Chapter 54

Having escaped once before, doing it again was just as easy.

Just as he had done when he secretly left to meet the doctors, Matthias secured a rope to the wall and carried Odelliana over it. But unlike last time, it was broad daylight, and the streets were crowded. A horse would have drawn too much attention, so they opted for a cart instead.

The sweltering summer heat made the journey miserable. Wrapped in a sack and hidden among the cargo, Odelliana endured the stifling discomfort. Still, their soon-to-be meeting partner was likely suffering more—after all, they had chosen the outer district as their rendezvous point.

Unlike the inner district, where grand buildings stood in sculpted symmetry, the outer district was a tangled sprawl of commoners’ homes and bustling streets, noticeably more worn and unkempt. It was no place for a noble like Adolf Schaller, a man born and raised in the capital’s opulence. There was no way he would willingly set foot in a street teeming with travelers, mercenaries, laborers, and merchants.

Yet, even here, the capital’s wealth was apparent. The roads were smooth, neatly paved, and surprisingly free of filth. While the residents’ clothing showed signs of wear, they were still far better dressed than the impoverished of other territories. The high cost of living and heavy taxation ensured that even the outer district’s poorest lived relatively well.

“There it is.”

Odelliana pointed at a lively tavern, bustling with travelers and mercenaries. Without hesitation, Matthias instinctively cleared a path, making sure she could walk more easily with her cane.

Inside, the tavern was even more crowded than it had seemed. The space was anything but discreet—tables and chairs were scattered haphazardly, crammed together with little room to maneuver. Some patrons used tables as stools, while others leaned against the walls, deep in conversation.

“I heard Master chose the meeting place,” Matthias muttered. “Why here, of all places?”

“It’s easy to disappear in a crowd. Who would ever suspect a high-ranking noble—the son of a marquis, no less—of being in a place like this? Even if someone followed us, they wouldn’t be able to track our movements.”

“No one was tailing us.”

“But someone might recognize you,” Odelliana countered. “Young Lord Adolf does stand out. And besides…”

“And besides?”

“I just like places like this.”

A passing dog would have laughed at that. A cheap alehouse—dirty, noisy, and reeking of sweat—was to her liking?

“There’s a certain charm to it,” Odelliana said, her gaze sweeping over the lively tavern.

This place held memories—of her distant childhood, her years as a mercenary, and the moment she caught Jocelyn’s eye and became his knight. Taverns like this had always been part of her life. She preferred cheap ale and rum over expensive wine and champagne, and she would always choose a rowdy eatery serving lemon-drenched grilled fish over a quiet, refined restaurant.

“Lean on me a little more, Master,” Matthias murmured, adjusting his hold on her. “With this many people, you could fall if you’re not careful.”

“Thank you,” she said, allowing herself to rely on him slightly.

The tavern was fairly spacious, but with the sheer number of people packed inside, finding an empty seat was nearly impossible. Had Matthias not been supporting her, she might have been jostled and trampled in the shifting crowd.

As they wove through the throng, a figure at the far end waved enthusiastically in their direction. Though his hood concealed his face, the fine fabric of his robe made it clear—he was no commoner.

“Matthias, over there,” Odelliana said, nodding toward the man.

Flailing his arms with exaggerated urgency, he looked like a fish leaping in peak season. Odelliana barely suppressed a laugh as they made their way over.

“You’re here,” the man said, relief evident in his voice. “Good thing I secured a seat early—otherwise, I’d have had to let a lady stand.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Odelliana,” she introduced herself, taking the seat he gestured to.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Odelliana,” he replied with a polite nod. “I’m Adolf Schaller. Blair and I are quite close—speak casually. Blair’s sister is practically my own.”

Sweating from the heat and the tightly packed room, Adolf wiped his face with a handkerchief while scanning his surroundings.

“I never imagined you’d pick a place like this for a meeting,” he admitted. “When Blair told me, I could hardly believe my ears.”

“This kind of place is actually better,” Odelliana said with a faint smile. “It doesn’t attract attention.”

“True,” Adolf conceded, fanning himself with his hand. “It’s so chaotic that no one has the time to notice anything else.”

Despite his agreement, his discomfort was obvious. He shifted awkwardly in his seat, his expression betraying just how unbearable he found the atmosphere.

