"I came to see Vlad."
"…."
Marcella's eyes widened as she looked at the men who flocked to the inn, which had not yet opened.
The same happened with the former prostitutes and current employees who had maintained Rose's smile for a long time.
Having lived their whole lives as prostitutes, they had never seen as many clients as there were now.
"Uh, Vlad... just left because he had work to do."
Although it wasn't necessary to add a name, Marcella realized that now was the time to elevate Vlad's existence if possible.
Because that's what her senses, honed over a lifetime of dealing with people, told her.
"You're quite busy these days. I suppose it's because you have a talent the mayor appreciates."
"Oh, oh. That's right. I'm sure that's it."
The men who flocked to the inn continued to nod as they watched Marcella explain the situation with a smile.
Marcella, attending to the clients with a dignified attitude, instilled confidence in the men with just her smile.
"So, when will he be back?"
"I'm not sure about that either. Do you want me to leave your name?"
In a showdown with the barbarians that lasted more than a day, the old knight threatened with his sword and the young squire used his strength to fend them off.
The merchants heading to Varna and the people from there could clearly see the two men fighting, and the result was what it is now.
The rumors about Vlad that had been circulating for a while now had a tangible basis and were spreading to the people of Soara.
"Zemina."
The men left gifts with their names for Vlad.
On their way out, Marcella called the girl who was observing the situation from the second floor.
"Yes. Madam."
Zemina responded to Marcella's call with a slightly disheartened look.
The brighter the boy shone, the more disheartened Zemina became.
This was because she wasn't sure if she, with her unpleasant inner self, could continue to stand by Vlad.
"From now on, you'll be in charge of all the guests looking for Vlad."
"Yes?"
And Marcella, who knew well why Zemina was upset, decided to give the girl a chance.
Marcella was one of those who truly supported the girl and firmly believed that Zemina deserved it.
"But…"
Zemina was bewildered by Marcella's words.
Not only because her words were unconventional, but because she knew them well.
"Looking at it, it seems like everyone is seeking a meeting... I think it would be right for you to handle it."
Undoubtedly, it was a great opportunity, but Zemina shook her head and rejected Marcella's offer.
Part of the reason was that she couldn't believe in her own abilities, but the most important reason was that she was afraid of making a mistake and causing trouble for Vlad.
"Zemina."
Seeing Zemina depressed, Marcella spoke in a stern tone.
"If you're qualified to receive Vlad's guests, then there's no one more qualified than you. Isn't that right?"
"…."
In response to Marcella's question, the women around her silently affirmed.
If it weren't for the red-haired girl, the Vlad who is today might not have existed.
So Zemina needed to have a little more confidence in Vlad's success.
"I…?"
"Yes. Who else?"
"I'm sure I'll make a mistake. I don't even know what to do."
Marcella nodded as she watched Zemina with wide-open eyes.
Of course, she won't be able to do a great job right away just because she's told to.
To attend to important guests, it's necessary to accumulate her own experience and knowledge, and Zemina wasn't yet familiar with those things.
"What if I make a mistake? Vlad will have to bear that burden."
But you don't need to worry.
Because here now was a woman with the best skills to attend to the clients.
"And this time, he even asked you to guide the horse? Look at this. Vlad still needs you."
Zemina silently nodded as Marcella's words quietly echoed in her ears.
The boy clearly had a debt to repay to the girl.
Even if he asked for it now, it wouldn't be entirely unreasonable action.
And even more so if the reason is a fight to stand by the boy's side.
Marcella gently lifted Zemina's head, lost in her thoughts, and stroked it.
It seemed they fit together as well as she thought.
"Let's go to my room later."
"Yes?"
Zemina seemed bewildered by Marcella's words, but she simply smiled.
It's not just men who go to battle.
Women also had their own battlefield.
And Marcella planned to give Zemina a woman's weapon today.
Just as Jorge gave Vlad his dagger.
***
"The Gaidar family won't come to the North immediately."
Ramund was drinking the tea provided by Joseph and sharing his opinion based on his experience.
"Expansion requires stability. Although the expansion momentum is fast, remnants of the Romanov family, the original leader, still exist throughout the West."
Joseph listened attentively to Ramund.
Although he was a Northern knight, Ramund was active in the West when he was at his lowest.
