It went without saying that the festival period was a happy peak season for all merchants, and among them, the lodging businesses enjoyed the greatest boom. Not having expected to secure accommodation in the center of the capital since reservations would be fully booked, Cassia was surprised by Zester’s foresight.
Because he had booked the neatest, most well-equipped, and expensive inn in the capital in advance, Cassia was able to unpack in a fine room without any frantic rushing.
The inn’s first-floor dining hall, where they came down for lunch, was bustling with people. Occupying the largest table was the Greze party. With the addition of the ten mercenaries who had arrived earlier, their presence was formidable. Several guests stole glances in their direction.
While the burly men boasting hulking physiques stood out, more eyes gathered on Cassia’s face, which seemed to shine despite her modest attire. Although he had expected it, Zester couldn’t help but feel grumpy. When he shot a sharp, warning glare at the peeking eyes, several guests flinched and pulled their necks in like turtles.
Whether Cassia was used to such gazes or simply didn’t notice them, she was busy spreading out a sheet of parchment with James, who sat next to her, discussing wigs. She didn’t even have the spare time to lift her utensils, so Clara, sitting beside her, occasionally spoon-fed her soup.
“Madam, Madam. To really enjoy the festival, you have to go to Froebel Street. There are stalls set up by entertainment merchants there, and it’s quite fun. They even hold events like a beer chugging contest, and I am the five-year reigning champion there. Ahem.”
“Oh, really? That’s impressive.”
“For the record, Leader here lost to me in the finals.”
“Haha, is that so?”
Cassia responded absentmindedly while examining the parchment densely filled with the addresses of various merchant guilds in the capital. She was so distracted she barely heard him, but Gregory excitedly continued to chatter.
Listening to this, Zester flared up and cut in.
“I quit because it was stupid, I didn’t lose.”
“Oh, sure.”
“Oho? Acting tough just because we’re in front of the Madam?”
“Hey, you want a beating?”
Between reviewing business matters, responding to the mercenaries’ useless chatter, and accepting the food Clara occasionally thrust at her, Cassia was incredibly busy.
At that moment, a girl with light brown hair neatly braided on both sides approached them precariously, holding a wide platter containing a large chicken dish. Cheers erupted among the mercenaries at the appearance of the steaming, appetizing menu.
The girl placed the plate on the table and wished them a good meal, yet she lingered around instead of leaving. Seeing her hesitate with flushed cheeks, it seemed she had something to say.
Cassia’s gaze fell upon the girl standing nearby. She tilted her head and asked with a kind smile.
“Thank you for the meal. Do you need something?”
“Ah, um…”
The pale-faced girl with freckles across her cheeks looked exactly like someone who had fallen in love.
What is it? Sensing something strange, Cassia’s eyes momentarily flicked toward Zester, who was sitting diagonally across from her.
“I saw you from afar and you were just so cool… You don’t seem to be from the capital, so I was wondering if I could ask for your name…”
“Oho…”
“Wow?!”
“What, what? Who, who?”
The mercenaries raised their voices in excitement. Amidst the gasps and whistles, Zester finally noticed the girl’s presence and looked back.
‘Well, how will a girl seeing him for the first time know whether Zester is a married man or not?’
Thinking this inwardly and trying to brush it off as no big deal, Cassia bowed her head and fixed her eyes on the parchment, though not a single letter registered in her vision.
It’s probably Zester. There were many men, but she could assert that the only man handsome enough to draw the eye was her husband.
‘Right, a girl that age might take an interest seeing a handsome, fit man. That happens.’
Even when she was a “real” seventeen-year-old, hadn’t her heart pounded just looking at Zester’s appearance? Right, it was possible.
She tried to wear an indifferent expression and kept her head down, but her ears were wide open.
She was determined to hear how Zester would respond. However, unexpectedly, silence continued for quite some time. Cassia cautiously lifted her head.
“Huh?”
The eyes of everyone gathered at the quiet table were focused on Cassia. That included Zester.
Wondering what was going on, she looked at the girl standing hesitantly beside her. Somehow, the girl’s starry, sparkling eyes were staring piercingly not at Zester, but at Cassia. Cassia furrowed her brow and pointed at her own face.
“…Me?”
“Yes! Aren’t you all from the ‘Jackal’ Mercenaries? Are you perhaps the leader of the mercenaries? You’re sitting at the head of the table, and you look just like a queen; I couldn’t take my eyes off you. I know it’s rude, but I have a habit where my mouth just moves on its own when I see someone beautiful and cool…”
Ah, come to think of it, the girl had said, ‘You don’t seem to be from the capital.’ The mercenaries, including Zester, were fairly well-known faces within the capital. To a girl living in the capital, the unfamiliar faces would likely only be Cassia, Clara, and James.
But wait, out of all these men, it was Cassia?
Zester slowly blinked his eyes and looked at Cassia, who was flustered and let out a nervous laugh.
Oh, God. A wife with such fatal charm that he had to be wary of women, not just men. Zester was paying the price for obtaining an undeserved wife with ‘fatigue.’ A short breath escaped through his lips.
