I Tried To Be Her Loyal Sword

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55 Chapter

“Ah, did Princess Aria really tell her everything!?”

“Um… yes.”

Luwellin’s ears and neck turned bright red. The emotion on her face was sheer embarrassment. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what part she found embarrassing, so I narrowed my brows in confusion.

“Ha! Princess Aria is really something! Why would she tell everything…?”

“Um… was there something I wasn’t supposed to know?”

Seeing Luwellin turning bright red and fuming, I couldn’t help but wear a perplexed expression. The mature Luwellin from earlier in the day had suddenly transformed into an irate little red kitten, and it was quite bewildering.

“I-I did ask, but…! I only asked light personal details or how you’ve been! I absolutely did not pry into the young lady’s private life like a stalker or anything creepy!”

Flustered, Luwellin launched into a defense, though her vehement denial made it seem like she was almost admitting to something. I simply nodded for now.

“Of course, that’s right. You wouldn’t be someone who would do that to Luwellin Young Lady.”

The thought of Luwellin ever scheming to unearth my secrets was beyond my imagination. She had no reason to do so. Yet, for some reason, Luwellin’s face grew even redder as I approved.

“May I ask for your answer to my question now? Of course, you’re free to remain silent if it’s uncomfortable for you.”

I said while gazing gently at Luwellin, who was looking away. It didn’t matter since we were separated anyway. After a brief hesitation, Luwellin, still crimson, shut her eyes tightly.

“I was just curious about what kind of person the princess is!”

“…Me?”

I slightly narrowed my brows again. It was a bizarre and ambiguous response. I was about to rebut with ‘Why me?’ But since we agreed to take turns asking questions, I kept my mouth shut.

“Then… I’ll ask my question now.”

Finally managing to cool her flushed face, Luwellin spoke with a voice that still bore a hint of her prior agitation. She tilted her head, encouraging me to ask.

“Did Princess Crisis save me once?”

With that second question, a heavy curve ball was thrown my way. As I had anticipated, I slowly blinked and leisurely took a sip of tea.

“That was just something I did out of duty.”

What I often think is that living a life of duty is truly exhausting. Not condoning injustice, and not ignoring the innocent blood flowing before my eyes is indeed a tiring endeavor.

Still, I couldn’t help but act on those apparent duties.

With my identity and power concealed, I was still such a foolish being.

Luwellin, with an unreadable expression, remained silent for a while. She fidgeted with her teacup held in both hands, engaging in this pointless act until she sighed after a lengthy pause.

“…You’re really quite a foolish person, aren’t you, Princess.”

“That’s a very accurate observation.”

There was no room for rebuttal in that statement. Nodding in agreement, Luwellin let out a bewildered laugh.

“Can I ask how you knew? As a bonus question. My face was covered by a mask and my voice was modulated, yet you figured it out?”

Diego, according to the original work, was described as having extraordinary perception. Coupled with the fact that I, Mir, had met him twice, I could see why he might be able to figure it out. But I was curious how Luwellin had discerned it with just a brief glance.

Luwellin arrogantly tilted her head up.

“Considering your kindness in helping me, I’ll just tell you this much. It’s your hands.”

“…My hands?”

I tilted my head. Glancing at the hands that held my teacup, Luwellin began to explain.

“I have a habit of guessing a person’s life by looking at their hands when I meet them. It started when I was young, and now it has developed into a method where I remember the fingerprint patterns of people.”

‘Isn’t that… a sign of genius?’

The idea that she could remember someone’s fingerprints at a glance seemed absurd. Yet, since it was Luwellin saying so, it seemed plausible. I could easily imagine her creating grenades out of pine cones at five years old. Luwellin continued.

“I was observing your hands closely the time you saved me. Your hands have so many scars that they’re hard to forget. More than anything, it was fascinating that your fingerprints were all worn out and not visible at all; I kept that in mind.”

‘Oh, so my hands are like that.’

I looked down at my fingertips anew. They were rough and calloused, worn down from wielding swords for countless hours. A bittersweet smile crossed my face before I set it into a serious expression.

“Since that was a bonus, let’s get to the real question. Can I request you keep this a secret?”

I asked in a serious tone.

“If that’s what you wish, Princess.”

Luwellin, who was staring at me intently, responded with a slightly coy expression. I narrowed my eyes a bit more, wanting a clearer answer.

“Can you promise that?”

“Ha! Princess Crisis, I’m someone who values debts. I swear on my every name and Deckardo’s red rose. If you wish, I can even swear by the sun.”

Her response to my query was delivered with a tone that indicated she was slightly offended.

Deckardo’s family held tremendous pride in their lineage. For a member of Deckardo to swear on their red rose was tantamount to saying they would commit seppuku if they broke that vow.

Unless Luwellin wanted to mislead me, there was no gain to be had from revealing her secret, so I chose to trust her.

“It’s my turn now. Princess Crisis, are you the Mercenary King Mir?”

‘Ah.’

That was a painful direct hit. I slightly trembled my shoulders and nodded.

In fact, the aura radiating from my sword had already been a dead giveaway that I was Mir; the possibility of being recognized wasn’t unexpected. Back then, it didn’t matter being revealed as Mir, but as I aimed to conceal that identity while being Princess Crisis, the situation had changed.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep this under wraps too, swearing on Deckardo’s rose. I merely asked for confirmation.”