"Furthermore, the Dwarf Liberation Front is behind them. If there's order, why not address the concerns behind us first before advancing into the northern or central region?"
"...I was thinking about that too."
As Joseph spoke, a letter from someone was placed in front of him.
It was a letter with the seal of the Heinal family.
"But I'm worried."
Ramund assured Joseph that there was nothing to worry about for now, but in reality, he leaned back deeply in his chair and sighed.
"What do you mean?"
In response to Joseph's question, Ramund weakly smiled and turned his head.
"There's only one duchy left, and there was a reason I thought I should use that coin for the servants of Bayezid."
Although it was a retirement ceremony to free oneself from honor and duty and return to being a pure natural person, the poor knight ended up thinking about Bayezid until the last moment.
Because it was a place he was loyal to, a place he protected all his life, and a place he loved.
"The knights of the West have already surpassed those of the North."
"...Is that so."
However, as fond as the place was, the assessment had to be cold.
Ramund firmly believed that doing so would truly benefit Bayezid.
"I think I've been too complacent. The moment I saw the Western Knights, I realized I hadn't done my job."
With those words, Ramund closed his eyes in silence and thought of the past North.
Constantly fighting against barbarians and monsters.
And discrimination in the center is colder than the cold northern wind.
The knights of the North were the ones who fought against all of that.
Therefore, they were stronger and more honorable than knights from any other region.
"Perhaps because of the nature of the frontier, the knights there are always hungry and want to steal. Master, you'll have to prepare for them."
However, time passes and people can't always face the next era in the same way.
The empire was crumbling, the harsh North was stabilizing, while the West was expanding.
It was a time when the balance of power was shifting.
"..."
Joseph rose from his seat following Ramund's words and approached the window.
The beautiful view of Soara always guided his steps to the window.
"But does the North still not yield strong fruits?"
And the landscape outside the window comforted Joseph's frustrated heart.
Ramund nodded at Joseph's words as he recited them quietly.
"Of course."
People were gathering at the gates of Soara, visible in the distance outside the window.
Although the era of the old knight had ended, a new era was emerging once again.
***
“Why are people coming here?”
[There's something interesting to see, so of course they'll come.]
Vlad, who was pulling the black horse with barely any reins, was speechless at the voice's response.
"Is it fun?"
[It's fun. Think about what you've done so far.]
"..."
As he thought about what the voice had said over the past few days, Vlad truly understood its meaning.
Vlad had been desperately trying to bring the black horse to Soara.
He tried blindfolding it, pulling it forcefully, coaxing it to eat, and even tipping its head to ask it.
At Goethe's suggestion, he even tried to captivate the horse, but the black horse didn't budge.
A boy who had been making a name for himself in this way for a long time was doing something unusual, so people's attention would probably focus on him.
"...But it's not like it's going to get to this point, right?"
And today was the last moment to highlight that attempt.
Vlad bit his lip at the perverse attention of the people, but he was sure that this time it would be different, and he would lead the black horse to the castle gate.
"How long are you going to make me wait!"
As Vlad made a decision, someone's voice sounded in his ears.
When he turned his head, he saw Zemina standing in front of the castle gate, dressed in a red dress and covering her head and face with a cloth.
"Why on earth are you wearing a dress?"
[The dress is a woman's combat uniform. I was impressed by the complete preparation.]
Vlad, who had been murmuring despite his request, turned his head and shouted loudly that he was ready.
"Zemina! It's okay!"
"..."
At Vlad's words, not only Zemina but also the spectators held their breath.
"Good."
Zemina, who was breathing deeply to regain her breath, nodded as if she understood Vlad's signal.
Although the stares of the people were heavy, and the size of the black horse was much larger than expected, Zemina bit her lip forcefully and removed the cloth covering her.
If you only doubt out of fear, you have no right to be by the boy's side.
"Oh oh..."
"Hey. It was really worth hiding it."
Along with the girl's determination and the admiration of the people, a beautiful red flower bloomed under the bright sunlight.
Zemina's red hair finally appeared, and as expected, it caught the attention of the black horse.
"...Why are you wearing earrings?"
"It's a dress and a set!"
The girl, dressed in an elegant dress and shining earrings, looked completely different from the Zemina that Vlad had seen until now.
