Chapter 367

Words : 2174 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Rudger smirked at the small commotion outside the door. ‘Whether then or now, her personality remains the same. That shameless stupidity hasn’t changed.’ “Leader, I’m sorry.” Arpa lowered her head with a gloomy face, looking at Rudger who had closed the door. Rudger shook his head. “It’s fine.” “But I opened the door to the person I should have been most careful about.” “Who could have predicted they would approach so boldly? It’s no one’s fault.” Though Rudger didn’t think much of it, Arpa still couldn’t suppress his apologetic feelings. “Still, during our conversation just now, we might have revealed our identity.” “That won’t happen. From their reaction, it doesn’t seem they noticed anything suspicious.” Arpa concentrated his hearing to eavesdrop on the sounds beyond the door. As Rudger said, Queen Yekaterina was only marveling at how handsome Rudger was, and didn’t seem to have recognized his identity. “More than that, is that person usually like that?” Surely when Yekaterina first entered the hotel lobby, she didn’t have such an image. She was someone who showed no reaction with an expressionless face. The first impression was literally like seeing the cold glacier of the north, noble and cold. She was someone who suited the nickname of Ice Queen and leader of the Yuta Kingdom but listening to the sounds flowing from outside, her actual personality was completely opposite to what she showed in the lobby. “She used to be worse.” “Worse, you say?” “Back then, she didn’t even pretend to be noble like now.” “What kind of person is Queen Yekaterina then?” When Arpa asked with a face full of curiosity, Rudger stroked his chin with his fingertip while making a ‘hmm’ sound. Yekaterina Volsbaya. When Rudger first saw her, his first impression was simple. This person. If she had been born in the Durman Kingdom instead of the Yuta Kingdom, her head would have been cut off at the guillotine. Should he say her laughter was like that of a typical bad noble lady? Someone who was crazy about beautiful jewels and lived luxuriously, exactly that kind of person. Of course, after talking with her a few times, he learned that her actual personality wasn’t like that at all. However, even taking that into account, Rudger’s evaluation of Yekaterina wasn’t very good. “She was foolish and stupid. Not at all suitable as a leader.” “What? How did such a person lead the civil war to victory?” “Because there were many excellent people around her. She’s that kind of person. She has a strange power to gather talented people. Maybe Prince Alexei’s desperate pursuit of her despite his advantageous position was because he worried about that aspect.” “By excellent people, do you mean including you, Leader?” “Not at all. I didn’t do much.” How could a mercenary who led the civil war to victory say he didn’t do much? Although Arpa couldn’t understand those words, he decided to just accept them. Hans had told him until his ears rusted that the Leader had a habit of undervaluing his achievements too much, so whatever he said, don’t try to pick at it. Although Arpa lacked common sense, he was quick to put teachings into practice, so he acted according to Hans’s words. “Still, it’s somewhat unexpected.” “What is?” “I thought someone like the Leader wouldn’t have chosen such a person.” Such a person. It was a mercilessly harsh evaluation for a queen of a country but because he looked at people with pure eyes, he could say such things. In fact, as Arpa said, Rudger was thinking similarly. “If you chose Queen Yekaterina, does that mean Prince’s side was much more serious?” “If we had to compare, outwardly Prince Alexei was a much better person. Because he was the opposite of Yekaterina.” Unlike Princess Yekaterina who always had a strange smile and acted childishly, Prince Alexei was calm, intellectual, and eloquent. He had social prestige and consistently engaged in external activities, imprinting a kind image on many people. “Oh. Then wasn’t the Prince’s side better?” “You could think that way.” “But Leader chose the opposite option. Is there a reason?” “Arpa. Public evaluation isn’t something that can be made so easily. Because everyone wears masks.” “Masks?” “Prince Alexei appeared outwardly like a good person, but in his inner nature, he had strong psychopathic tendencies that couldn’t understand or empathize with others.” The image he showed to the public was all fabricated. The real Prince Alexei had a cruel personality. If necessary, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill innocent citizens, and he treated his loyal subordinates merely as tools. When civil war broke out in the Yuta Kingdom, the reason civilian casualties were highest was due to the indiscriminate forced conscription by the Prince’s faction and the purging of those who didn’t follow it as an example. “Conversely, Princess Yekaterina, no, she’s Queen now. Though she outwardly appeared to be a typical arrogant noble, inside she had the warmest heart that cared for others more than anyone.” At Rudger’s words, Arpa recalled the conversation Yekaterina had with her aides earlier. Yekaterina’s attitude toward her aides seemed far from a hierarchical order of superiors and subordinates. Rather, it was closer to treating close family or friends. Certainly, it didn’t suit the conduct of a queen of a country. Because of that, she felt like an ideal existence that could only be seen in fairy tales. “That’s why I decided to support her in that cold land. She was like a flame.” “A flame? How can a person be a flame?” “...It’s a metaphorical meaning.” In an environment filled with bitter cold, Yekaterina’s existence was like a powerful torch. People were drawn to that flame as if enchanted. In a blizzard where it was hard to see even a step ahead, the existence of the crimson flame was vivid. Perhaps it was inevitable that excellent talents gathered around her. “But I heard Prince Alexei had the advantage in the early stages of the civil war.” “That was actually true. Until the civil war broke out, public opinion was heavily in favor of Prince Alexei. In fact, even that was a situation created by Prince Alexei through prior underground work. He had been moving with civil war in mind from the