Luwellin, startled by the tender look I gave her, returned the promise. I smiled faintly and nodded.

I might have seemed a bit foolish, but for some reason, I had faith in Luwellin. I believed she would keep the promises she made.

“Then, my next question is… um… I hope you won’t find it too strange.”

“What is it?”

I hesitated, feeling a bit awkward, prompting Luwellin to urge me on. With her eyes watching me intently, I finally mustered up the courage to speak.

“What do you think of Sir Reiner Einhart…?”

At my question, Luwellin looked utterly bewildered. Even I thought it was a sudden and off-the-wall inquiry, so I averted my gaze to the air.

“I’ll answer since a promise is a promise. I haven’t thought about it in depth, but… um, he has a fair face and seems capable enough?”

Her unfiltered answer made me burst out laughing in surprise.

The reason I asked such a random question was to firmly confirm whether this world also had the absurdity of original works like fantasy novels.

‘I was curious if, by saving her, Luwellin had fallen for Reiner… but that doesn’t seem likely.’

I’d already confirmed that even when the male and female main characters met through Aria and the sword, they could become enemies rather than fall in love at first sight, but I just wanted to verify that once more.

And the expression on Luwellin’s face while talking about Reiner was simply indifferent.

“Could it be that you fancy Sir Einhart?”

“Yes?”

“Um… Nevermind.”

When I asked for clarification, Luwellin made a strange face and produced an odd huff of air. She soon reverted back to her original haughty expression and spoke up.

“I have just one more question, but do you have more questions to ask, Princess?”

“No. I think I only need to ask one more.”

“Alright. Then I’ll ask my last question.”

Luwellin seemed slightly hesitant about what question she was about to ask, expressing even a rare moment of uncertainty. Though I could remain silent if things went awry, seeing her face growing more serious made me a bit concerned.

“I thought, upon meeting you, that you seemed to be quite a free person. A fact supported by wearing a uniform at the debut banquet and casually speaking of using a sword.”

Luwellin spoke softly. Her tone came across with an oddly bittersweet hint. I found myself leaning in to listen.

Fixed mindsets can be frightening.

Because of the difference in outward appearance and interests from the average young lady, people spread outlandish rumors about me. I found it more astonishing that Luwellin viewed me as free rather than weird.

“So, I wanted to ask for your advice. When told to live quietly as a flower and I have something I truly want to do, what would you do?”

That last question bore an overwhelmingly heavy weight. For the first time, Luwellin’s expression utterly crumbled. I stared intently at her as she trembled, averting her gaze and fluttering her eyelashes.

Her crimson, luscious hair. A splendid, light-green dress. A tightly corseted waist. She was as beautiful as a blooming rose. Clearly noble and beautiful.

‘Why does she look so exhausted?’

Her eyes, which seemed to hold the depths of a recording, were sadly sinking. There was no vitality in her eyes.

Living a life not chosen can be burdensome enough. I felt a sense of shock at glimpsing this darker side of Luwellin.

I had no idea what kind of answer to give. After carefully choosing my words for a while, at some point, I took a deep breath.

‘I’m trying to surmise Luwellin’s situation right now.’

In a bid to give a good answer, I had unconsciously been predicting and judging Luwellin’s circumstances. It felt like I was deceiving her.

No one can fully understand another’s life. All humans exist within a realm of misunderstanding toward each other, as uncharted entities.

‘She asked what I would do if I were in her shoes.’

In that case, I needed to just share my story.

“I’m a bit of an extreme person. Without freedom guaranteed, I feel no reason to live.”

I love my father, Caesar. I expressed my deep gratitude for all the love he has given me.

However, even if it was Caesar, if he were to attempt to restrict my freedom, I would point my sword at him. That is something no one has the audacity to touch.

“I would rather die and become a butterfly than wither and be cut.”

That was my answer. Living without freedom was worse than death.

Luwellin’s pupils shook significantly.

“The Deckardo Young Lady has… truly beautiful hair.”

As I gazed at Luwellin, who wore a confused expression, I slowly spoke. Even though it was a compliment, her face quickly hardened into an expression of annoyance.

“Yeah. That’s something I’ve heard to the point of having crusts in my ears. Does it resemble a blooming rose?”

“No.”

Slowly raising my hand, I gathered a handful of Luwellin’s hair. Then, I smiled gently at her.

“Your hair resembles flames that burn away everything.”

She was like a flower. A flame. I didn’t know how others viewed her, but in my eyes, she was burning beautifully.

“Flames have the right to burn. I hope the Deckardo Young Lady does not give up that right.”

The way Luwellin’s pupils trembled aimlessly conveyed her confusion. It seemed she needed time to think. I decided to quickly ask my final question and take my leave.

“Then, I’ll ask my last question.”

I smiled at Luwellin, who was unable to tear her gaze away from me.

“Will you be my friend, Luwellin?”

Luwellin’s eyes widened in surprise. I patiently waited for her, who seemed flustered. It took quite some time, but eventually, Luwellin burst into a laugh that was mixed with tears.

“You’re really a fascinating person.”

Luwellin’s clear eyes, now aligned with mine, curved into a radiant smile. It was the first time I had seen her light up like this.

“Alright. Consider it an honor, Kashmir.”

And just like that, I gained a new friend.