When Vlad saw Zemina's beautiful appearance, he was speechless and stared at her for a moment.
"It's here. here."
However, Zemina ignored Vlad's reprimand and only looked at the black horse in front of her.
Perhaps Vlad didn't know it, but Zemina had come out with her own determination.
"He's nice. Come here."
A redhead girl waving a bouquet of roses hidden behind her back with solemn determination.
The black-toned boy began to move as he watched the girl whose small body was full of red roses.
"It's moving!"
"It's working!"
The people around applauded and admired the current situation.
The boy is the possibility that Bayezid focuses on.
A black horse proudly displaying itself no matter who sees it.
And even a girl with colors so beautiful that you wouldn't even believe she was born in an alley.
The people gathered in the three parades full of spectacular attractions were focusing their attention without realizing it.
Neighing -
When the black horse finally entered through the gate with the boy holding the reins, the people started to shout.
"There's not much to see!"
Vlad's blue eyes turned white, and he scolded them upon seeing himself turned into a spectacle, but the current situation was already beyond the boy's reach.
"It's okay, keep pulling!"
"Well done!"
People were going crazy at this strange sight.
Because a little girl was pulling a huge horse without even stepping back an inch.
A girl with fierce raised eyes, grabbing the hem of her skirt with one hand and holding a bouquet of red flowers with the other.
The confident appearance that anyone could see resembled that of a knight with a drawn sword.
"Zemina! Lady Zemina!"
Among the people who were excited about the girl's confident appearance, someone started shouting loudly.
"She's the Red Lady! The Rose of Soara!"
A brown-haired youth limping with crutches shouted loudly as if everyone could hear him.
"Lady Zemina!"
"Zemina! Lady in red!"
At Harven's pier, the people gathered around began to shout loudly. Harven looked at that and laughed so hard that his voice faded away.
When have street kids ever received so much attention?
When have you received so much applause and enthusiasm from people?
But today, Soara was watching the boy and the girl.
Soara's gates.
This is the battlefield of the girls.
Lady Zemina, who broke the boundaries of the world using a bouquet of flowers as a weapon, smiled joyfully as she saw the black horse following her.
Her smile was brighter than her shining earrings.
"I came to see Vlad."
"…."
Marcella's eyes widened as she looked at the men who flocked to the inn, which had not yet opened.
The same happened with the former prostitutes and current employees who had maintained Rose's smile for a long time.
Having lived their whole lives as prostitutes, they had never seen as many clients as there were now.
"Uh, Vlad... just left because he had work to do."
Although it wasn't necessary to add a name, Marcella realized that now was the time to elevate Vlad's existence if possible.
Because that's what her senses, honed over a lifetime of dealing with people, told her.
"You're quite busy these days. I suppose it's because you have a talent the mayor appreciates."
"Oh, oh. That's right. I'm sure that's it."
The men who flocked to the inn continued to nod as they watched Marcella explain the situation with a smile.
Marcella, attending to the clients with a dignified attitude, instilled confidence in the men with just her smile.
"So, when will he be back?"
"I'm not sure about that either. Do you want me to leave your name?"
In a showdown with the barbarians that lasted more than a day, the old knight threatened with his sword and the young squire used his strength to fend them off.
The merchants heading to Varna and the people from there could clearly see the two men fighting, and the result was what it is now.
The rumors about Vlad that had been circulating for a while now had a tangible basis and were spreading to the people of Soara.
"Zemina."
The men left gifts with their names for Vlad.
On their way out, Marcella called the girl who was observing the situation from the second floor.
"Yes. Madam."
Zemina responded to Marcella's call with a slightly disheartened look.
The brighter the boy shone, the more disheartened Zemina became.
This was because she wasn't sure if she, with her unpleasant inner self, could continue to stand by Vlad.
"From now on, you'll be in charge of all the guests looking for Vlad."
"Yes?"
And Marcella, who knew well why Zemina was upset, decided to give the girl a chance.
Marcella was one of those who truly supported the girl and firmly believed that Zemina deserved it.
"But…"
Zemina was bewildered by Marcella's words.
Not only because her words were unconventional, but because she knew them well.
"Looking at it, it seems like everyone is seeking a meeting... I think it would be right for you to handle it."
Undoubtedly, it was a great opportunity, but Zemina shook her head and rejected Marcella's offer.
