It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 38

No way. It was absurd.

I racked my brain and suddenly had a thought. Could it be that someone wanted me to wield authority equal to the head of the house and clash with Giscal?

If Giscal didn’t comply, were they expecting the imperial guards to ransack the mansion?

Considering Arne and Giscal were close siblings, it was an unlikely plan. But even between loving siblings, there were boundaries.

If one had authority rivaling the head of the house and the physical force to wield it freely, conflict could arise even between the closest of siblings.

Schemes like this usually started with small cracks. If Erich’s vague orders were part of a prelude to shaking the Edelheit family, it would make sense.

Hmph, like I’d fall for such a cheap trick.

I crossed my arms and declared to the imperial guards:

“Thank you for your efforts in guarding me. You’ll be protecting me for the next month, but having this many people follow me around inside the mansion is inefficient and a nuisance to the staff. So, inside the mansion, you don’t need to follow me around.”

The guards stiffened, and the tall man at the front stepped forward. He had light blond hair and brown eyes.

“I’m Hans Berman, a member of the Imperial Guard. I’m sorry, but we cannot comply with your request.”

“Hans Berman? Are you the commander?”

“Yes.”

“Speak.”

Hans bowed and continued.

“His Majesty ordered us to never leave your side and to guard you at all times—even inside the mansion. Please understand our position, as we must prioritize His Majesty’s command.”

I remembered it well.

When Erich saw me off at Arlin Palace, he had scolded the guards relentlessly. Even though I knew it was all an act, I was embarrassed to the point my face flushed.

“Yes, I know. But His Majesty also said this: to obey my orders without question.”

Hans’s eyebrows twitched. Just as he was about to argue that guarding me was the priority, I raised a hand.

“So let’s do this. Inside the mansion, I’ll allow only one guard to stay by my side. That guard will never leave me, right? His Majesty didn’t specify how many guards must follow me. If you reject even this compromise, I’ll refuse all protection.”

Hans pressed his lips together. As he hesitated, I smiled triumphantly. Since Erich had ordered them to obey me, the two commands were bound to conflict.

I had no intention of parading around the mansion with a troop of guards.

“Then, the rest of the guards…”

“They’ll stay in the annex,” Giscal interjected at the right moment. “We can’t ignore His Majesty’s orders, so we’ll assign them to mansion security. That’s directly tied to Arne’s safety, so they must do their duty properly.”

I felt relieved by the appropriate arrangement. But then Giscal called out a name.

“Martnal!”

A heavily built knight wearing a helmet stepped forward from behind Giscal.

“Since we’re discussing your protection, let me introduce someone. She’s been summoned from the order to guard you. I believe she’s the most suitable for the role.”

She? I was surprised by the pronoun. Martnal removed her helmet, and her long brown hair, tied in a single ponytail, fell powerfully downward.

Her face, previously hidden in shadow, was revealed—bold features matching her sturdy build. She met my eyes and grinned.

“Wow! So you’re the younger sister Captain Giskal always spoke so fondly of. It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve always wanted to see you in person.”

Martnal laughed heartily and shook my right arm with both hands.

“Uh, nice to meet you too.”

“You don’t look much like Captain Giskal. Your red eyes are lighter, and in the light, they even look pink. So pretty. You’re much more beautiful than the rumors said. Rumors really can’t be trusted!”

Her chatter poured out like a neighborhood aunt’s gossip. Giscal finally stepped in.

“Martnal, that’s enough.”

“Haha, I got carried away again. Sorry. I was just so happy to meet you. I mean, on the battlefield, Captain Giskal…”

Just as her chatter resumed, two voices interrupted.

“Martnal!”

“You expect me to guard Her Highness with that woman?”

One was Giscal, the other Hans. Hans glared at Martnal with clear displeasure. Martnal raised her chin.

“What’s wrong with me?”

“I don’t believe someone like you is fit to guard Her Highness.”

“Oh please, what do you mean ‘someone like me’? Don’t tell me you’re going to bring up gender. If it’s my delicate appearance that bothers you, I’ll try to understand.”

No one would describe Martnal as delicate, but she was confident.

Hans frowned deeply.

“It’s your unruly attitude that’s the problem. When guarding royalty, there must be no lapse in decorum. I see no seriousness in how you treat Her Highness.”

Hans stood like a textbook knight, criticizing Martnal. She simply shrugged.

“Seriously? Does decorum stop arrows? Do manners make assassins retreat? What matters in protection isn’t shiny armor or stiff posture—it’s the skill to block incoming blades!”

“Do you have such skill?”

“Want to find out?”

Martnal reached for the massive sword on her back. Hans slowly moved his hand to the sleek blade at his waist.

Tension crackled between them.

“Enough, both of you.”

Giscal stepped forward, dissolving the tension like a blade slicing through air.

“Martnal, you weren’t seriously planning to draw your sword in this mansion, were you?”

“Of course not.”

Martnal grinned and lowered her hand.

Giscal turned to Hans.

“Hans, was it? Martnal is someone I recognize for her skill. She earned her place in my order after proving herself as a mercenary on the battlefield. Isn’t that enough?”

“The Marquis of Edelheit acknowledged her skill?”

Hans seemed shocked. Giscal nodded lightly.

“If the Marquis acknowledged her, who am I to doubt her? I’ll accept her as a fellow guard.”

“Good.”

Even the commander of the emperor’s personal guard couldn’t defy Giscal

Hans, likely among the top ten swordsmen in the empire, didn’t argue further.

Martnal smiled victoriously and stretched out her arms.

“Finally, I get a break from all these gloomy men!”

“Not yet. Arne hasn’t agreed.”

I thought Martnal would be added to my guard without question, but Giscal stopped her. Martnal puffed her cheeks in disappointment, and Giscal asked:

“Martnal has been in this mansion for a while and can help with things male knights might find difficult. But if having two guards is uncomfortable, I’ll send her back to her original post. What do you say?”

It was a genuine question, not coercion.

It felt refreshing.

In situations like this, especially with Erich, he would pretend to care while forcing his will—often to tarnish my reputation. He never truly respected me or considered my wishes.

But Giscal was different. If I refused, he would send Martnal back, even though she was carefully selected. I looked at both Martnal and Hans and said:

“I’ll count on both of you.”

Hans’s expression didn’t change, but Martnal beamed and opened her arms wide. Just as she tried to hug me, Rui stepped in.

Rui glared at Martnal and separated us.

“You must go to the annex now! Don’t you want to see Scholar Lean?”

“Yes, I should hurry.”

Rui urged me forward and stuck close to my side. Ortrang led the way, and Martnal followed behind.

Giscal walked a few steps behind me, while Hans coordinated with the other guards and quickly caught up. With dozens of guards gone, I felt much lighter.

Beyond the well-kept garden, I saw marble pillars identical to the main building. It was the annex where Lean stayed.

I took a deep breath and quickened my pace. Though the guard situation had delayed me, my main reason for coming to this mansion was to see Lean. I followed Ortrang into the annex.

“Lady Arne!”

A youthful voice called from above. Then came the sound of hurried footsteps. A small head popped out from beyond the dark brown railing at the landing.

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