“Thank you for thinking of me that way. Mercenary leader… well, I’m not that. We came from a place called Greze, about half a day’s carriage ride from the capital. This here is the Lord, Baron Greze, and I am his wife, Cassia Greze. What is your name?”
“Ah! Forgive me, my lady, I didn’t realize—.”
“No, no, No need to bow. I’d feel embarrassed receiving such treatment when you aren’t even one of our territory’s people.”
“My goodness…! How can your face, your tone, and your heart all be so angelic! I heard from my mother that you are staying for two weeks; I will serve you with all my heart and soul. Please call me Pia.”
“Alright, Pia. Thank you.”
“Not at all. I should be the one thanking you for showing me this beautiful face throughout the festival!”
Cassia blushed, not knowing what to do with Pia, who clasped her hands together and eyes shining as if she had met a god. Pia kept her spot without any intention of leaving, continuing to stare piercingly at Cassia’s face. She didn’t forget to let out exclamations of “Wow” and “Whoa” in between.
It was only after Zester, sitting next to her, cast an indifferently scolding look that Pia cleared her throat with a hem-hem and stepped aside. In the space she left behind, the hearty laughter of the mercenaries surrounded the flustered Cassia for a long time.
* * *
After finishing a rather long lunch, Cassia was getting ready to tour the merchant guilds in the capital. Zester entered the room and showed a puzzled expression toward Cassia, who was already fully prepared to go out.
“Hmm? Where are you going? I was planning to show you around Froebel Street…”
“Ah! The mercenaries wanted to go play around, right? Go ahead. I need to visit a few merchant guilds. There are more renowned guilds in the capital than I thought, so a week might not be enough. Even if I start moving now, it’s going to be tight.”
Zester paused. He knew she had a lot to do in the capital before entering the Imperial Palace, but since they had come a generous week early, he thought there would be plenty of time to enjoy the festival.
But for some reason, Cassia was engrossed in work even during meal times. Seeing her like that, he felt pity for her rushing and splitting her time for the territory’s affairs, and he also felt sorry and a bit unsettled that he, the actual Lord, seemed to have no worries at all.
“I think you’re working too hard these days. Even before coming to the capital, you were preparing this and that, only falling asleep late at dawn. How about resting or enjoying the festival just for today?”
“Mm, I’d like to do that if I could, but I actually have to do more now because it’s the festival period. Merchants are busy during national festivities like this. Their schedules will be packed, so I can’t just show up blindly and expect to meet the guild masters…”
“Oh, right…”
“Why? Do you want to go and play, but feel guilty because of me? Pfft. Don’t be like that and go have fun. My work will probably run late, so I’ll likely eat dinner out with Clara and James before coming back.”
Zester looked with a dissatisfied expression at Cassia, who smiled brightly and caressed his cheek.
“What do you mean ‘want to play’? Am I a child? I’m saying this because I’m worried about you. And even if I wanted to play, I want to play with you. what fun would it be wandering around with a bunch of gloomy men?”
Cassia’s eyes widened at Zester’s sulky tone.
“And you’re going out alone?”
“I’m not alone. Clara and James are with me, and Ashram agreed to come along as an escort. You think I’ll wander carelessly?”
“…No…”
When she looked up at him with round eyes asking if there was a problem, Zester was at a loss for words. He had nothing to say when she was so thorough.
In truth, since they came to the capital a week early to work, it wasn’t that he didn’t understand why Cassia was busy. Still, he had been excited to show her around the capital, so to have her finish all preparations for work and notify him, ‘I’m going ahead,’ like this…
“Cassia, then…”
Just as he was about to say that he would follow her instead of Ashram, urgent sounds came from outside the door.
Bang, bang.
“Madam, are you ready?!”
“Oh, Ashram. Come in.”
The door burst open, and Ashram, James, and Clara, who were already fully prepared to leave, barged in. Behind them, the rest of the mercenaries followed, their footsteps thumping with excitement.
“What are you guys doing?”
Setting aside the three Cassia had decided to take with her, Zester looked bewildered at the mercenaries who had randomly invaded the room.
“Captain, we came to the capital with you for the first time in ages, so we have to play. It’s not just any day, it’s a festival! We are ready!”
“Ready to enjoy! Ready!”
“Let’s go!”
“Hey, you guys…”
He didn’t even have time to send them away in his fluster. Gregory and Fred, who had intruded into the room, grabbed each of Zester’s arms and forcibly restrained him. Watching this with a smile, Cassia hurried her steps as if it had been planned.
“Alright, honey, have fun. I’ll see you later at dinner.”
“No, I… Cassia!”
“Come on, Leader! What are you doing?! Ashram said he would guard the Lady well!”
Gregory stood blocking Zester as if deliberately trying to separate the two. In that gap, Cassia, accompanied by Ashram, James, and Clara, slipped out of the room like the wind.
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 82 - February 26, 2026
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 81 - February 26, 2026
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 80 - February 26, 2026