anything because she thought that there was no point in saying goodbye. Elje held the hood down to cover her head as she hurried under the starlit sky, however, a man stopped her. -Elje. The man was leaning against a wooden pillar on the side of the road. He didn¡¯t reveal himself, but she could tell who it was by his voice. -Where are you going? It was Shan. -The war is not over yet. Elje said while she kept her face covered with the hood and hidden in the dark. -There is someone waiting for me. -Do not go. -No. -Your actions now are disobedience and desertion. As deputy commander, I can bring you to a military tribunal. Elje sighed at his threatening words and said. -Just let me go. -With whose permission? -You don¡¯t need Elijah anymore. -¡­¡­ Shan didn¡¯t speak for a long time and then he said something amusing. -Elijah is not important. What¡¯s important to me is you, Elje. Elje laughed spontaneously. Shan probably heard Elje¡¯s laughter, but she couldn¡¯t stop laughing. At first she giggled, but soon enough she started genuinely laughing. Elje, who laughed for a long time, said with a smile. -You are a romanticist. Shan did not respond to her teasing. -I¡¯m going to pay you back for saving my life later. Elje smiled and pulled the hood further down. -So¡­¡­ don¡¯t die. Survive, Shan. At that time, Elje called his name for the first time. Did he feel the sincerity in the name she called? Shan sighed and answered brusquely. -I¡¯ll try. Thus Elje left for Targayel and Shan did not stop her. That was the end of her third meeting with Shan. Throughout the three years she participated in the war, she only encountered Shan three times, however, they were unforgettable memories for both of them. Elje hoped to see him again someday. If she could meet him again after the war, she wished to have a friendly spar with him and even have a conversation. Of course, she never imagined it would happen in the form of a marriage. Not as the mercenary Elje, but as Eljen¨¨s of House Targayel. * Chapter 5 Elje thought everything would be over when the war ended. However, contrary to her beliefs, it was just the beginning. Elje returned to the empire to take care of Astin. Fortunately, his injury was not severe. Astin rested for about a month, then spent quality time with Elje in the mansion, and went back to school. Thanks to the money she earned as an Elijah mercenary, Elje was able to live a comfortable life. It wasn¡¯t enough to live a life of luxury, but it was enough for the basic needs. There was no problem paying Astin¡¯s expensive tuition and maintaining the Targayel mansion. Elje also hired a new employee to manage the mansion. As the owner of Targayel, she bought some dresses and accessories to maintain her dignity, but she didn¡¯t attend any social gatherings. Of course, she spent the most on new swords; Elje ordered a new rapier and a parrying dagger. She also got in touch with the Elijah unit who had returned from the war and set up a meeting with them. She thought it was finally time for her to be happy after all her hard work. Then, one day, shocking news arrived at the Targayel mansion. It was an imperial order for a political marriage. Of all the men it had to be Shan Crixus! Elje tried to control her expression in front of the attendant delivering the imperial order, but her smile was stiff and trembling. This was definitely fate¡¯s twisted joke. Elje had to exert a lot of self-discipline in order not to commit the blasphemy of tearing the paper with the Emperor¡¯s seal on it. Prince Raymond was responsible for all of this. After returning from the war, he was unable to award Shan with a title due to the opposition from nobles. He came up with the solution of marrying Shan into the Targayel House so he could become a count. The old and sick emperor hadn¡¯t been up from his sickbed in a long time, so Prince Raymond was doing most of the work. Forcing a political marriage under the guise of an imperial order was a piece of cake. The marriage preparation went by quickly. The date of the wedding, the location, and all other decisions were made lightning fast. Should I be grateful for him not being an old man with a big belly? I was a war hero too. Elje¡¯s head was about to explode. Elje¡¯s mind kept running wild when the date was set for her prospective husband to visit the mansion. She couldn¡¯t sleep because she was worried he would recognize her. On the day Shan was visiting, Elje dressed as fancy as possible. She picked the prettiest dress and wore expensive jewelry. She also wore heavy makeup and half of her hair, which had grown in length, was up while the other half was down. Her ivory hair was flowing down over her dress. ¡°Whew¡­¡­¡± Elje was sitting in the parlor and looking into a hand-held mirror when the maid announced Shan¡¯s arrival. ¡°My lady! Sir Crixus is here!!¡± Elje quickly looked out the window and saw Shan riding on a horse along the well-paved path in the garden. Riding a black warhorse, he was not much different from when she saw him on the battlefield. He wore silk clothes instead of armor, but he still couldn¡¯t hide his chaotic energy. His sharp appearance seemed to keep people away. The dark hair was black even under the dazzling sunlight and his purple eyes that Elje liked were cooler and colder than before. It seemed like his eyes did not contain any emotion when she looked into them. It wasn¡¯t long until Elje realized that Shan was not alone. Five men followed behind him. She heard that Shan had a lot of followers thanks to his performance in the war. Just as Elje created the Elijah unit, Shan also built his own forces. Shan got off the horse and talked with the employees who greeted him. Then he raised his head and Elje quickly slipped away from the window. She returned to the sofa she was sitting on earlier. Soon after, a maid¡¯s voice was heard along with a knock. ¡°My lady, it¡¯s Sir Crixus.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened and Elje got up from the sofa and their eyes met. ¡°¡­¡­¡± After a brief silence, Elje curtsied to greet him. ¡°I¡¯m Eljen¨¨s Targayel.¡± Shan looked closely at Elje. Elje trembled under the gaze of his purple eyes. It seemed as if he was going to call her Elje at any moment. However, he casually said. ¡°Shan Crixus.