Part of the reason was that she couldn't believe in her own abilities, but the most important reason was that she was afraid of making a mistake and causing trouble for Vlad.
"Zemina."
Seeing Zemina depressed, Marcella spoke in a stern tone.
"If you're qualified to receive Vlad's guests, then there's no one more qualified than you. Isn't that right?"
"…."
In response to Marcella's question, the women around her silently affirmed.
If it weren't for the red-haired girl, the Vlad who is today might not have existed.
So Zemina needed to have a little more confidence in Vlad's success.
"I…?"
"Yes. Who else?"
"I'm sure I'll make a mistake. I don't even know what to do."
Marcella nodded as she watched Zemina with wide-open eyes.
Of course, she won't be able to do a great job right away just because she's told to.
To attend to important guests, it's necessary to accumulate her own experience and knowledge, and Zemina wasn't yet familiar with those things.
"What if I make a mistake? Vlad will have to bear that burden."
But you don't need to worry.
Because here now was a woman with the best skills to attend to the clients.
"And this time, he even asked you to guide the horse? Look at this. Vlad still needs you."
Zemina silently nodded as Marcella's words quietly echoed in her ears.
The boy clearly had a debt to repay to the girl.
Even if he asked for it now, it wouldn't be entirely unreasonable action.
And even more so if the reason is a fight to stand by the boy's side.
Marcella gently lifted Zemina's head, lost in her thoughts, and stroked it.
It seemed they fit together as well as she thought.
"Let's go to my room later."
"Yes?"
Zemina seemed bewildered by Marcella's words, but she simply smiled.
It's not just men who go to battle.
Women also had their own battlefield.
And Marcella planned to give Zemina a woman's weapon today.
Just as Jorge gave Vlad his dagger.
***
"The Gaidar family won't come to the North immediately."
Ramund was drinking the tea provided by Joseph and sharing his opinion based on his experience.
"Expansion requires stability. Although the expansion momentum is fast, remnants of the Romanov family, the original leader, still exist throughout the West."
Joseph listened attentively to Ramund.
Although he was a Northern knight, Ramund was active in the West when he was at his lowest.
"Furthermore, the Dwarf Liberation Front is behind them. If there's order, why not address the concerns behind us first before advancing into the northern or central region?"
"...I was thinking about that too."
As Joseph spoke, a letter from someone was placed in front of him.
It was a letter with the seal of the Heinal family.
"But I'm worried."
Ramund assured Joseph that there was nothing to worry about for now, but in reality, he leaned back deeply in his chair and sighed.
"What do you mean?"
In response to Joseph's question, Ramund weakly smiled and turned his head.
"There's only one duchy left, and there was a reason I thought I should use that coin for the servants of Bayezid."
Although it was a retirement ceremony to free oneself from honor and duty and return to being a pure natural person, the poor knight ended up thinking about Bayezid until the last moment.
Because it was a place he was loyal to, a place he protected all his life, and a place he loved.
"The knights of the West have already surpassed those of the North."
"...Is that so."
However, as fond as the place was, the assessment had to be cold.
Ramund firmly believed that doing so would truly benefit Bayezid.
"I think I've been too complacent. The moment I saw the Western Knights, I realized I hadn't done my job."
With those words, Ramund closed his eyes in silence and thought of the past North.
Constantly fighting against barbarians and monsters.
And discrimination in the center is colder than the cold northern wind.
The knights of the North were the ones who fought against all of that.
Therefore, they were stronger and more honorable than knights from any other region.
"Perhaps because of the nature of the frontier, the knights there are always hungry and want to steal. Master, you'll have to prepare for them."
However, time passes and people can't always face the next era in the same way.
The empire was crumbling, the harsh North was stabilizing, while the West was expanding.
It was a time when the balance of power was shifting.
"..."
Joseph rose from his seat following Ramund's words and approached the window.
The beautiful view of Soara always guided his steps to the window.
"But does the North still not yield strong fruits?"
And the landscape outside the window comforted Joseph's frustrated heart.
Ramund nodded at Joseph's words as he recited them quietly.
"Of course."
People were gathering at the gates of Soara, visible in the distance outside the window.
Although the era of the old knight had ended, a new era was emerging once again.
***
“Why are people coming here?”
[There's something interesting to see, so of course they'll come.]
