Chapter 14: I can’t give it to you that easily

“…….”

The distance was close enough for their breaths to mix. Lavella rolled her eyes slightly upwards.

Lavella groped the door handle behind her as she looked at the long eyelashes that made shadows over his beautiful purple eyes.

Their close lips were about to touch.

However, Lavella’s body tilted back as the door opened.

“……!”

Iska’s eyebrows crumpled when he realized the situation. Lavella, who quickly escaped from his arms, stepped back into the room.

“I can’t give it to you that easily.”

Lavella, while waving at Iska, grinned and pulled out her hand from his grip. Iska’s hand, which was floating in the air after losing her small hand, fell.

“I’ll wish you another chance.”

“Ha.”

Iska gave a bitter laugh as if he knew this would happen.

“Good night, then.”

Her ridiculously pretty face disappeared behind the closed door and left only a man full of heat.

“Jealousy.”

Iska shook his head and opened his door. Lavella was a very skillful woman who walked a tightrope with a person’s heart.

‘I keep getting greedy.’

His purple eyes were filled with the moon.

“Jealousy?”

Lavella, with a barrier between her and Iska, also snorted at the closed door in front of her.

“No way. Not at all.”

Obviously.

Lavella struggled to shake off the discomfort left in the corner of her mind.

*   *   *

“Captain, are you moving already?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve recovered. Why are you still treating me like a patient?”

Lavella, who sat at the desk, kept her eyes on the papers and blocked Pessini’s worries.

“We’re all here, Captain. What’s going on?”

Lavella raised her head at Argen’s report and looked at those who sat freely.

From Argen to Iska, who just joined. He was a key member of the guild, and now he’s one of the four people who were her right arm.

“I’m going to make it to the top.”

(TL/N: When she says top she means as the top guild)

Lavella’s statement silenced the office.

“…Huh, what’s with that reaction?”

Lavella looked around the group in a sour mood. Looking at his expression, it was not possible to guess whether they were surprised or not.

“No, the top… I didn’t even think about it.”

Argen coughed in vain as he rubbed his chin with his hands and blurred the end of his words. Come to think of it, Lavella seemed particularly interested in the distribution network within the Empire.

“Don’t think too hard. It’s not much different from what we’ve been doing.”

“But Captain, won’t it be hard to manage the top with this number of people?”

“Yes, that’s why I’m thinking of getting Tora’s help. Let’s have the village as the base.”

Lavella’s eyes turned to the map of Imperia on one wall of the office. There were still many empty places, but they were being filled little by little under the direction of Lavella.

“I love that it’s exactly the center of Imperia.”

Lavella, who made the shape of a gun with her fingers, closed one eye and aimed at the center. It was a satisfied smile.

“By the way, at the top, we’ll make it look like it’s under Tora’s control.”

“Eh, why?”

Leaning his heavy body on the back of the chair, Pessini asked Lavella. She blinked as if she knew.

“Pessini, what comes to mind when you think of ‘Kirah’?”

“Well… The guild of the most powerful Imperians?”

“And what else?”

“…A guild that will do anything for a large sum of money?”

Pessini smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.

“Can you believe what someone sells in such a money-making focused place? You can’t trust if it’s good or not.”

“…….”

“But the boss I’m dealing with is being escorted by Kirah to bring the goods. You don’t have to worry about looting, and you can get the product exactly on the date you want. How about that?”

“Sounds good?”

Only after listening to Lavella’s simplified explanation did Pessini finally realize and  hit his palm with his fist.

“There’s a reason why I raised Kirah as an elite guild. Rumors are supposed to be inflated.”

Lavella raised the corners of her mouth enchantingly.

“Thanks to your hard work, we’ve moved the plan forward. I’m going to get everything in Imperia out of the way.”

“…….”

“We will have to gradually raise the rent in accordance with that.”

Looking at Lavella’’s dangerous smile, Iska’s thoughts became a little more complicated.

