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Chapter – 03
“How can I not have a single client?”
In this world, there was no such thing as a dedicated law firm. Lawyers typically posted their résumés on a hiring board inside a mercenary office, waiting for clients to come by.
And for two months, no one had hired me.
Of course, it wasn’t that there were absolutely no visitors. Since basic information had to be posted, I had been forced to disclose that I was a woman—and that alone attracted all sorts of insane people.
“Young lady, why are you working here? With a pretty face like that, why don’t you marry me instead?”
A man who claimed to be the owner of some building I had never even heard of showed up and immediately proposed marriage the moment he saw my face.
“Women shouldn’t be too smart.”
People who had scheduled meetings with me for no reason whatsoever would come and spout nonsense.
“How dare you advertise yourself as a divorce lawyer! Is divorce something to be proud of?! Huh?!”
And then there were those who picked fights with me for absolutely no reason.
“…This isn’t going to work.”
In the end, I decided that instead of waiting for nonexistent clients, I would go out and find them myself.
The money I had brought when I left home was already running out.
This profession wasn’t structured in a way where you immediately earned income after taking a case, so I had expected to go hungry at first. But I hadn’t expected to receive this few cases, and I couldn’t help sighing repeatedly.
Then—
A woman cautiously opened the door to the mercenary office.
As if she didn’t want anyone to notice her, or for some other reason, she glanced around nervously, and tried to hide her exposed neck and arms with a shawl.
In that instant, I realized it.
‘Someone who looks just like my mother.’
Instinctively, I knew. That woman was being abused. So I quietly moved closer to her.
“How can I help you?”
As she stepped up to the mercenary office counter like any other visitor, she hesitated before speaking. I pretended to just be passing by, leaning in to listen.
“Um… can I hire mercenaries to protect me?”
“Of course. What is the reason you need protection? The price varies depending on the difficulty of the job.”
“Excuse me…? Do I have to explain the reason for protection too?”
“Not necessarily. But there are cases where people say it’s nothing serious and then request dangerous work. Also, we need the information to prepare properly, so it’s better if you can tell us.”
“I… I’m looking for someone to protect me without a specific reason.”
The clerk looked at her with a troubled expression for a moment.
“I’ll look into that for you. Your name?”
“Iz… Iz Rhaedik.”
“How much can you pay?”
“Up to… two gold coins.”
“Two coins… These days, monster activity has increased, so monster subjugation requests are more common and pay better, so mercenaries tend to prefer those jobs over others. Still, understood. We’ll check if we can match you today, so please take a seat over there.”
The clerk’s expression subtly hardened the moment he heard her name, then guided her to the waiting area before turning away with a frown.
He was someone I had recently gotten friendly with after sharing tea during quiet days.
Once Iz was out of earshot, he let out a deep sigh.
“It doesn’t look like ‘nothing serious’ at all.”
I quickly approached him.
“Why? Khan, do you know her?”
“Well, Lady Laviell… not personally. She’s somewhat well known. Iz Rhaedik comes from the noble Stork baron family. She married for love, but she’s been living while being beaten by her husband. He married her thinking she would bring in a large dowry, but when she arrived with nothing, his attitude changed completely. Now he even makes her work, apparently. Excessively so.”
“I see.”
“She’d be better off getting a divorce. It’s sad to see her living like that.”
My guess had been correct. It probably wasn’t just “making her work.” The way she had tried to hide her body earlier said enough.
“I’ll talk to her.”
“You will, Lady Laviell?”
“Yes. So please wait a moment. Put the mercenary request on hold for now.”
“I will. It’s not like we could easily find someone for it anyway.”
After asking Khan, I walked toward the woman named Iz.
She didn’t look very old—maybe five or six years older than Laviell at most. But her face and hands were filled with exhaustion, as though years of hardship had been carved into her.
“Hello.”
“Ah… did you come because a mercenary has been found?”
“No. I just wanted to talk. Do you perhaps… want a divorce?”
“What are you talking about…!”
I handed her the paper I always carried with my résumé. It only contained my name and the words “divorce lawyer,” nothing more.
“I’m asking you seriously. As you can see, I’m a divorce lawyer. And someone who wants to bring happiness to people.”
“Happiness… can divorce really bring happiness?”
It was a very negative response, but she was quickly scanning the document I had given her.
“Yes. Forcing yourself to maintain a marriage is the beginning of unhappiness. And I want to wish for your happiness.”
“I’m fi… fine. I’m happy now.”
She said that, but her eyes looked as if she was desperately hoping for something else—like she wanted to be saved.
“Are you being honest?”
“……”
“I think you… want to run away. I know it’s rude to say something like this when we’ve just met, but I can see it. The world where divorce is a disgrace is already over.”
“No. It is a disgrace. If my family finds out… they’ll be disappointed. So I can’t go back. I married for love, and now if I say I want a divorce… Ah… please forget I said that.”
She shook her head quickly and stood up.
“I should go. It doesn’t look like I’ll even get a mercenary…”
“What do you need a mercenary for? Is it to protect you from a husband who abuses you?”
“Please… stop being so rude.”
Iz looked at me with a hardened expression.
But in her, I saw my mother—and Countess Herbia. And even my own self as a powerless daughter who could only watch.
I remembered clearly what I thought back then.
I wish someone would take my hand. I want to escape. But I can’t. This life feels like a cage.
“I’m sorry. I think I was projecting my mother and myself onto you.”
At those words, her expression shifted.
“What…?”
“My mother always hides her neck and arms with shawls too. To hide the bruises from being beaten. I guess I got carried away.”
I gave an awkward smile and slightly bowed my head. It was no different from telling a stranger to expose their wounds.
Iz stayed silent for a long time.
Then, finally, she spoke.
“If I get a divorce… will I really be happy?”
“At the very least, you won’t have to worry about being hit anymore. And it’ll be easier to earn a living than living like this.”
“Ah.”
Coming here at all meant she wanted protection—even from a mercenary. That meant she still had hope.
“You can come anytime. You can pay the fee later when your situation improves. And if I take your case, I can also help you recover compensation for everything you’ve suffered.”
Still, she seemed unable to decide.
“I’ll think about it. I can’t take this paper with me… if my husband finds out, he’ll definitely not let it go.”
“Yes.”
And so Iz left the mercenary office.
Watching her back for a moment, I turned to Khan.
“Khan, where can I meet the Stork Baron?”
“May I ask why?”
“I just want to confirm something.”
“The Stork Baron has recently been seen frequently at the temple. The information isn’t very reliable, but it should be enough to check.”
“You really are well-informed, Khan.”
“You hear many things when you work here.”
“I’ll treat you to the finest tea when I return.”
“Thank you. I look forward to it.”
He smiled with satisfaction, giving me a thumbs-up.
I immediately headed to the temple.
I hadn’t expected to find him today, but I actually did.
A man with blue hair, just like Iz’s. He was sitting quietly, head bowed, praying fervently to the gods.
I sat beside him and watched him for a long time. Only after quite a while did he finally open his eyes and stare at the statue of the goddess before him.
At that moment, I spoke.
“Who are you praying for?”
His gaze turned toward me instantly. Sky-blue eyes. But the moment he saw a stranger, hostility quickly filled them.
“Do I know you?”
“No. It’s our first time meeting. But you must be the renowned Baron Stork, correct?”
He frowned deeply, as if displeased that I had approached him already knowing who he was.
“…Do you have something to say to me?”
“No. I’m just curious.”
“Curious?”
“Yes. What does someone like the Stork Baron pray to the gods for?”