¡± Shan did not recognize Elje. He thought that they were similar, but he couldn¡¯t guess that they were the same person. In fact, there was nothing to recognize. While on the battlefield, Elje¡¯s appearance was completely different. Her skin was tanned from the sun and her hair was short and dyed a dark color, and she was covered in blood all the time. The only thing that was similar was her blue eyes. Elje looked fine during their last meeting, but she had a hood covering her face and it was dark. In the end, Shan had never seen Elje¡¯s face clearly. Most importantly, Elje, the leader of Elijah, was a man while Eljen¨¨s Targayel was a woman. At this point, it would be amazing if Shan recognized her. Strangely, Elje felt both relieved and disappointed. She was relieved that he did not recognize her but also disappointed that he didn¡¯t. Unlike Elje¡¯s complicated thoughts, Shan did not show any agitation. ¡°I¡¯d like to make sure a few things are clear before we get married.¡± There were no pleasantries exchanged. Shan handed Elje the contract and as soon as she accepted it, he sat down on the sofa without asking for permission. It was absurd, but Elje was patient. While she was reading the contract, Shan started talking and there was no sign of respect in his attitude. This bastard. Elje couldn¡¯t control her temper. So she finally exploded and commented on everything that bothered her in the contract. She landed the final blow at the end. ¡°Why are you speaking informally? I¡¯m still in a higher position.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Shan¡¯s expression was worthwhile after hearing Elje¡¯s words. Shan smiled at the provoking words Elje used then he bowed his head and apologized politely. ¡°Please forgive me for my rudeness. I am not familiar with the aristocratic language.¡± Elje understood what Shan was trying to do, he wanted to take control of the situation by not showing his respect to her position. Elje decided to let it go and she was relieved that he apologized. ¡°I will send you the contract after revising the points you mentioned.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Then they were both silent. There was nothing to say since this was their first time meeting. Elje offered Shan the prepared tea and he drank it without a word. The two were sipping tea quietly when Shan suddenly said. ¡°¡­¡­I heard you have a younger brother.¡± He gazed at Elje gently. His gaze was intense as if he was looking for traces of the mercenary Elje. ¡°I¡¯d like to see his face once.¡± Elje couldn¡¯t tell him the truth. Nothing good would come out of knowing that the Lady of Targayel was also the infamous Elje from the Elijah mercenary unit. When the hunting is over, you don¡¯t need the hunting dog. Valoir paid a lot of money to Elijah, so perhaps the royal family were planning on taking Elijah out. It was known that Shan Crixus was close to Raymond, the Prince of Valoir, so Elje couldn¡¯t risk endangering the Elijah members. Elje said calmly as she put the teacup down. ¡°Astin is a student at Aquis University. He¡¯s studying there, but you¡¯ll see him at the wedding later.¡± ¡°A student.¡± Shan, who was lost in thought for a moment, asked quietly. ¡°Are his eyes blue like yours?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re light blue.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I see.¡± For a moment, Shan¡¯s face showed disappointment. It seemed that he was hoping that Astin was Elje. However, it was known that Astin was not born with the gift of the sword. Perhaps Shan knew that but he still wondered after seeing her face. I am Elje. The words that should not be spoken hovered in her mind. Elje drank the tea to swallow the words that were constantly creeping up. Chapter 6 In the year 997 of the Innes calendar, Raymond Montes Valoir, the Crown Prince of the Valoir Empire, ended the Hundred Year War as commander-in-chief of the Imperial Army. Raymond returned to the empire with riches and was delighted, but only for a moment. At the end of the war, achievements were rewarded and celebrated, wealth was shared, and titles were given. Raymond, however, was not able to give a reward to the person he wanted to honor the most. Shan Crixus was the hero of Valoir; he was the man who led the empire to victory. Shan was someone who fought alongside the prince and became like a brother to him. Raymond thought that Shan should at least be given the title of count. However, the nobles already opposed Shan being deputy commander of the Imperial Army. If he awarded Shan the title of count then all the nobles who held back then would stand up against the decision now. After much consideration, Raymond came to the conclusion that a marriage with the House of Targayel was the only solution. Targayel was struggling after losing their talent for the sword. To make matters worse, the count and his wife died violently, leaving their two children to struggle alone. Since the ceremony to confer the title had not been held yet, the position of Count Targayel was officially vacant. In addition, the household once expressed their intention of giving up the title inheritance. It was a good thing for Targayel anyway, it was an opportunity for them to rise from the ashes since Shan Crixus was admired by the people for being a hero. The plan was perfect since the Lady of Targayel was single even though she was old. Raymond went straight ahead with his plan and so Shan Crixus and Eljen¨¨s Targayel were getting married according to the imperial order. ¡°So.¡± The teaspoon clicked and hit the teacup. ¡°How do you feel about your meeting with Eljen¨¨s Targayel?¡± Shan whisked the tea silently for a moment after Raymond¡¯s question. Then he put down the teaspoon and said indifferently. ¡°She was like someone I knew.¡± Shan¡¯s words were sincere. When he first saw Eljen¨¨s, Shan thought of a man, a man who left him with memories he will never forget and life-debts that he could never repay. So when he first saw her, he didn¡¯t feel very bad. It was a political marriage, but she was a better woman than all the other women Shan had ever met. But Raymond seemed to think that Shan¡¯s words were a funny joke. ¡°Like a woman you know!¡± He said with a wink. ¡°Soon the innocent lady will fall for the bad guy.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Innocent lady? That wasn¡¯t true. Shan couldn¡¯t agree with Raymond, his words weren¡¯t even funny jokes. Eljen¨¨s was a confident lady and he doubted whether she was from a noble family. Shan vividly remembered her scrutinizing the terms of the contract. Unlike her pretty face, what she did was worse than when mercenaries signed contracts. The crux of it all was when she told him not to speak informally. Shan frowned as he recalled the memory and Raymond laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t divorce her. If you can, stay with her even if you don¡¯t like her. Getting you the title is very troublesome.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure that there will be no divorce.