Her goal was to dominate the market in order to shake Imperia’s economy. In addition, she wanted to increase the power force of the guild in an area where even the lord was prohibited from enlisting more soldiers than necessary.

What the hell does she want to do in Imperia?

“Lavella what’s the point in building up to the top?”

Iska pretended to be nonchalant as he stared at Lavella’s face.

“Ahh.”

Lavella, who was leaning against the window frame and enjoying the scenery outside, swept her head with her slender fingers.

“The Imperial Palace is secretly raising its forces. And it’s on a considerable scale.”

“!”

“We can’t miss a good opportunity like this, can we? Don’t you agree?”

‘Military force.’

Iska, who hurriedly hid his expression, barely nodded because Lavella’s bright eyes were on him.

“I’m not going to answer any more questions. Now, look.”

Lavella picked up the dagger on the desk and threw it on the table.

“Have you all heard of Kuzne?”

“…….”

Everyone seemed confused as if they had never heard of it. All except for Iska.

‘Yes.’

Lavella, who glanced at Iska, opened her mouth again.

“It’s an unknown blacksmith village. Of all the weapons I’ve used, there’s no place like this.”

“…….”

Iska narrowed his eyes for a moment then returned to normal.

It was no wonder that it was the best quality. Kuzne was a place that manufactured weapons supplied to the imperial family from generation to generation.

‘You’re full of surprises today.’

It was surprising that Lavella knew about Kuzne, but it was also questionable how the goods were brought into the market.

“I’m thinking of getting a monopoly on Kuzne’s weapon trade.”

“…….”

It would be a waste of time to go. Iska’s head tilted to the side at Lavella’s plan.

He couldn’t tell her this, but there was no way in Kuzne to deliver the goods outside the imperial family.

Pretending to know Kuzne is suspicious in itself.

‘Well, I don’t know.’

Lavella’s platinum blonde hair shining in the sun caught Iska’s eyes.

Everything went beyond his expectations. Just like when he met her, he was falling for her little by little.

If it was her… She was an exception that didn’t exist in this world. Maybe something interesting would happen.

“Now, who wants to go?”

Lavella clapped her hands and looked over the men.

“Pessini can’t go. I have a request that I can’t cancel.”

“…Damn it.”

Pessini, who was going to volunteer straight away, was taken away by Argen.

“I have to be in the guild because we won’t have a Captain. Why don’t you two go together? Oh, take Dabel with you just in case.”

Argen alternated between Iska and Canpiden to ask the doctor.

“I will.”

“Well, count me out.”

Unlike Canpiden, who nodded, Iska leaned back in the chair and declined.

Iska didn’t like the idea of Canpiden going, but he couldn’t show himself in Kuzne.

“…Count you out?”

With her arms crossed, Lavella shook her head.

Lavella snorted with only the corners of her mouth raised as Iska grinned. Looking at her, I felt like I was about to say I’d go with her at any moment.

“Well, alright.”

Fortunately, Lavella’s eyes quickly looked away.

“Phew.”

Iska’s sigh made his bangs flutter.

“Departure is in three days, Canpiden. Well, everyone, go take care of your business.”

The order was issued.

“Iska.”

On the way out of the office, Argen grabbed Iska’s shoulder.

“What?”

“Don’t you know? The Captain brought you in.”

“Hmm?”

Iska’s right eyebrow raised wondering what he was trying to say.

“The Captain warns that it doesn’t matter if your skills are good. Whatever the person’s background. Whatever they’re hiding.”

“However?”

It was a sharp remark.

“Don’t betray the Captain.”

“…Do you think I’m gonna betray you?”

Iska’s lips were crooked.

“Well.”

“How am I supposed to interpret this vigilance?”

Iska dropped a stiff smile. I can’t believe I’m hearing this because I refused to go with her.

They couldn’t tell how much Iska couldn’t go even if he wanted to. When he thought about Canpiden being next to Lavella, his stomach twisted.

“It’s a useless worry. I don’t want to leave Lavella’s side.”

