Gisele Goutin was walking along the river when she came across an older woman and her grandson gathering some clean water with their bucket. At first, Gisele didn't think much about her encounter as she continued to get herself some water for her journey later on.
"Excuse me, young miss." Gisele looks up to the old lady as she keeps her sword away when the child hides behind his grandmother.
"Are you a knight?" The old lady asked.
Gisele shakes her head no.
"I was. But now I am with a group of mercenaries. Is there anything I could do for you?" The old lady seems surprised. Gisele remained calm since she encountered many who reacted the same way whenever she revealed herself.
"I have never seen you around hefore. So I was wondering if you're the people that the chief had hired to take care of the bandits around here. Gisele nodded her head.
"Yes" the old lady smiled before thanking Gisele for her hard work.
"My son and his wife were killed by the bandits when they were on their way to work. I hope you find those who are responded." Gisele nodded as she watched the old lady and his grandson leave towards the village.
"Captain-there you are! We've been looking all over for you." Gisele nodded her head when one of her mercenary friends came to her side.
"I was looking for clean drinking water. It seems something shady is happening in the village. Look around you-why would the villagers come to the river instead of gathering water in the village? Why would they come here? And if the chief knows the water is contaminated, why didn't he fix ir? Do you get what I'm trying to say here?" Gisele sighed before she walked back to where the others were.
"Captain- you mean to say that the mysterious guild master is right all along?"
Gisele clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"I hate it when that bastard speaks the truth." The vice-captain we're surprised when Gisele cursed the guild master without fearing for her life.
"Captain! You need to keep your thoughts to yourself! What if the guild's spies are watching us? We would be in trouble." Gisele waved her hands off.
"That's the whole point. Anyway, we should pack our things and continue our journey. We need to find the bandits hideout as soon as possible. The vice-captain nodded before he went to inform the others.Gisele kneels by the river to wash her face before meeting the others and beginning their mission to find the bandits.
"Captain," the vice-captain alerted Gisele when one of the mercenaries discovered several footprints on the ground.
"They were here. Keep your eyes open-they're around here, somewhere." The vice-captain nodded before he informed the others behind them. Gisele raised her hand before crouching on the ground when she noticed a carriage on the open road.
"The bandits!" The vice-captain announced, but Gisele shut his mouth.
"We wait. We can't reveal ourselves before the bandits take charge. Once they raise their weapon, we will attack them by surprise. just hope that whoever is in that carriage survives whatever may come for them. From the looks of the carriage alone- someone important is inside that carriage. Just look at how many caravans are following it. Not to mention the guards; they all look like experienced fighters." The vice-captain clenched the handle of his sword.
"Yes, captain." Gisele nodded before she turned her attention to the carriage. The bandits seem to be on the lookout, and the moment be carriage enters an open space, they attack the guards that surround the carriage.
Gisele waited until every single one of the hidden handits revealed themselves before giving orders for her subordinates to surround the bandits.
"Protect the carriage. We might get extra pay for protecting whoever is inside." The vice-captain nodded before he led the others to the scene.
Gisele makes her way down and kills whoever comes her way while she walks towards the carriage. Before Gisele could open the carriage door, a guard suddenly placed the tip of his sword under Gisele's chin.
"Are you a friend or a foe?" Gisele pushed the sword with his finger.
"Neither. I was passing by The guards kept his sword until a woman's voice came from the carriage.
"Norman lowered your sword. That woman is not our enemy. The guard seems too hesitant.
"Hut mistress- how could you be so sure about it? We don't even know the origin of this woman. She might be a mercenary group who in cahoots with the handits! The only reason why she's attacking the bandits is that she wants to have whatever is inside our caravan!" The guard or Norman made a statement"Norman, trust me on this. That woman is not your target. I don't think your skill matched with hers. Put down your sword. How many times do I have to tell you?" The guard sighed before he lowered his sword.
"As you wish, mistress. Gisele tilted her head as she swung her sword to kill a bandit that managed to go through.
"I thought I told you guys to keep this carriage away from danger!" Gisele hissed. The vice-captain apologized.
"Is it alright for us to have a chat?" Gisele asked the woman inside the carriage.
"I don't think we should. If the gold you seek, you may ask for it from my guard." Gisele raised an eyebrow.
"Are you a nobleman's plaything? Is that why you're not allowed to show your face?" The woman inside the carriage didn't say anything.
"I take that as a yes."
"My mistress is not a plaything! Watch your mouth!" The guard hissed.
"Norman- calm down. Open the door. I'm sure the bandits are either dead or were captured." Normal keep his sword in its sheath before opening the door.
Gisele took a few steps back to give some space for the woman inside the carriage to reveal herself.
Calypso Arvel, the owner of House of Beauty and the infamous courtesan of Goterra Empire, has finally revealed herself to the public. Gisele, who has never met anyone working at a brothel, was astounded by Calypso's beauty.
