I Tried To Be Her Loyal Sword

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Chapter 163

Clink.

I placed the glass I was holding on the teacup saucer. The tea set, with finely engraved pure gold roses on a white background, resembled more than just luxury – it felt like a work of art.

“Indeed, it seems that Rose tea is the best from Rosie.”

I let out a small laugh, tasting the rose fragrance that filled my mouth like the dew of a midsummer night.

“Rosie” is a first-rate tea brand launched by Deckardo Marquis.

“I’m glad if Kashmir enjoyed it.”

The graceful figure before me lightly tilted her glass. Even in that sequence of actions, elegance shone through.

“Congratulations on entering the finals of the Swordsmanship Tournament, Kashmir.”

The vine-like, red hair of Kal swayed in the air, carried by the breeze from the garden. Her deep green eyes held warmth.

“Thank you, Leuelin.”

I beamed at my dear friend.

It had been two days since the first round had ended. Now the second round was taking place, and while the other participants must have been extremely busy, I had a lot of free time since I was seeded from the first round.

The swordsmanship tournament was in a tournament style, meaning that even those with excellent skills could suffer unfortunate outcomes by meeting the wrong opponent.

To prevent that and to maintain the excitement of spectators watching strong fighters clash, the organizers positioned some competitors to face off later in the rounds.

I was the top seed of the first round. I skipped the second and third rounds and would start competing from the fourth round. I couldn’t complain about the reduced hassle.

“I watched the match. It was fantastic. Do you know how heated the Empire has become with stories of your swordsmanship? The rumors of you being a juvenile lady strutting around with a sword have finally diminished, and that was such a relief.”

Leuelin spoke with a sharp tone, appearing more excited and proud than I the person involved. I felt a bit awkward and rubbed the back of my neck.

“It’s not that remarkable. The Emperor is my disciple, and I knew his patterns well, which helped a lot. Since the opponent was him, I suppose it stirred up some discussion.”

“No, there’s a more fundamental reason.”

I tried to brush it off, but Leuelin cut me off resolutely. Her deep green eyes, filled with affection, sparkled.

“Kashmir’s swordsmanship stirs the hearts of people. She moves freely, expressing her passion for being alive in every action. Watching the sword swung by Kashmir leaves one in awe, with a racing heart. Surely, many fans must have been born from the first round onwards.”

With the flood of compliments, I found myself fidgeting with my fingers. The way she enthusiastically spoke about my swordsmanship felt so sincere that I grew even more embarrassed. Leuelin, smiling at me, punctuated her thoughts decisively.

“I’m a fan of yours too.”

Seeing how well she spoke made it easy to understand why Leuelin was called the Emperor of the social circle.

I felt like I was floating to the ends of the sky, using both hands to cover my flushed face. I was extremely weak to praise.

“Cough! Well, I’m also a fan of Leuelin, so we are each other’s fans.”

“Is Kashmir also my fan?”

Leuelin leaned forward slightly, her body swaying like the red jeweled bowtie she wore, the only accessory accompanying her otherwise light outfit of a white bishop’s waistcoat and riding pants.

“So, what part of me do you like?”

Leuelin asked playfully, propping her chin on her hand. Despite usually being prickly and sensitive, she could sometimes show this mischievous side with me.

“Um…”

“Oh dear. Is there nothing about me that stands out enough to stumble over?”

Flustered by her sudden question, Leuelin managed to pull a moody expression like a pro angler who had just caught a fish. Even knowing it was a joke, I couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat. I desperately shook my head.

“That’s not it; there are simply too many to sort through.”

“……Huh?”

Leuelin’s face quickly flushed. Her red face resembled a ripe apple as if the dye had been pulled straight from her hair.

I quietly organized my thoughts and slowly opened my mouth.

“I like the cool Leuelin. The rational and calculating side of you. I want to emulate the thoroughness and clarity you have in separating public and private matters. Unlike you, I often get caught up in my emotions and act on beliefs.”

“……Isn’t that usually considered a flaw? Everyone says I’m too cold and that I’m more like a machine than a person.”

At my careful reasoning, Leuelin’s gaze softened. I slowly averted my eyes.

Indeed, saying a lady was cold was closer to an insult than a compliment. The virtue of a lady typically entailed being warm and gentle.

‘But isn’t it strange?’

While being a cold lady sounds terribly negative, the notion of a cold lord sounds rather positive. How could the same adjective lead to either insult or praise just based on who it was describing?

“I don’t think being cool is a bad thing. I consider it wise.”

I quietly expressed my opinion. Meeting Leuelin’s softly shimmering deep green eyes, I gently smiled.

“What do the others’ opinions matter? I like you just the way you are, Leuelin.”

Leuelin blinked slowly, her emerald-like translucent eyes shimmering with a dreamy light. She chuckled lightly, as if resigned to the fact.

“……Really? Have you read ‘101 Ways to Captivate a Person’ or something during the time we weren’t in contact? I was planning to tease you more for not getting in touch, but… here I am, at a loss.”

When the word ‘contact’ came up, I flinched, recalling the hundreds of missed calls I’d received while collapsing from trying to stop the terror attack.

“I’ve already received my punishment… so please be generous and forgive me.”

Right after I was invited by Leuelin to the rose garden terrace of Deckardo Marquis and met her, the very first words I heard were this.

“Oh, uh, Leuelin, haha, long time no see…”

“Just kneel over there with your hands up.”