“That’s a relief, I’m glad to hear that. It was a big help that you came to the guild. So please keep up the good work, just like now.”

Argen patted Iska on the shoulder and smiled. The stabbing sense of caution was nowhere to be found.

‘…I’m loyal too..’

Iska, smiling leisurely, broke away from the group and left the guild.

‘I need to meet Ritelni.’

Whistle.

Iska came to a nearby forest and leaned against the tree after sending a signal.

A little bird flew in and settled on Iska’s finger and tilted his head.

Without hesitation, Iska dyed the bird’s back. It was a way to tell the situation by color instead of a note that could be detected by someone.

A partly green-colored bird rubbed its head on Iska’s fingers.

“Work hard today.”

As if he understood, the small bird flapped its wings and flew into the sky.

*   *   *

‘Did he know something?’

Lavella, now alone in her office, tapped her finger against her lips.

‘Shall we just drag him with us?’

“Captain.”

“Yes?”

Lavella’s gaze switched from the window to the door.

“It’s Iska.”

After the door closed, Argen examined the space outside then lowered his voice..

“…What’s wrong with Iska?”

“When you go to Kuzne, I want you to take him.”

“Why?”

Lavella blinked her big eyes.

“He has never refused an incoming request. It’s strange that he won’t go.”

“That’s a totally unreasonable conclusion. The requests usually come with money, but this one doesn’t.”

“I know, but if Captain and Canpiden are gone, none of us can handle Iska.”

In Argen’s serious attitude, Lavella rolled her lips and bit them. It was a sign to say more.

“You know what he’s capable of, Captain.”

“Yes, but didn’t you like Iska?”

“It’s one thing to like and another to be careful. Isn’t that what the Captain taught us?”

Oh, I’m proud of you. Accepting Argen’s words, Lavella pulled up the tip of her lips.

“Okay, I’ll take him.”

THe answer came out easily because it was something she had already thought of.

“Well I only trust the Captain?”

When Argen, who made the request disappeared, Lavella tilted her head to the side.

“What should we do?”

***

 

Lavella didn’t leave the office until it was dark outside. Seeing a fire in Iska’s room, she headed straight to his room.

“Iska, you’re in there, right?”

“…Lavella?”

Iska’s eyes grew a little larger as the door burst open. It was quite surprising that Lavella came to find him, herself first.

“What’s the matter?”

Iska tilted his head with his arm on the door frame and his other hand on his waist.

“Do you know anything about Kuzne?”

“…Well?”

Iska responded slowly to Lavella, who asked directly.

“Hmm. Come with me.”

“…….”

Iska’s eyes blinked slowly and soon bent playfully.

“Do you need me?”

“Yes, I need you.”

“Ha, that makes me want to go.”

Iska let out an embarrassed sigh at Lavella, who smiled and agreed with him.

“But I’m not going.”

“Iska, are you going to be like this?”

“…….”

Iska showed signs of difficulty with her sweetly changing voice.

He had an ominous feeling.

“Huh.”

Lavella smirked and took a step closer while staring into his purple eyes.

“I want to go with you. Don’t you?”

The ends of Lavella’s eyes were folded gently.

She knew the easiest way to make any man fold.

That’s the way she used it so many times even where she used to live.

It was a beauty world.

“How can I change your mind? Hmm?”

Lavella reached out and gently wrapped the back of Iska’s neck and approached closer.

At the same time, the tip of her finger slid past Iska’s hand that was on his waist.

As she hugged Iska’s hard waist with her slender hands, their body’s naturally stuck together.

“…….”

Iska looked embarrassed at the blatant touch. Lavella, who kept Iska from snuggling, slid her outstretched hand around his neck.

“Oh, Lavella….Can you cut me some slack?”

Iska was dragged down by the weak force pulling his neck, he couldn’t resist Lavella’s touch and made a painful groan.

Iska’s veins stood out on the back of Iska’s hand, which was gripping the door frame due to the sweet scent.