"I have never seen a prostitute like you" Calypso raised her eyebrows before looking at her surrounding area,
"I am not a prostitute but a high-class courtesan. Those you call prostitutes usually work at an alley or a brothel. In contrast, we courtesan works in an entertainment hall where we amuse our customers by singing, dancing and playing music. Although we offer sexual services, it doesn't mean we are simply offering our bodies to just anyone. Even the clients need to go through multiple stages hefore having a night with me. Sometimes high ranking nobles seek nothing but the company." Calypso watched as Gisele kept staring at her exposed chest.
"If you continue to stare at me, I would have to ask for a payment. Although I am grateful that you have helped me, my services are expensive." Gisele clicked her tongue in annoyance."In the end, all you do is pleasure men. Gisele turned her back to Calypso before calling out for her subordinates.
"I can hire you-" Calypso shouted. Gisele laughed.
"What? I can afford to pay for your services. After all, most of my escorts are dead. It would be hard for me to continue my journey with these caravans without protection. You have shown your worth." Calypso tried to strike a deal with Gisele. She is desperate for crews that could help her cross the horder to the capital city of Goterra.
"Captain-we manage to find the bandits who had to terrorize their village. If we accept this job, we could have extra money to spend. Besides, I thought we were going to the capital. The vice-captain whispered. Gisele sighed.
"My services aren't cheap. Calypso chuckled.
"A thousand gold-will that be enough?" The mercenaries gasped at the amount of money. Gisele chuckled.
"Two thousand-some of my men are injured. We need money for medical treatment." Calypso turned to Norman, who shook his head. Calypso smiled.
"Deal." Norman sighed.
"Mistress!" Calypso raised her hand.
"It will be alright, Norman. Besides, we need the manpower we can get. The empress is waiting for us." Norman sighed.
"Yes, mistress."
MAIN PALACE OF GOTERRA EMPIRE
"The bearer of information seems to be running late. I hope you weren't lied to, Kian." Prince Kian, empress Rose Hawthorne's husband, sighed before standing next to his wife.
"Don't worry about it, your majesty. The guild master will be here soon." Rose scoffed before simply letting go of a plece of paper that she was holding.
"Guild master, bearer of information, the infamous courtesan of Goterra Empire; just how many nicknames does that woman have? And how did you know her identity?" Prince Kian smiled at his wife."Some of the elders are a frequent patron of House of Beauty That's how I manage to know the guild master's identity. Calypso Arvel is a woman with a lot of hidden mischief and supporter that will eventually be a threat to the crown. As it's not a bad thing to be allies." Rose hummed as she leaned back to her seat
"You were worried that my last decision would overthrow me from the throne, am I right? Declaring war to one of the neighboring countries was a way to make sure the rulers knew who they were messing with. All I did was for the future of Goterra." Kian didn't say a word.
"Sometimes, it's best to choose diplomacy over warfare. But it's too late for us to fix what was done. All we can do now is think of a way to lessen unnecessary death." Rose scoffed at the way her husband viewed things.
"Diplomacy happens when two could find an agreement. In our case, we have no such thing. They have been harassing us, taking our people by force, and using them as sex objects. Is that how you view diplomacy?" Kian swallowed the lumps in his throat,
"I am fully aware that every decision we make will affect our people. But we need to tell our future enemies that Goterra is a strong empire that doesn't how its head to others. Kian, you have known me since we were children. We married each other because it benefited us both. I'm sure you know what kind of person I am." Kian nodded.
"That's what I'm scared of, Rose. We have lost many talented knights from our last warfare. Can this empire handle another bloodhath? We need a miracle. Please, for once, think about our daughter who has to grow up in fear of losing us." Rose faces her husband with calm looks.
"Kian-the child needs to learn how to defend herself. No child of us should be weak." Kian sighed while he watched Rose standing up from her seat
"Your highness, prince Kian, your guest has arrived. And it seems bandits ambushed the guest on her way here. Luckily, there were a group of mercenaries nearby that heard cries for help. But-" Kian looks at the butler, who seems deep in thought.
"Hut what?" Rose asked.
"My apologies, your majesty, but the captain seems familiar. Do you remember the late Mr. Liam?" Rose raises an eyebrow.
"Of course that man was the one who taught both my husband and me how to wield weapons. Why?" the butler hummed.
"The captain seems to be the child found by Mr. Liam in the middle of the forestyears ago. After Mr. Liam was killed, that child went on a killing spree trying to find the killer but to no avail. It seems she came back to the capital. I must say, it's rather a coincidence, is it not?" Rose turned to her husband.
"Are you suggesting that we should hire a group of mercenaries to help us win the war?" The butler closes the door behind him before nodding his head.
"They're professional soldiers without a master. Your majesty, your highness, you two could be their master and control the devil of the battlefield." Rose suddenly laughed.
"You're one wicked old man, do you know that?" The butler smiled.
"I tried to be." Kian placed his thumb under his chin before nodding his head.
"I will discuss this matter with the captain. Perhaps our guest can be of help as well." Rose nodded and let her husband handle the matter.
"It seems God chosen to be on our side this time. If not- why would he guide that lunatic into our palm?" The prince chuckled.
"Your majesty, I will do my best to put the strings on your new doll." Rose nodded before Kian took his leave together with the butler.