¡± There was no doubt in Shan¡¯s reply, but Raymond predicted a rough future for Shan. Of course Shan will behave himself, but Eljen¨¨s Targaryl was the problem. It was all the more of a problem because Raymond knew how women fell for Shan. It was obvious that Lady Targayel would cry and cling to Shan and try to capture him, but Shan would be indifferent as usual. But¡­¡­ as far as he¡¯s seen, women couldn¡¯t get away from him. Perhaps Lady Targayel will hate him, but she will not give up hope until the end. It is the hope that you can win Shan¡¯s love eventually. Then she will join the ranks of countless women who love Shan, even though they swear that he¡¯s the devil. Raymond smiled and said to Shan. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to calling you Count Targayel, not Shan.¡± * The Targayel mansion was very big, it took a long time to reach the gates in a carriage. Elje would have loved to ride on a horse freely but she couldn¡¯t because of the employees¡¯ watchful eyes. After leaving the gates of the mansion and traveling for a while, Elje stopped the carriage. ¡°Wait here, I¡¯ll be back after finishing my business.¡± Elje told the horseman to wait and gave him a few coins. She got off the carriage and started heading to her destination on foot because she didn¡¯t want anyone to know where she was heading. A short walk led her to Manuaf Square where there was a statue of a large lion with a golden crown roaring in the center. The crowned lion was the symbol of the Valoir family. People gathered around the statue, and among them was a man holding a large picket who was shouting alone. ¡°A new millennium is coming! The devil born in this millennium will annihilate the whole continent! In a world where even God has deserted us, we are all heading for death!¡± Elje frowned at the loud shouting. Enthusiastic fanatics seemed to be no different here than from Korea. Elje passed by his side indifferently. A noisy market area appeared after Elje passed through the square. It was the largest market in the capital where various shops were set up. Elje moved quietly through the crowd. No one looked at Elje since she was dressed in clothes worn by commoners. After a long walk, Elje entered an alleyway. She walked along the dark alley and stopped in front of a shabby building. A loud noise could be heard coming from inside of the building which had a wooden sign with dirt on it. The sign with a crude picture of a beer mug and a bed indicated that this place was both a bar and an inn. Without hesitation, Elje opened the door and went inside. ¡°Wahahaha!¡± As soon as she walked in, she heard a raspy laugh. The inside of the old bar was so dark the lanterns needed to be turned on even though it was broad daylight. There were wooden tables and chairs lined up, and there was a long bar on one side, but no employees were visible. Only one table was occupied and there were three familiar faces sitting there. Elje called them with a big smile on her face. ¡°Tarkan, Rafin¨¦, Ivanna!¡± The three looked back at Elje in unison when they heard her call. ¡°Leader!¡± Only Ivanna rose from her seat and waved to Elje. The other two sat down and froze. They still didn¡¯t move even when Elje sat next to them. Elje smiled awkwardly and said to their shocked faces. ¡°Long time no see.¡± ¡°Uhh!¡± Tarkan rose from his seat as if he had been struck by lightning then he stuttered. ¡°The elder sister of the leader¡­¡­?¡± Elje and Ivanna burst into laughter at the same time. Rafin¨¦, who had belatedly finished figuring out the situation, muttered in an embarrassed voice. ¡°I thought you might be a woman, but¡­¡­¡± Tarkan and Rafin¨¦ could not get over the shocking news. They once thought that Elje might be a woman considering her build and voice. However, they concluded that she could not be a woman based on her monstrous skills. But she really was a woman! It was fun to watch Tarkan and Rafin¨¦ struggling with the truth. Tarkan even asked if she had taken something accidentally and turned into a woman. Elje, who now had long hair and makeup on, was completely different from what she looked like on the battlefield. It took a lot of time for Tarkan and Rafin¨¦ to adjust to the feminine Elje. After talking about Elje¡¯s life for a while, Elje began to talk cautiously. ¡°I have a confession to make to you guys.¡± The unusual atmosphere drew their attention. Elje smiled awkwardly and said. ¡°I¡¯m getting married.¡± It was a shock to find out that she was a woman and now she¡¯s getting married too. The three faces were indescribable. Initially, Elje wasn¡¯t sure if she was going to tell them the truth, but she wouldn¡¯t be able to work as an Elijah mercenary after the marriage so she thought that she had to tell them everything. After a long silence, Ivanna asked Elje. ¡°Who will you marry?¡± Ivanna¡¯s expression looked like she didn¡¯t believe Elje. At her burning gaze, Elje broke out in a cold sweat and stammered. ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡­ someone you guys know¡­¡­¡± ¡°Tell me quickly!¡± Ivanna exclaimed, on the verge of turning the table over. Elje closed her eyes and confessed. ¡°Shan Crixus.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Maybe it would have been better for them not to know. The three people looked at Elje with their mouths wide open as Elje smiled awkwardly. * Chapter 7 After a long silence, Ivanna spoke. ¡°Leader, you promised to marry me.¡± Of course, it was a meaningless promise. However, Ivanna depended on Elje ever since Elje saved her. Ivanna lived with the belief that Elje was the best man in the world. For Ivanna, Elje¡¯s marriage to Shan Crixus was on par with the sky collapsing. Ivanna absolutely wanted to stop Elje¡¯s. Ivanna pulled her long coat open where she was hiding a glass bottle. Tarkan and Rafin¨¦ leaned back in fear. Ivanna asked in a gloomy voice. ¡°Have you been threatened? Shall I kill someone?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that!¡± Elje hurriedly calmed Ivanna down. If the wrong move was made, House Targayel would be ruined. Unlike the stubborn Ivanna, Tarkan and Rafin¨¦ were slowly accepting the reality. Tarkan nodded seriously. ¡°Somehow¡­¡­ you were very hesitant in the Battle of Shan-Elijah in front of Heglatan. Did you do that because there was something between you and Crixus?¡± At Tarkan¡¯s words, Ivanna widened her eyes and said. ¡°I thought it was because the leader didn¡¯t want to go to Heglatan, but it was because of Shan Crixus?¡± Ivanna regretted not throwing Shan to the Heglatan soldiers in the battle. Elje wasn¡¯t sure where to begin in explaining everything. Rafin¨¦, who was still thinking, opened his mouth. ¡°Leader, there seems to be something you haven¡¯t explained to us yet.