“You said you wanted to see me,” Odelliana said, leaning back slightly.

“Yes,” Adolf replied, his expression turning serious. “I have a favor to ask of you.”

She tilted her head. “What is it?”

“I want to recruit that fine young knight beside you into our order.”

Odelliana raised an eyebrow. “You should discuss that with Matthias himself.”

“Of course, I did,” Adolf said with a dramatic sigh. “But he passed the decision on to you, saying I should speak with his master instead.”

He crossed his arms and huffed in mild frustration. “I actually tried to recruit him right after the knightly exam—three times, in fact. Every single time, he turned me down.”

Odelliana smirked. “And I suppose you also heard that I was the one who convinced Blair to go independent?”

Adolf’s lips quirked up in amusement. “Yes, I did. Did your brother tell you that?”

“He might have.”

Adolf nodded before leaning in slightly. “You know that Blair is going to Eisenwald as its new lord, right?”

“Yes, I’ve been informed.”

“Then here’s the deal,” he said smoothly. “I believe recruiting this young man into our order would be the best choice for you.”

Odelliana said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

“I hear you’re planning to escape your house,” Adolf went on, his tone careful. “If you let me have him, I will personally assign Matthias to Eisenwald—for your sake.”

A soft chuckle escaped her lips. Did he really think he was leading this conversation? Everything was unfolding exactly as she had planned. And yet, Adolf seemed blissfully unaware.

“That’s quite a tempting offer,” she mused.

“Think about it,” Adolf urged. “Even if he becomes a knight, he needs an official order to belong to in order to exercise his rights.”

“I’m aware,” she said, nonchalant.

“Especially for a squire,” he pressed. “He has no say in where he’s stationed. If he joins another order, he’ll be sent to the frontier—far away from you. That’s standard practice, as you know.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Then you should accept my offer,” Adolf insisted, his tone growing more urgent. “Eisenwald is part of the Schaller Duchy, meaning the Duke of Grüsewald won’t be able to exert influence there. As the heir to the family, I can personally guarantee your safety and ensure Matthias stays by your side.”

His voice softened slightly as he leaned closer. “Who else can offer you a better deal than me?”

At this point, he was almost pleading. It was clear—he was truly determined to recruit Matthias.

Odelliana’s gaze flickered with amusement. Well, even that stubborn Hermann tried to use Blair to lure Matthias in.

The Prove campaign had significantly elevated Matthias’s value. It wasn’t just the royal knight order or the Grüsewald family’s own knightly orders vying for him—now even the heir of House Schaller was desperate to claim him. That alone was proof of his worth.

But in truth, the answer to this dilemma had already been decided. It was precisely for this reason that Odelliana had urged Blair to go independent after choosing to leave the Grüsewald family.

When considering lands beyond the Grüsewalds’ reach, the territory of another lord naturally came to mind. Then she had thought of Adolf—Blair’s close friend and the son of a western noble. It was a timely coincidence that the former lord of Eisenwald had recently been executed for severe crimes.

In her past life, Adolf had once mentioned in a royal chronicle interview that he had personally suggested Blair take over Eisenwald. That was why she had deemed it the perfect place for their fresh start. And now, with Matthias passing the knight exam, his placement would be resolved as well.

Adolf had always been known for his obsession with scouting new talent—so much so that he personally participated as an examiner in the knightly trials every year. There was no way he wouldn’t recognize Matthias’s potential. It was inevitable that he would propose some kind of deal to recruit him. And now, here they were.

“I’ll make sure you two can stay together as much as possible,” Adolf said earnestly. “So, what do you think?”

Odelliana tilted her head. “You must really like Matthias.”

“Who wouldn’t?” Adolf scoffed. “It’s a miracle that the Duke of Callius or the Duke of Zerkan haven’t already taken notice of him. Honestly, I almost skipped the trials this year because I was so busy. But thank goodness I didn’t—finding such a rare gem before anyone else got to him is a huge relief.”

If she dragged this out any longer, Adolf might actually start begging. Amused, Odelliana smiled slightly and gave a small nod.

“Very well.”

Adolf’s face lit up with triumph. But before he could celebrate, she added coolly, “However, I have one condition.”

After all, a good deal should always yield the greatest possible profit.