beginning.” When the Yuta Kingdom civil war broke out, gossipmongers would all say the same thing: that this fight would definitely be won by Prince Alexei. To maintain good relations with the Yuta Kingdom in the future, they should align with Prince Alexei. Corporations, influential nobles, military generals, everyone thought that way. Actually, the situation was heading toward such an outcome. “However, victory ultimately belonged to the Princess. The Prince’s cold ambition to swallow up the north melted away in the hot flames.” In the final stages of the civil war, Yekaterina fighting on the front lines carrying the Yuta Kingdom flag was one of the most famous episodes. The black and white photograph accidentally taken by a war correspondent at that time made a great contribution to dramatically changing the perception of Yekaterina as a person. The photo was plastered all over the front pages of newspapers, and citizens who had been terrified of the Yuta Kingdom’s civil war began to gather courage to support the Princess. That’s how the Yuta Kingdom’s civil war, [The War of Frost and Torch], ended in Yekaterina’s victory. “In the end, justice prevailed.” “Yes. The right thing won.” Rudger spoke as if it was someone else’s business but Rudger recalled that day like a memory. Although those fierce battlefield days couldn’t really be called memories, at least, the meeting that changed the fate of a country was certainly worth remembering. ─Are you that mercenary? Yekaterina approached Rudger, who was quietly warming himself by the fire while holding a rifle. ─I am Yekaterina Volsbaya. People call me the Princess of tyranny and luxury. Even though she was a fugitive, she didn’t think to hide her identity. Yekaterina looked at Rudger with proud and upright eyes. ─I need your strength. Rudger was dumbfounded by Yekaterina’s attitude. How could she ask to borrow strength while being a fugitive with barely any following forces? To begin with, he wasn’t even a real mercenary. He had only disguised himself in an identity convenient for activity while searching for Relic fragments in the Yuta Kingdom. He had no obligation to fight on Yekaterina’s side as a mercenary. Rather, if he were a real mercenary, it would have been better to sell out Yekaterina to Alexei here. It wasn’t worth responding to, and ignoring it would have been right but Rudger found himself speaking before he knew it. ─I am a mercenary. If you want to request a job, pay the fee. Then I might accept the request. ─I don’t have any. Right now, I don’t have a single penny. Rudger’s face became stunned at those words. ─How shameless. Yet you ask for help? Rather, if I handed you over to the Prince here, I could get more money. ─Will you do that? ─Nothing stopping me. Still not regretting it? ─Ohoho! Then I must have no eye for people! Whether brave or foolish, Yekaterina didn’t rebuke the mercenary who showed no respect even before royalty. She just laughed it off cheerfully. ─But I have no regrets! ─Why? ─Because all of this was my choice! If anything goes wrong, the responsibility is entirely mine. If I fail it would be unfortunate, but isn’t that why I must do my best not to fail? ─..... ─So I will just push forward on this path. In Yekaterina who declared so, not even a speck of her royal aspect could be seen. If anything, she was a dreamer immersed in ideals and dreams. ‘Right. She wasn’t like royalty at all.’ If by any chance, such a person were to achieve victory in the civil war, she would become queen of the Yuta Kingdom, a ruler without dignity, who doesn’t reign over others. How could a country led by such a person work properly? But If it did exist, it would surely be a warm country like something out of a fairy tale. ─You said you’re Princess Yekaterina. ─Yes, that’s right. ─To become king, you first need to learn about The Prince. ─What? What do you...? ─I’m saying I’ll accept the request. Rudger said so while slowly rising from his seat. With the small bonfire in the center, Yekaterina met Rudger’s eyes and asked. ─Did you suddenly have a change of heart? ─Why? Don’t like it? ─I don’t dislike it. If an excellent talent helps, I welcome it. Just wondering if there might be a reason, since your attitude changed. ─I want to see the country you’ll create when you become king. Yekaterina also responded with a smile to Rudger who spoke with a smirk. ─So, what’s your name? Rudger’s expression wrinkled at those words. ─You asked for a mercenary request without even knowing my name? ─Is a name important? Ability is what matters. ─That’s not wrong, but... ─But now that we’ll be fighting together, it seems necessary to at least know your name. I’m also curious about that Prince you mentioned. ─Machiavelli. Rudger picked up his rifle and headed outside the cabin where a blizzard was raging. ─Call me Machiavelli. The meeting of two people became the turning point that changed the fate of a country. * * * Recalling that day, Rudger couldn’t hold back his emerging chuckle. ‘Though I nagged hard about becoming an excellent ruler, she hasn’t changed at all, then or now.’ But because she hadn’t changed, it was like her. Rather, he would have been disappointed if she had changed. It was relieving to see she was doing well even after he left. Those twin aide siblings still don’t seem to get along well. ‘Maybe I should have properly said goodbye.’ Of course, it was too late for such thoughts. Rudger had pretended to die in battle, changed his identity, and ran away. If they learned that he was alive, they would feel betrayed and perplexed rather than happy. In that case, it was best to just live as if they were strangers to each other. “Let’s sleep now. We have to move early tomorrow.” Rudger said so while lying on the sofa and closing his eyes. Soon Rudger’s breathing became even as he instantly fell into sleep. Arpa recalled a story about how skilled people can fall asleep within 5 seconds, and maintain peak condition with just 2 hours of sound sleep. ‘But I heard that usually only knight-level people can do that.’ Arpa’s curiosity rose again, but Rudger, who could answer, was in deep sleep. Arpa lay down on the bed, putting aside his regret. Tomorrow was the day of the “Night of Mystery.”

Chapter 367

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