"I heard from the vice captain that we were sent here to help soone important." One of the guards said to his fellow guard.
"That’s what I also heard." The guard responded as he stayed leaning forward to whisper to his friend, "And I heard that the person who we’re going to help is a friend of this village’s chief, the one who was working under Baroness Hughes."
"Now that you ntion it.. Isn’t this also the village where the Baroness’ only daughter settled down with her husbands?" The other guard whispered back, hovering closer to his friend.
"Goodness, you’re right." The guard murmured, his eyes widening in realization.
"I rembered that there was an announcent about Baroness’ daughter’s disownnt a couple of years ago, but it wasn’t a topic that ignited the nobles’ desires for gossip." One of the guards said, crossing his arms.
"Well, who would want to gossip about a disowned woman anyway? Especially if that woman was the person who brought sha on the Hughes household—"
"Oh, my." Suddenly, a voice cut through their conversation, shocking them both. "I didn’t know Captain Orlan would send such disgraceful individuals to help .. Is that how he sees ? Just soone who can easily be trampled with?"
The voice spoke in a condescending manner from right behind them, the tone firm and scolding.
The guards whirled around, their eyes widening when they saw a figure standing there— it was the very person their captain told them to respect and should be afraid of.
The person had dark hair, the locks of his hair slightly wild and untad with his eyes gleaming a deep shade of dark chocolate, almost like pools of black coffee under the sunlight of the afternoon.
He stood tall, his shoulders broad and his figure well-muscled, the tight fabric of his shirt clinging to his body, emphasizing the muscles beneath.
Standing before them is Astin Alithe ll, the renowned founder of the only rcenary guild in the continent.
"No, sir! Captain Orlan doesn’t think that way towards you, sir—"
"He doesn’t think that way, but he sent people who would gossip behind my companion’s back?" Alithe scoffed and cut them off, his dark irises narrowing into a nacing glare.
"No, sir—"
"I think you were too harsh with them." Soone spoke behind the guards, the sudden interruption catching him and the guards off-guard.
The guards whirled around, their eyes widening as they realized who was standing behind them.
They quickly straightened up, their backs snapping ram-rod straight as the woman who was now standing behind them coughed into her hand with a warm and polite smile on her face.
However, it was clear that she had seen everything that had just happened.
The woman had long, silky black hair that was tied up in a high ponytail and fell down to her mid-back in a glossy waterfall.
She had cat-green eyes, their cat-like shape and color lending an elent of sensuality.
She was dressed in a simple deep forest green linen shirt and fitted pants, the look a stark contrast to the guards’ uniforms and the man’s tight-fitting shirt.
The sleeves of her shirt were rolled up to reveal her slender arms, the material soft to the eyes yet practical.
The pants were made of a material that was obviously well-worn and comfortable, her legs covered down to her ankles where they were tucked into a pair of practical boots.
She was a beauty, an apple to the eye, but she was intimidating.
Not only did she have a strangely polite smile, she also had tucked a long butchering knife into the leather belt that hung low around her hips.
The knife looked out of place in this setting, the weapon more suited to a butcher’s shop than an innocently looking woman like her who looked like she couldn’t handle the weapon itself due to her slender arms.
However, itt was clear that the woman wasn’t worried about offending anyone, her disregard for propriety clear in her choice of accessory.
Besides, the fact that the woman was dressed in simple linens, she carried herself with ease and confidence, with a butchering knife that was swinging on her hips was a subtle, but clear indication of her capacity for violence, despite her outwardly gentle appearance.
From her appearance alone, anyone could tell who the person before them was.
"Coco.. Coco Hughes!" The guards scrambled to get away from her, their faces drained of color as they hid behind the renowned founder of the rcenary guild.
Coco raised an eyebrow at the reaction, tilting her head in confusion.
"What gives? I was trying to protect you from that man, you know?" Coco crossed her arms, her eyebrows furrowing as she shifted her gaze to the two guards to Alithe.
"They will be more scared of you than ." Alithe stated bluntly as he pointed a finger on the butchering knife on Coco’s hips, "You were infamous because of your peculiar behavior and now, you’re walking around with a knife. Won’t you get scared of yourself, too?"
"Touche." Coco mumbled, rolling her eyes at him.
What Alithe said flew over her head and she looked away from them, her gaze scanning the area.
Aside from the two guards hiding behind Alithe, there are still more guards who stood in groups, their voices hushed as they whispered to each other.
So of them shot mocking glances at Coco, their gazes condescending and dismissive, and itwas clear that they were unimpressed by her and thought that she was beneath their notice.
Others looked bored, seeming to consider the scene before them beneath their concern.
They stood near the village hall’s wall and looked away, their gazes on the doors or the windows, anywhere but on the only woman among them.
"Huh.. Guess Coco Hughes’ reputation reached a lot of people." Coco mumbled under her breath.
"Okay, gather around!" Alithe suddenly scread, catching the guards’ attention around the area and making them turn their head to him.
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