Chương 213: Chapter : 213

The carriage was drawn by two magnificent white horses with silver manes that practically glowed with magical energy. The carriage itself was made of polished white wood with gold trim, and it bore the crest of the 2nd Princess on its side: a golden crown surrounded by a ring of stars. It was the kind of vehicle that announced its occupant's importance before anyone even stepped out of it. The carriage stopped in front of the estate gate, and Jenny emerged. She looked entirely out of place.

Her crisp white and gold uniform was spotless, wrinkle-free, and so perfectly pressed that it could have been used as a ruler. Her dark hair was tied in its severe bun, not a single strand out of place. Her boots were polished to a mirror shine. She stood at the gate of the 13th Unit's slightly shabby estate like a diamond that had been dropped into a sandbox, beautiful and sharp and completely unconcerned with whether she belonged. Jenny pressed the small crystal communicator at the gate.

"I am Jenny, personal envoy of the 2nd Princess Hera Belmontia. I am here on official business regarding a servant transfer. I request entry." Her voice was professional, clipped, and carried the unmistakable tone of someone who expected doors to open when she spoke. The gate opened. Jenny walked up the path to the front door, which was already opening. Sayma stood in the doorway, her glasses pushed up, her dark hair neatly arranged, her expression calm but curious.

Behind her, Princess Iris was visible in the hallway, having just come from the study. The rest of the unit was scattered around the mansion, going about their various activities.

"Please, come in," Sayma said politely, stepping aside. Jenny entered the mansion and was shown to the main living room. She stood in the center of the room with perfect posture, her hands clasped in front of her, and waited for the relevant parties to gather. Within a minute, Princess Iris was seated in her armchair. Naomi stood behind the couch with her arms crossed. Sayma sat nearby with her notebook. Laxmi leaned against the wall. Zinia stood near the door. Luna was half-asleep on the carpet again.

Ira stood motionless in her usual spot. Risa sat on the floor near Iris, holding her teddy bear. And Ken, who had been napping on the couch when the carriage arrived, was now leaning against the wall near the window, his shirt untucked, his hair messy, his eyes barely open. Jenny looked at him. She took in the messy hair, the untucked shirt, the lazy posture, and the half-eaten bag of chips that was still sitting on the couch cushion where he had been lying.

Something in her professionally neutral expression flickered, just for a moment, with what might have been disbelief. This was the 2nd Princess's top acquisition target? This was the tactical wildcard that Hera Belmontia wanted so badly? He looked like he had lost a fight with a pillow and barely won. But Jenny was a professional, and professionals did not show doubt. She reached into the leather portfolio she was carrying and withdrew a thick document sealed with the official stamp of the 2nd Princess.

The seal was a golden wax imprint of the crown-and-stars crest, and it practically radiated legal authority. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

"I come bearing an official offer from Her Highness, the 2nd Princess Hera Belmontia," Jenny announced, her voice filling the room. She held the document out toward Princess Iris.

"This is a legally binding contract for a permanent servant swap. The 2nd Princess offers one of her senior elite servants, a fully trained warrior with fifteen years of combat experience and top-tier magical capabilities, in exchange for the permanent transfer of Ken Eliot to the 2nd Princess's household. The terms are generous and have been approved by the Imperial Legal Bureau." The room went very, very still. Princess Iris stared at the document. She did not reach for it. She did not move.

She simply stared, and as she stared, something changed in her eyes. The calm, composed, regal demeanor that she maintained even in the most stressful situations began to crack. Her violet eyes, usually steady and measured, flashed with a rare, intense anger that was so fierce it seemed to make the air in the room vibrate.

"A servant swap," Iris repeated. Her voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of a thunderclap.

"You are offering to trade one of your servants for Ken. As if he is a piece of furniture. As if he is a commodity to be bought and sold." Jenny maintained her professional composure.

"The contract is standard for servant transfers between Royal households, Your Highness. The 2nd Princess recognizes Mr. Eliot's potential and wishes to offer him a position in a more established, better-resourced unit. The servant being offered in return is highly capable and would serve the 13th Unit well." Iris stood up from her chair. The movement was slow, deliberate, and far more frightening than if she had jumped up shouting. When she spoke again, her voice was no longer quiet.

It was clear, strong, and absolutely burning with conviction.

"Ken is not a commodity," Iris said.

"He is a part of this family. He is a part of the 13th Unit. He has stood beside us in battle. He has protected us. He has saved our lives. And you walk into my home and offer to trade him like he is a horse at an auction?" She took a step forward, and Jenny, despite her training and discipline, took an involuntary step back.

"The answer is no. Absolutely not. Ken Eliot is irreplaceable, and no contract, no matter how generous, no matter how legally binding, will change that. Tell your Princess that the 13th Unit does not sell its family." Before Jenny could respond, a sharp metallic sound cut through the room. Naomi had drawn her twin daggers. The blades gleamed in the light, and her face was burning red with deep, genuine insult.

She did not point the daggers at Jenny, but she held them at her sides with white-knuckled grips, her entire body trembling with a mix of fury and something else, something that looked almost like hurt.

"You think you can just buy him?" Naomi said, her voice rough with emotion. She was not shouting, but the quiet intensity in her words was somehow louder than any scream.

"You think you can send a fancy contract and a shiny soldier and just take him away? He is not some piece of equipment you can swap out for a better model! He is our teammate! He stood in front of an army with nothing but his stupid little cyan bullets and he protected every single one of us!" Her green eyes were glistening, though she would never admit it.

"I do not care if your Princess offers a hundred elite soldiers. Ken stays. End of discussion."