¡± His calm voice silenced everyone. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about Shan Crixus¡¯s marriage but his partner¡­¡­¡± Rafin¨¦ said, looking at Elje. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that it¡¯s a Targayel.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Elje felt that now was the time to reveal everything. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I lied to you all this time.¡± Elje sighed and confessed. ¡°Eljen¨¨s Targayel¡­¡­ that¡¯s my real name.¡± Ivanna¡¯s face paled and she called Elje in a quivering voice. ¡°Leader¡­¡­¡± There was no one who did not know of Targayel in the Valoir Empire. Everyone was confused by the series of shocking confessions, and Tarkan spoke boldly and brightly in the back. ¡°What, leader, you¡¯re a noble lady? No wonder you were so elegant.¡± ¡°You idiot! Don¡¯t you know Targayel?¡± Ivanna criticized Tarkan, but he really didn¡¯t seem to know. All he cared about was the sword. Rafin¨¦ looked rather relieved now. As he watched from the side, Elje¡¯s natural talent for swords was beyond common sense. Rafin¨¦ even suspected that Elje might not be human. But if Elje was a Targayel then that explained her talent for the sword. ¡°Targayel¡¯s talent for the sword hasn¡¯t ceased yet.¡± Elje smiled vaguely at Rafin¨¦¡¯s words. ¡°That¡¯s right. But you know, I¡­¡­¡± Rafin¨¦ knew what was hiding at the end of her fading words. He nodded heavily. Elje was a woman and the fact that she had inherited the talent of the sword might make a mockery out of House Targayel. That¡¯s why Elje hid her gender and her talent. Rafin¨¦ shook his head and said. ¡°If the fact that Elje of the Elijah mercenaries was a woman spreads, there will be a lot of problems to deal with.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure there will be, so it¡¯s a secret.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re the ones who would jump into a fire pit following the leader¡¯s words.¡± The four people continued their discussion. Ivanna said she would make a liquid bomb for Elje so if Crixus wanted to do something weird, she could secretly pour it in his wine glass. Elje didn¡¯t want to see Shan explode alive no matter how annoying he was, so she tried to dissuade Ivanna. All the Elijah members didn¡¯t think well of Shan. They all saw him on the battlefield and they did not consider him a normal human being. That¡¯s why even though they knew about Elje¡¯s situation, they wanted to stop this marriage if possible. They ended up talking about the reason they gathered today. Elje wouldn¡¯t be able to contact them often, but she promised to deliver news whenever she got the opportunity. Elijah took the first steps toward continuing activities without Elje. After the discussion, Rafin¨¦ told Elje with a serious expression. ¡°If you want to escape in the darkness of the night, please tell us anytime.¡± Tarkan and Ivanna nodded in agreement. It was reassuring and funny at the same time so Elje stopped laughing. * Prince Raymond was planning a very grand wedding for Shan and Elje. The wedding ceremony at Targayel¡¯s mansion was like a celebration of the end of a war. Thanks to this, Elje was struggling with the wedding preparations. No matter how much the imperial family helped with the arrangements, in the end, the wedding was held at Targayel¡¯s mansion, so as the bride and owner of the mansion, Elje spent her time busily preparing everything. Astin, who heard the news a few days before the wedding, came home after taking a family vacation from school. ¡°Sister!¡± As soon as Astin entered the mansion, he looked for Elje. ¡°Welcome, Astin!¡± Unlike Elje, who greeted him happily, Astin cried in a tearful voice. ¡°Sister, marriage!¡± In fact, no matter how good the deal seemed, in the end, Elje¡¯s marriage was as if she were being sold to the war hero Shan Crixus to save the struggling Targayel family. Because of this, Elje deliberately informed Astin about the wedding late. She didn¡¯t want this to upset Astin and have it interfere with his studies. Of course, Astin blamed himself for Elje¡¯s marriage. ¡°It¡¯s because I don¡¯t have the talent of the sword¡­¡­¡± ¡°Astin.¡± Elje grabbed his shoulders and said firmly. ¡°Stop.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Astin looked at Elje with tearful eyes. Elje smiled softly at Astin instead of speaking, because a smile was enough. Elje¡¯s smile was full of confidence in Astin. ¡°Sister¡­¡­¡± Elje took out a handkerchief and wiped Astin¡¯s tears. He said with a determined face as the tip of his nose turned red from crying. ¡°This semester is a bit difficult because I missed a lot of classes, but I¡¯ll definitely take the top spot.¡± Elje stroked Astin¡¯s hair because he was so cute and he blushed shyly. The two siblings sat in the drawing room and drank tea. While talking about what had happened and drinking tea, it suddenly became noisy outside. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± As Elje tilted her head, the door of the drawing room burst open and the screams of the maid could be heard. When Elje saw the man coming in through the door, she stiffened as she held the teacup. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have come here so suddenly.¡± The unexpected intruder was Shan. Elje looked at him stupidly for a moment and slowly lowered the teacup to the table. The same was true of Astin, who was surprised by the sudden appearance of his future brother-in-law. Shan briefly asked Astin, who looked at him with bewildered eyes. ¡°Astin Targayel?¡± ¡°Yes, but¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Shan was silent, but Elje knew why he came. Hearing the news that Astin was here, he must have come to check if he was Elje. It was clear that he rushed without even informing them of his visit in fear of Elje running away. However, Astin was completely different from Elje. Astin was a typical civilian; he was thin and frail and he was wearing glasses. Shan exhaled as he walked over and sat down next to Elje. Elje opened her eyes wide as Shan took the cup she had been drinking from and drank the tea. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty.¡± Elje only laughed at his words that were not much of an excuse. She asked him as he put down the cup. ¡°Why did you come here so suddenly?¡± ¡°I came because I wanted to see your face for a moment. I¡¯ve seen your face.¡± Shan got up from his seat. He came quickly and he was hurrying to leave just as fast. It was ridiculous to behave this way, but Shan took it even further. He smiled at Elje and shamelessly asked. ¡°How about seeing me off?