The Eldest Daughter Walks Down The Flower Path - Chapter 86

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Eldest Daughter Walks the Path of Flowers Episode 86

‘Mercenaries…’

He didn’t like it.

However, he knew it too.

In fact, whatever Radis did, he wouldn’t like it.

He disliked the White Crane Knights because of the geas.

He didn’t want to see Radis bound by an unbreakable oath to that untrustworthy Emperor.

He also disliked other knight orders beyond his reach.

Even if she said she wanted to become a knight of the Countess’ mansion, he wouldn’t be happy about it.

The Black Knight Order was famous for its strict discipline.

Just imagining Radis running around the training grounds under the blazing sun, drenched in sweat, was enough to make his stomach churn.

‘Free mercenaries might be better than that.’

But what if Radis said she wanted to become a mercenary and join some shabby mercenary group in the South?

That would be something he could never allow, even if dirt got in his eyes.

The famous mercenary groups in the North were even worse.

If she joined such a place, Radis would spend her entire life wandering battlefields.

‘It would be better to create a mercenary group within my reach. A very peaceful and leisurely one that lives in luxury.’

Eve, who had been watching Radis and Robert with a troubled expression, opened her mouth.

“…If you’re determined to do it, how can I stop you.”

Eve watched as Radis’s cheeks flushed red with joy and countless stars appeared in her black eyes, then let out a heavy sigh.

He said to Robert.

“Radis is smart, strong, and a genius with the sword, but she’ll still need support. I’d worry less if there was at least one official knight by her side.”

Robert’s eyebrows twitched at the unexpected request.

“Are you telling me… to receive knighthood?”

“Both of you. I know about your abilities from what Ardon told me, but if you’re serious about forming a mercenary group, wouldn’t two knights with proven skills be better than one underage girl and a young man who just came of age?”

“…”

“Why? Don’t you like it?”

A complex expression appeared on Robert’s face.

In his previous life, he had not received knighthood.

Because the Rodrick Family didn’t want it.

No one could go against an influential family for the sake of just one knight.

“…”

Robert’s gaze lingered on Radis, who was busily cutting meat.

He felt a bitter taste fill his mouth.

Robert withdrew his gaze from Radis and opened his mouth.

“It’s not me, but the Rodrick Family that won’t want that.”

At his words, Eve Russel’s eyes glinted sharply beneath his dark bangs.

‘Oh, look at this.’

It seemed Brantz Rodrick was a petty scoundrel beyond Eve Russel’s imagination.

‘So he wouldn’t acknowledge his illegitimate son but also wouldn’t let him become independent, keeping him in his grasp to torment him. How typical of that bastard.’

Eve Russel clicked his tongue lightly.

Coincidentally, the three gathered here seemed to be equally unfortunate in their circumstances.

Of course, that didn’t mean he felt any fondness for Robert.

‘I should use him!’

Eve Russel feigned a sympathetic voice and said.

“I failed to consider the Rodrick Family’s position. In that case, I could create a new identity unrelated to the Rodrick Family.”

Robert looked at Eve with suspicious eyes.

“What do you mean by that?”

“In the past, when knight titles were official honors, the appointment process was quite complex. Commoners and women couldn’t receive titles, and only noble men whose names were recorded in a family lineage could receive titles. But this system changed when knight levels were subdivided and seals were awarded to Mage Knights and Masters.”

Eve Russel gestured elegantly like an orchestra conductor as he explained.

“The seals of Mage Knights and Masters are based on individual achievement, so they aren’t inherited by descendants. Then what about the knight titles below them? Though unintended, the inheritance rights of knight titles and the accompanying pensions also disappeared.”

Radis, who was eating her second plate of lamb, nodded.

This was also the reason for the Tilrod Family’s downfall.

The House of Tilrod hadn’t produced any decent knights since Alexis Tillord.

The small estate of Willingham that Alexis Tillord received along with his title had only shrunk through the generations, and now remained only as a small village that was embarrassing to call an estate.

“I can’t say it’s a replacement, but thanks to that, the appointment process was simplified and it became possible for women and commoners to receive appointments. When such people receive appointments, they gain a new status as quasi-nobles.”

Eve Russel continued in a subtle voice.

“If you receive knighthood under the name Robert rather than Robert Rodrick, you’d gain a new identity unrelated to your family. Of course, you’d need someone to vouch for your identity, but I can do that much.”

Even after Eve’s lengthy explanation ended, Robert’s furrowed brow didn’t smooth.

“So you’re saying it’s essentially a loophole.”