Vlad, who was pulling the black horse with barely any reins, was speechless at the voice's response.
"Is it fun?"
[It's fun. Think about what you've done so far.]
"..."
As he thought about what the voice had said over the past few days, Vlad truly understood its meaning.
Vlad had been desperately trying to bring the black horse to Soara.
He tried blindfolding it, pulling it forcefully, coaxing it to eat, and even tipping its head to ask it.
At Goethe's suggestion, he even tried to captivate the horse, but the black horse didn't budge.
A boy who had been making a name for himself in this way for a long time was doing something unusual, so people's attention would probably focus on him.
"...But it's not like it's going to get to this point, right?"
And today was the last moment to highlight that attempt.
Vlad bit his lip at the perverse attention of the people, but he was sure that this time it would be different, and he would lead the black horse to the castle gate.
"How long are you going to make me wait!"
As Vlad made a decision, someone's voice sounded in his ears.
When he turned his head, he saw Zemina standing in front of the castle gate, dressed in a red dress and covering her head and face with a cloth.
"Why on earth are you wearing a dress?"
[The dress is a woman's combat uniform. I was impressed by the complete preparation.]
Vlad, who had been murmuring despite his request, turned his head and shouted loudly that he was ready.
"Zemina! It's okay!"
"..."
At Vlad's words, not only Zemina but also the spectators held their breath.
"Good."
Zemina, who was breathing deeply to regain her breath, nodded as if she understood Vlad's signal.
Although the stares of the people were heavy, and the size of the black horse was much larger than expected, Zemina bit her lip forcefully and removed the cloth covering her.
If you only doubt out of fear, you have no right to be by the boy's side.
"Oh oh..."
"Hey. It was really worth hiding it."
Along with the girl's determination and the admiration of the people, a beautiful red flower bloomed under the bright sunlight.
Zemina's red hair finally appeared, and as expected, it caught the attention of the black horse.
"...Why are you wearing earrings?"
"It's a dress and a set!"
The girl, dressed in an elegant dress and shining earrings, looked completely different from the Zemina that Vlad had seen until now.
When Vlad saw Zemina's beautiful appearance, he was speechless and stared at her for a moment.
"It's here. here."
However, Zemina ignored Vlad's reprimand and only looked at the black horse in front of her.
Perhaps Vlad didn't know it, but Zemina had come out with her own determination.
"He's nice. Come here."
A redhead girl waving a bouquet of roses hidden behind her back with solemn determination.
The black-toned boy began to move as he watched the girl whose small body was full of red roses.
"It's moving!"
"It's working!"
The people around applauded and admired the current situation.
The boy is the possibility that Bayezid focuses on.
A black horse proudly displaying itself no matter who sees it.
And even a girl with colors so beautiful that you wouldn't even believe she was born in an alley.
The people gathered in the three parades full of spectacular attractions were focusing their attention without realizing it.
Neighing -
When the black horse finally entered through the gate with the boy holding the reins, the people started to shout.
"There's not much to see!"
Vlad's blue eyes turned white, and he scolded them upon seeing himself turned into a spectacle, but the current situation was already beyond the boy's reach.
"It's okay, keep pulling!"
"Well done!"
People were going crazy at this strange sight.
Because a little girl was pulling a huge horse without even stepping back an inch.
A girl with fierce raised eyes, grabbing the hem of her skirt with one hand and holding a bouquet of red flowers with the other.
The confident appearance that anyone could see resembled that of a knight with a drawn sword.
"Zemina! Lady Zemina!"
Among the people who were excited about the girl's confident appearance, someone started shouting loudly.
"She's the Red Lady! The Rose of Soara!"
A brown-haired youth limping with crutches shouted loudly as if everyone could hear him.
"Lady Zemina!"
"Zemina! Lady in red!"
At Harven's pier, the people gathered around began to shout loudly. Harven looked at that and laughed so hard that his voice faded away.
When have street kids ever received so much attention?
When have you received so much applause and enthusiasm from people?
But today, Soara was watching the boy and the girl.
Soara's gates.
This is the battlefield of the girls.
Lady Zemina, who broke the boundaries of the world using a bouquet of flowers as a weapon, smiled joyfully as she saw the black horse following her.
Her smile was brighter than her shining earrings.