¡± Oh really¡­¡­ Elje got up to see him off while scrunching up her face. She told Astin to wait in the drawing room for a while. Shan and Elje walked through the corridor side by side. The hallway was empty. Compared to the spacious mansion, the number of employees was not much, so the mansion felt empty. In the middle of the quiet hallway, only their footsteps could be heard. Elje glanced at Shan; she thought he was handsome even though he had a bad personality. She could see a raised nose and even though his soft hair fluttering in the wind was black, which she had seen tirelessly in Korea, Shan¡¯s hair felt special. His tanned skin caught her eyes. When Elje returned to her hometown, her skin quickly paled again, but his remained tanned. After walking together for a while, Shan suddenly stopped and Elje stopped with him. As she turned to look at him, his hand shot out and wrapped around her waist. ¡°!!¡± Elje took a breath and when she opened her eyes, Shan¡¯s face was right in front of her nose. She felt his tight embrace as he grabbed her wrist fiercely so that she couldn¡¯t escape. He examined Elje¡¯s hand and then looked at her again. Their eyes met and it made her heart start pounding. She saw herself in his eyes. ¡°Because the lady¡¯s¡­¡­¡± His fingers touched the calluses on Elje¡¯s hand. ¡°Your hands are rough, Lady Eljen¨¨s.¡± Do you know everything now? Or is this just a stab in the dark? At that moment, all kinds of thoughts ran through Elje¡¯s mind. Depending on which situation it was, Elje¡¯s actions would change accordingly. However, based on his personality, if he had convinced himself that she was Elje, he would not have just asked her about it, he would have taken his sword out. His purple eyes were staring at Elje. If she hesitated then he would probably find out the truth. He touched Elje¡¯s hand, and if he looked closely at the calluses then he would know they came from holding a sword. Elje withdrew her hand as naturally as possible and said while looking straight at him. ¡°It¡¯s because House Targayel doesn¡¯t have money.¡± Shan¡¯s eyes narrowed, however, Elje continued. ¡°I have to work, so my hands are rough.¡± Shan laughed while still hugging her waist. His lips approached her ear; he whispered as he gently moved a strand of her hair with his hand. ¡°What happened?¡± Elje flinched as she felt his breath on her ear. The parts of their bodies that were touching felt hot. Eventually, it became unbearable and Elje pushed his chest. Shan let her go and she stared at him as she said. ¡°I want to remind you that we¡¯re still not married.¡± He laughed and said something unexpected. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re stronger than I thought.¡± Elje turned away from him and straightened her crumpled up dress. ¡°You don¡¯t have the right to handle me at will.¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Not ever.¡± Shan smiled at the remark; he was having fun watching Elje¡¯s defiance. Shan smiled cheerfully. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it, Lady Eljen¨¨s.¡± Chapter 8 A sharp voice echoed in a luxurious mansion in the heart of the capital on a quiet night. ¡°Shan!¡± Shan frowned as he sat in his office and heard the loud voice. Marle, who was looking at the documents with Shan, panicked and quickly went out of the office. He ran into a woman whose face was red. Marle quickly stepped aside and she stormed into Shan¡¯s office. The woman was Cecilia Epernon, the only daughter of Count Epernon, and she was the most recent woman Shan had met. Cecilia gasped and asked Shan. ¡°I heard you were getting married?¡± Shan looked at Marle for a moment. It was a look asking why the guards outside didn¡¯t stop her, but Marle avoided his gaze. The ladies of the nobility could not be treated carelessly. The guards stopped some ladies once or twice and had to suffer the consequences, as a result, Marle told them not to stop the women anymore. Shan sighed but didn¡¯t get up. He only raised his head as he answered her. ¡°I think it¡¯s too late for a private talk, Lady Cecilia.¡± The cold words were reproaching her, but Cecilia asked pointlessly. ¡°Are you marrying a bitch who might have done business or sold herself abroad?¡± ¡°¡­¡­That¡¯s too much.¡± As Shan showed anger, Cecilia bit her lower lip to stop herself from crying. She couldn¡¯t believe he was getting married¡­¡­ She regretted that she couldn¡¯t convince her father to let her marry Shan. She should have threatened to commit suicide. However, Count Epernon hated Shan because he loved art and the war hero meant nothing to him. The fact that it was a political marriage comforted Cecilia. She relaxed when she thought of all the tearful nights that the Targayel bitch will have, just like the nights that Shan gave her and many other women. He will never be a man who settles for one woman. ¡°Shan.¡± Instead of reproaching and controlling him, Cecilia decided to change tactics. She touched Shan¡¯s desk and took off her coat. Her shoulders were revealed in the dress she was wearing, and she whispered as she slowly swept her neckline with her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you are married¡­¡­¡± The provocative whisper was stimulating. Her round and voluptuous breasts were slightly showing. Any man would have a change of heart and Cecilia was confident that she would be able to continue being with Shan after his marriage. Unfortunately, Cecilia¡¯s thoughts were unfounded. Rather than wavering, Shan asked coldly. ¡°Since when did you have the right to decide?¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°There is a limit to being disrespectful.¡± Cecilia¡¯s eyes bulged; she couldn¡¯t hide her insulted expression. Cecilia clasped her dress, turned around, and slammed the door shut. The sound of her running away could be heard from inside the room. Marle, who had been quietly standing in the corner, stepped out. ¡°There are rumors that Lady Cecilia had a quarrel with Count Epernon over her getting married to you. You¡¯d better be careful.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Shan double-checked the documents he was looking at before Cecilia barged in and signed them. Then he got up from his seat and picked up his coat which was hanging in the corner. ¡°Did Reeve come back yet? I need to see him.¡± The hem of his coat fluttered over his shoulders. Shan raised his head and uttered one word. ¡°Elijah.¡± Marle understood and answered immediately. ¡°They¡¯re still moving without a leader. It seems like they had a secret meeting a while ago, and it is said that Elje was present.¡± ¡°Targayel¡± ¡°In 994 of the Innes calendar, the count and his wife died. After that, Astin Targayel entered Aquis University and Eljen¨¨s Targayel is a mystery. What is known to the public is that she went abroad for business.