Radis opened her eyes wide and looked at Eve.

“Lord Russel, is that… possible for me too?”

Unlike with Robert, Eve looked at Radis with genuinely regretful eyes.

“Radis… You’re officially recorded in the Tilrod Family lineage as the eldest daughter, so that would be difficult. This is only possible for those not officially recorded in a family lineage.”

“Ah… I see.”

Radis’s shoulders drooped, showing her considerable disappointment.

As if trying to comfort Radis, Eve Russel’s hand could be seen creeping across the table.

Robert opened his mouth with a grimly furrowed brow.

“I’ll accept that proposal.”

Since his voice was louder than intended, Eve Russel looked at Robert in surprise.

“You’ll do it?”

“I don’t care about status, but if receiving knighthood will help Radis, then I’ll do it.”

‘This bastard?’

He almost let out a curse, but Eve Russel barely held it back.

“Robert…”

As if moved by Robert’s honeyed words, stars began appearing one by one in Radis’s black eyes.

Eve was dumbfounded.

Seeing that sight made him want to forget about being a Master of the South, about screwing over Brantz Rodrick, and everything else, and just kick that bastard out immediately.

‘Patience.’

Eve Russel let out a hot snort, then smiled brightly and said.

“Hahaha! Seeing the beautiful ‘friendship’ between you two makes me feel good too.”

The two people’s reactions to the heavily emphasized word ‘friendship’ were clearly divided.

Robert glared at Eve with a subtly annoyed look, while Radis smiled happily.

Eve drove the point home.

“This is what you call friends, right? Hahaha!”

At the word ‘friends,’ Robert glared at Eve Russel with fierce eyes.

‘That bastard…’

If Eve Russel knew even a fingernail’s worth of Robert’s true feelings, he wouldn’t dare say such things.

But it was natural that Eve Russel didn’t know.

No, no one except Robert himself would know.

Robert looked at Radis with a helpless gaze.

Radis was too oblivious… no, too innocent to detect the malice mixed in Eve Russel’s words.

Even now, she was genuinely happy about the word ‘friends’ and looking at Robert with sparkling eyes.

Robert let out a heavy sigh and nodded.

Radis’s goal was to slowly and steadily build a mercenary group, but with Lord Russel’s involvement, the plan gained momentum.

When Eve asked where they would establish their base, Radis mentioned the place she had been thinking about.

“There’s an abandoned tavern on the outskirts of Luare. It was used by the Royal Serpent Mercenary Unit or something, but it’s empty now.”

At the mention of the Royal Serpent Mercenary Unit, Eve flinched slightly, just slightly, but didn’t show it.

“Ah, was there such a place? I think I might have seen it once…”

“It’s old, but I think it would be fine.”

“That building, may I do some light repairs on it?”

“Pardon? No, Marquis. I couldn’t possibly impose on you to that extent…”

At her words, Eve jumped up in surprise.

“Impose? Radis, did you just say impose?”

“But…”

“Ha… Radis, impose? Between us?”

Eve hung her head low and made a sniffling sound.

Radis looked at Eve Russel’s face with an expression wondering why this person was acting this way.

However, it was difficult to read Eve’s eyes because of the dark bangs that cast shadows over them.

To her, he seemed genuinely hurt.

‘The Marquis is more sentimental than I thought. Well, we are friends after all…!’

Radis had no choice but to nod her head.

“If you insist that much, Marquis… Yes, I understand.”

“Great!”

Eve smiled brightly and spread both arms wide, then… naturally pulled Radis into an embrace.

“…!”

Radis’s pupils shook wildly.

Her instinct was to push him away, but strangely, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

‘I also… hugged the Marquis back then, didn’t I…?’

Just a few days ago, Radis had been unable to control her emotions at Eve’s words that he would believe in her unconditionally, and had embraced him.

‘It was brief… though.’

Because of what she had done herself, Radis couldn’t bring herself to push Eve away and had to remain still in his embrace.

A pleasant low voice reached her ears.

“Radis, when it comes to you, I just want to believe in you and help you without thinking about anything else. That’s okay, right?”

At those tender words, Radis’s wariness melted away instantly like a piece of ice dropped into a bowl filled with warm water.

Eve’s large hand gently patted her back.

His chest was so warm it seemed like it could melt not just an ice cube but an entire block of ice in the blink of an eye.

And he smelled good too.

Whatever cologne he used, the sweet scent that mingled with his natural body scent was almost at the level of a drug.

Radis couldn’t think of anything at all.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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