“Yes.”

I obediently took my punishment.

It made no sense for a marquis’s young lady to punish a duke’s young lady. Yet, I was viewing Leuelin as a friend rather than a marquis’s daughter, and Leuelin’s fearsome expression left me no room to refuse.

And at that moment, I knew if I rejected her, Leuelin would never regard me as a friend again.

Leuelin set a chair in front of me and took a seat, placing a teacup saucer on my head while giving me a fiery gaze as we had a hellish tea time. I struggled to maintain my balance to prevent the saucer from falling as I sweated profusely under Leuelin’s stare.

‘If anything happens…’

‘I will contact Leuelin…!’

‘If anything happens…’

‘I will contact Leuelin!’

After being brainwashed while sitting at a tea table for about half an hour, I finally got to have a tea time like a human with Leuelin. Perhaps recalling the anger of that moment, I shyly avoided the gaze of Leuelin, who was narrowing her eyes at me with barely concealed disdain.

“I feel like I’ve received too much from Kashmir, and I’d like to help Kashmir too, but it sometimes feels disappointing because you seem to depend on me at all.”

“No! I rely on you, but this time…!”

“I know. There probably was a need for discretion. You’re whining even though you know it, so be quiet.”

At Leuelin’s gruff words, I fell silent. No matter how much she had become kinder than before, her cat-like haughtiness and prickly demeanor were still intact. Weak against Leuelin, I obediently placed my hands on my lap.

“…I’ve almost pushed Merhen out.”

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Leuelin tilted her teacup and spoke directly.

I recalled the reluctant support I had given to Merhen not long ago, forcing myself to organize my expression before nodding.

“My father supports me. It’s only natural. There’s no one more suited to the position of Deckardo than me. He believes I will usher in a golden age. Now he’s preparing to hand over the succession to me. With my father’s support and my skills, we can completely take over Deckardo.”

Leuelin spoke coldly. Though her tone was chilling and unfamiliar, I recognized that she wasn’t angry, merely serious.

A reasonable level of confidence isn’t arrogance; it’s about showing one’s shine without hesitation. I looked at Leuelin, who spoke of her own worth without reserve, with gentle eyes.

I liked her like this.

Her deep green eyes were fixed on me.

“When Deckardo is completely in my hands, Deckardo will become your perfect ally.”

At her following words, I momentarily thought I had misheard, narrowing my brows. I mulled over her statement several times before my eyes widened.

“My ally?”

“Yes. As the owner of Deckardo, I will support you. The red rose will always become your ever-flowing treasury.”

Leuelin proudly smiled, then added quietly.

“Wasn’t it to achieve this that you approached me in the first place?”

With her quietly added remark, my heart sank.

“Did… did you know?”

I looked at her with trembling eyes.

At first, yes. In the very beginning. With thoughts of an impending war, I had been hurried and younger in my thinking back then; indeed, her Deckardo seemed very appealing to me.

The reason I came to have my first tea time with her was more for Deckardo than for Leuelin.

“Do you think I wouldn’t know? This was where I first had tea with Kashmir. I never imagined we’d become this close…”

“Leuelin, I…”

“I know that too.”

As I tried to express my bewilderment upon realizing she knew I would exploit her, Leuelin cut me off. The softness in her deep green gaze remained unchanged.

“What I mean is, you truly think of me as a friend now.”

Leuelin tilted her head slightly, her eyes drifting as if reminiscing.

“I thought you were a difficult person at first. Gruff and not showing much expression… I even thought maybe you could be a liar. But as I got to know you better, it’s clear you’re so honest. Despite your expression showing only indifference, your gaze betrays every feeling.”

Her voice carried laughter. I was racking my brain to convince her that what had happened back then was different from now when the accuracy of her evaluation caused my face to flush.

Those who don’t know me think my thoughts are a mystery to them, while those who understand me tease that all of my emotions are visible in my eyes.

“How could I not know? You’re working so hard to support me, so earnestly coming at me with your heart.”

Leuelin’s sharp eyes curved gently. A tear glistened at the corner of her eye as if rolling downhill.

“You were the only truth amidst all the deception surrounding me.”

Leuelin’s voice was high yet calm. Her words were precise and assured, carrying a coolness reminiscent of an autumn’s sunset breeze, both refreshing and seductively enchanting like a tango.

“You can be proud. You’re the only one who supports the cold me without asking for reasons.”

Leuelin said, appearing somewhat aloof. I stared at her blankly for quite a while before releasing a soft laugh mixed with moisture.

Having a friend like this was overwhelmingly joyful.

“If Leuelin becomes my supporter, should I become Leuelin’s sword?”

I reached out cautiously and took Leuelin’s hand. Her hand encased in a black lace glove was beautiful, contrasting starkly with my rough one. Drawing her hand closer, I briefly pressed my lips to the back of it. At that moment, our gazes met.

“As long as I don’t stray from my beliefs, I will fight for you. If you ever need a sword, call for me anytime, Lady Leuelin.”

I smiled broadly at Leuelin. She blinked in surprise, then lightly brushed my cheek with the hand I had kissed, her warmth seeping through the glove.

“They say it’s an honor to bear the blessing of a sword as a calamity. I won’t refuse, knight.”

We gazed at each other for quite a while.

Through the exchange of gazes, we could feel it. That we were being of help to one another.