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± While Shan buttoned his coat, Marle continued. ¡°Eljen¨¨s Targayel returned to the Valoir Empire in 996 and has not left the Targayel residence ever since.¡± Shan, who was listening to him, commented. ¡°Aquis University¡¯s tuition is not a penny or two.¡± Marle stopped talking at Shan¡¯s words. There was no possibility that a lady from a fallen family would go abroad to make money. In addition, to make enough money to pay tuition at Aquis University, which is known for being expensive. Aquis University is located in the Kingdom of Britain. Studying abroad in a foreign country was expensive enough for even nobles. Marle immediately admitted to his shortcomings. ¡°Sorry, that part is not clear yet. We¡¯re working hard at the moment.¡± Shan nodded. It was during the war, a time when many things disappeared, so it would not be easy to find someone who vanished. Shan thought of Elje for a moment as he picked up his sword. What would have happened if I had stopped you then? The path not taken is more regretful because the answer will never be known. Memories of the past faded, but the memories of Elje remained in the depths of Shan¡¯s mind, like a burn mark. If Shan could meet Elje again, he wanted to ask why Elje saved him. He wondered if Elje would answer coldly or give a proper answer. Shan placed his sword on his waist and tightened the belt. Marle stated cautiously from the side. ¡°Sir Crixus.¡± ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°Do you think Miss Eljen¨¨s is Elje?¡± Shan¡¯s answer was simple. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Shan really didn¡¯t know; he only had a vague feeling. First of all, Elje and Eljen¨¨s were so different in appearance and they had different genders. But those eyes. The clear blue eyes were exactly the same. They both had the same temper. Shan smiled and recalled his meeting with Eljen¨¨s earlier in the day. ¡°Of course, I¡¯d love to see you use a sword once¡­¡­¡± Marle hesitated for a moment after hearing Shan¡¯s murmur. ¡°Sir Crixus, this has nothing to do with the report, but there is something I¡¯d like to tell you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Master Harvin has received orders to produce a rapier and a parrying dagger.¡± ¡°Master Harvin? The old man?¡± Master Harvin was a famous blacksmith in the Valoir Empire. He was grotesque and dirty, but his ability was unrivaled so he received the title of Master. All the swordsmen in Valoir wanted to have a sword made by him. However, he did not give a sword to just anyone. Because of that, the weapons made by Harvin were valuable and worth a lot. Then he makes a rapier and a parrying dagger¡­¡­ Elje of the Elijah mercenaries became famous and it became fashionable to wear rapiers and parrying daggers. However, as far as Shan knew, only one person in Valoir had the skills to receive a rapier and a parrying dagger from Master Harvin. Shan announced an order immediately without thinking twice. ¡°Plant people nearby.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir Crixus.¡± Chapter 9 After Shan¡¯s visit, Elje was sick for a few days. Astin asked what was going on but she couldn¡¯t explain anything. She didn¡¯t think much about her marriage to Shan, but after his visit, she began to think about it. She realized that she would have to spend the first night with him. While writing the marriage contract, the number of times regarding sleeping together was just a detailed provision. However, seeing it in a document and experiencing it in person were completely different. Come to think of it, women in the capital were dying to spend the night with Shan regardless of whether they were single or married, and that was the case even when they were on the battlefield. Strangely, Elje suddenly felt bad and frowned. When she recalled the battlefield, she remembered a series of bad memories. There were prostitutes who followed the army since all the soldiers were in a state of need. So if there was a pretty guy, it would have been normal for him to catch their eyes. Elje has always been seen as prey; everyone was eager to mess with her. Of course, after the ¡°dining table incident,¡± no one came near her, but she had a hard time in the beginning. The memory of that time made Elje feel uncomfortable about sexual contact. Even when she was in Korea, she was obsessed with swords, so the only contact she had with men was through kendo and fencing. To think that Shan and I would do something like that¡­¡­ ¡°Oh, stop thinking.¡± Elje shook her head to get rid of those thoughts. She was getting ready to go out after receiving a message and she didn¡¯t want to spoil her excitement with memories of the past. Elje was excited because she received news that the rapier and parrying dagger she commissioned some time ago were ready. She was busy preparing for the wedding, but she had to go pick them up herself. The blacksmith she entrusted with the production of her swords was cranky and would not give the swords to anyone. She was amazed at how ill-tempered he was when she first encountered him. Elje shook her head for a moment recalling the memory of visiting Master Harvin. It wasn¡¯t long after she returned to the Valoir Empire, Elje, who was taking care of a depressed Astin, was wandering around the market next to Manuaf Square to buy the medicine the doctor prescribed. She took the wrong road and reached the outskirts where she accidentally found a weapons shop. Elje was planning on throwing away the swords she used on the battlefield and ordering new ones. She glanced at the swords on display and realized that they looked good. The bells jingled as Elje opened the door and went inside. There was an old man sitting behind the counter with a gloomy expression. Elje decided to buy the swords from here so she smiled and said. -Hello. Do you have rapiers and parrying daggers? The owner of the weapons shop opened his mouth for the first time. -This wench wants a rapier and a parrying dagger? -¡­¡­ Elje¡¯s smile cracked. She was dumbfounded when the old man started to quarrel with her. The old man got up and brushed the dust off his bottom. He was shorter than Elje and he was fat and stocky; he also had a messy beard. The old man pulled a long stick from under the counter and threw it at Elje. Elje looked at the old man as she caught the stick. He then tapped the counter with his hand and said. -Swing it. Elje roughly swung the stick up and down. The old man lost his temper. -No, not like that! Get it right! What? Elje swung the stick again. This time, she swung it down with a pretty good form. However, that didn¡¯t seem to satisfy the old man¡¯s heart. He roared. -No! Again!! Elje sighed inwardly and held herself upright. As if holding a rapier, she moved the stick forward then the old man struck the counter with both hands and shouted. -Do it right!! This old man really¡­¡­ Elje bit her molars tightly. And this time, she trusted the sword, splitting the dense air with fierce blue eyes. She first felt a vibration; the strong vibration caused the swords hanging on the wall to clatter. Then she felt wind; a gust of wind blew through the shop even though all the windows and doors were closed. The wind quickly subsided. Elje¡¯s hair was fluttering from the wind and slowly settled down. The stick was aimed at the middle of the old man¡¯s forehead and Elje stopped it a nail¡¯s distance away from him. -¡­¡­ The old man was silent for a moment. His eyes showed surprise and excitement mixed with faint fear. Looking at the stiff old man, Elje regretted it a little, it was too much for the weird old man. -Excuse me¡­¡­ Are you okay? Elje lowered the stick and asked tentatively. The old man spit out. -The second. -Yes? -It¡¯s the second time. Elje blinked for a moment and curiously asked him about the situation. -What was the first one? -Shan Crixus. -¡­¡­ The name took Elje by surprise and it felt like a stab. She couldn¡¯t believe that Shan stopped by this place. Elje gulped. -But I didn¡¯t make him a sword. There¡¯s no need. In his hands, an excellent sword will become a cheap iron sword, and a cheap iron sword will become an excellent sword. Elje couldn¡¯t figure out what he was talking about. It seemed like he didn¡¯t make a sword for Shan but he will make one for her. Elje nodded and pretended to understand. The old man smiled and hummed, so unlike the expression he showed earlier. He put the stick back under the counter and said in an excited voice. -It will take a while! Where can I contact you? -Count Targayel. -Targayel? The old man halted. -It¡¯s Targayel¡­¡­ He looked closely at Elje. Elje did not avoid his gaze. Somehow she had a strange conviction that he would not tell anyone about her. That¡¯s why she was honest, and as expected the old man remained quiet. Elje paid for the swords and returned home. It was only later that she learned that the old man was a famous blacksmith and a master in the Valoir Empire. Elje waited for her new swords with bated breath. Almost a year later, the news came that the swords were finally done. ¡°Hello.¡± The old weapons shop didn¡¯t change at all and the old man still did not get up to greet guests. Elje walked towards the counter quickly. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Harvin sat down and waved to Elje. Elje quickly ran to the counter. Harvin chuckled as he looked at Elje¡¯s face which was filled with excitement. ¡°It¡¯s a masterpiece.¡± Harvin took out a long bag from under the counter. Elje saw the bag made of bright brown leather and tilted her head. Harvin opened the bag and Elje¡¯s eyes grew bigger. ¡°You¡¯re a lady, so you have to be elegant when you carry this. I asked someone I know to make a pretty bag. Of course, I have a belt that you can wear on your waist.¡± Inside the bag, there was a white silk cloth, and on top of it were the rapier and parrying dagger laying side by side. The sleek swords looked smooth and neat. Elje picked up the parrying dagger with trembling hands. She wrapped her hands around the scabbard and pulled the dagger out with a click; she saw a blade with a blue tint. On top of the blade, there was a small print with Harvin¡¯s name and the date of production. Elje put down the parrying dagger and checked the rapier with a pounding heart. Looking at the thin and elongated rapier, Elje murmured with an ecstatic face. ¡°It¡¯s so¡­¡­ beautiful¡­¡­¡± Harvin looked proud as he looked at Elje who couldn¡¯t help but be happy. He shrugged his shoulders and explained more and boasted about his skills when there was a loud noise outside the shop. The sound of horse hooves and people buzzing could be heard. Elje and Harvin looked at the door at the same time. Harvin¡¯s shop was located in the corner of an alley, so it was never noisy. Several men on horseback could be seen behind the display window. Strangely, Elje felt a chill down her spine. Then there was a knock. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Harvin looked at Elje as she packed the bag. She already paid in advance, so she just needed to take the goods. She wasn¡¯t sure why, but she felt like she had to run away. Harvin quick-wittedly opened the door behind the counter. A knock was heard again and the voice Elje heard took her breath away. ¡°Master Harvin.¡± The voice belonged to Shan Crixus. Chapter 10 It wasn¡¯t just Elje who was surprised to hear Shan¡¯s voice, Harvin was also surprised. He said loudly in an embarrassed voice. ¡°Sir Crixus?¡± Harvin hurriedly shook his head at Elje as he turned around the counter and walked to the shop¡¯s door. His gesture was indicating that she should quickly go through the back door. Elje hastily gave him a sign of appreciation and ran out through the door Harvin opened. Beyond the back door was Harvin¡¯s workshop. The front of the building was the weapons shop while the back was used as a smithy. In her hurry to hide, Elje realized that she didn¡¯t close the door completely. A voice could be heard through the slightly open door. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Harvin treated Shan with extreme respect. That old man treated me so rudely! Elje got angry at the wrong time, it wasn¡¯t that important now. Elje hurried to find another door that led to the outside. ¡°Oh¡­¡­¡± There were people standing outside the door. Elje could tell that these men came with Shan by the swords around their waists. After seeing the men filling the alley, Elje realized that she wouldn¡¯t be able to leave that way and hid back inside. Inside the shop, the two continued to talk. ¡°I¡¯d like to order a new sword.¡± ¡°I told you, Sir Crixus, that I couldn¡¯t make you a sword.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Harvin bluntly refused. However, ordering a new sword was just an excuse that Shan used. Despite Harvin¡¯s refusal, Shan continued talking without showing any signs of regret or sadness. ¡°Have you made a sword recently?¡± ¡°I have.¡± ¡°What sword did you make?¡± Harvin remained silent for a while. However, it was clear that Shan already knew everything. Harvin hesitated, but finally spoke the truth. ¡°¡­¡­A rapier and parrying dagger.¡± Elje almost let go of the bag she held in her hand, but managed to clutch it tightly at the last minute. Shan must have come when he heard that Harvin was making a rapier and a parrying dagger. Elje felt as if she were trapped in a gradually tightening spider¡¯s web. Her heart was about to burst. She looked at her surroundings in a hurry to find a way to escape. However, no matter how hard she looked, there were only two doors; one led to the side alley and the other led to the shop. Shan¡¯s voice was heard again. ¡°You won¡¯t tell me even if I asked you who you¡¯re dealing with.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Shan continued to speak as Harvin remained silent in front of him. ¡°It¡¯s really difficult to wield a rapier and a parrying dagger. A lot of people carry them these days, but no one uses them properly.¡± Elje could hear slow footsteps as Shan walked around the weapons shop. ¡°The truth is, as Master Harvin knows, that¡¯s ridiculous swordsmanship. It¡¯s impossible without monster-like skills and a good sense of sword fighting.¡± The sound of footsteps halted. ¡°Except for one person.¡± Silence filled the air. Harvin, who kept his mouth shut the entire time, responded slowly. ¡°¡­¡­I don¡¯t know what you are talking about.¡± ¡°Master Harvin must have heard of his name.¡± With a low laugh, Elje could hear her name. ¡°Elje of the Elijah Mercenaries¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that, it doesn¡¯t mean anything else, so relax.¡± Fortunately, Harvin didn¡¯t mention Elje at all. Elje patted her chest; she reminded herself to thank Harvin later. Shan didn¡¯t seem to pay much attention to the smithy at the back of the shop. Elje was planning on hiding there until Shan left and then she would sneak out. ¡°The back door is open.¡± This bastard¡­¡­ Less than 10 seconds after thinking that she would get away with hiding, Shan shattered her hopes and dreams. Oh well, I don¡¯t know. Elje took off her skirt and her tight pants were revealed. Elje buttoned the blouse she was wearing all the way up to her neck and took out the parrying dagger, being careful not to make any sound. She cut up her skirt into long pieces of fabric and used one to hold her hair up. Then she wrapped the other piece around her face. She looked like a masked robber with only her eyes showing, but she had to cover up her face. It wasn¡¯t the time to care about fashion. After all the preparations were done, Elje thought for a moment about whether to take out the rapier as well. However, she had to carry the bag anyway, and it would be inconvenient to wield the long rapier in the narrow alleyway, so she decided to only use the parrying dagger. She only had one chance. Elje gently opened the side door. The men leaning against the wall of the alley didn¡¯t notice the side door opening silently. They only noticed Elje after she popped her head out. One, two, three, four¡­¡­, five. Elje quickly counted the number of men outside and then she threw the bag she held high over her head. The bag soared into the air. Elje moved before they could pull out their swords and position themselves. Elje pulled the closest guy to her by his collar and struck his solar plexus with the pommel of the parrying dagger. He seemed to be wearing light leather armor, but it offered no protection against Elje¡¯s strength. ¡°Argh!¡± Using his scream as a signal, Elje leapt forward. Elje, using the pommel of the parrying dagger, only attacked vital spots such as the stomach, the back of the neck, and the lower leg. One by one, the men collapsed. There were some who tried to react belatedly, but it was difficult to pull out their long swords in the narrow alley. They couldn¡¯t move properly, unlike the quick Elje. In the blink of an eye, five men fell to the floor and Elje lightly caught the bag that was falling in the air. ¡°Huu¡­¡­¡± Elje took a light breath and jumped over the high wall using one of the fallen men as a stepping stone. Elje rose lightly on the wall and threw her bag over to the other side. At the moment she was about to jump over, the side door opened with a bang and a loud voice echoed. ¡°Elje!!¡± It was Shan¡¯s voice. Elje stopped. She knew she had to keep running, but she couldn¡¯t move as if she were caught under a spell. She could feel his gaze. She even felt a tingling sensation from the gaze stuck on her back. But Elje didn¡¯t look back. Shan said to Elje who still didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°Why.¡± She couldn¡¯t see his face, but just from his voice, Shan seemed angry. He growled. ¡°Why are you running away?¡± Elje gulped. She wanted to answer him, but her clear voice now was different from her voice that was roughened on the battlefield. Any slip of the tongue and Eljen¨¨s would be in trouble. Elje didn¡¯t say anything and Shan continued to talk to her back. ¡°I thought you were my friend.¡± Friend¡­¡­ at Shan¡¯s words, Elje clenched the hand holding the parrying dagger. The word ¡®friend¡¯ shook Elje¡¯s heart. She didn¡¯t realize that Shan regarded her in that way. Shan did not trust anyone on the battlefield. The only person he bowed to was Raymond, the crown prince and the commander-in-chief. His disposition for not respecting anyone or treating them as equals was famous, so the proud noblemen stayed away from him. Of course, there were many who followed Shan. The attribute that was valued the most on the battlefield was strength and Shan was the best of the best. Captivated by Shan¡¯s inhuman strength, they flocked him like bees and regarded him as a god. However, no one could be called Shan¡¯s friend. A man surrounded by people, but always alone. That was Shan. But now Shan was telling Elje that she is his friend. ¡°If you feel the same way that I do, at least¡­¡­¡± Shan was sincere. Elje felt suffocated. His sincerity weighed heavily on her heart. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me.¡± He urged Elje. ¡°Turn around right now and look at me.¡± In the end, Elje had no choice but to remain silent. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Shan let out a low laugh as he looked at Elje who didn¡¯t turn around or answer. Then he despondently asked. ¡°Is that your choice?¡± His desperate voice was filled with a sense of betrayal. Elje¡¯s heart ached. She wanted to ignore everything and just tell him that she was Eljen¨¨s, the woman who he would soon marry and become his wife. But she couldn¡¯t. This wasn¡¯t just a problem for Elje. The honor of House Targayel and the survival of the Elijah mercenaries all depended on this. I¡¯m sorry, Shan. Elje whispered an apology to him in her heart and ran away. ¡°¡­¡­Ha.¡± Shan clenched his fists as he watched Elje¡¯s back disappear over the wall. His hands trembled briefly. ¡°Elje¡­¡­¡± His purple eyes fluttered fiercely. *