I Tried To Be Her Loyal Sword

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“Umm…”

I let out a short hum as I groggily opened my eyes. The cave, no longer even alive with the glow of the campfire, was eerily silent. As I looked outside where morning had dawned and the snow had settled, I turned my gaze to the empty spot across from me.

‘So he really has gone.’

I had suspected as much when I sensed movement while I was sleeping, but now that the vacancy was glaringly apparent, a rush of thoughts flooded my mind. I stared at the place where Zigmund had been and clicked my tongue.

He truly was a selfish man, leaving abruptly and making me feel his absence.

As I sluggishly got up to leave, my eyes were drawn to a white piece of paper fluttering beneath a rock nearby.

It was a note.

[I’ll pay back the debt later. But you will come to regret saving me.]

“Ha…”

I chuckled softly, sighing as I fiddled with the dirt-stained note.

“Seriously, he never does say thank you.”

The scent of the frigid wind brought with it the same aroma as Zigmund’s unique fragrance.

“…You said you were going to visit a grave, but did you end up digging one? Who did you bury?”

Ariel, who had been scanning me from head to toe, muttered in bewilderment. I scratched my head sheepishly, dressed in dirt and bloodstains from a monster.

“The graveyard was in the North. I ran into a monster while I was there.”

“You met a monster? Are you okay?”

Kil, who had been listening from the side, frowned and shot a sharp response. The first time I faced a monster was when we dealt with the Devira tribe together, and it seemed he had felt a strong sense of danger even if he hadn’t shown it then.

“I’m fine, of course. But… it seems there’s something happening at home.”

Feeling somewhat flustered, I took in the hustle and bustle of the hall. The Duke of Crisis’s mansion always maintained a somber stillness, yet today, all the servants were rushing around with serious expressions.

“Hey… it seems like a lot’s going on,” Ariel said, pushing her bangs aside with an odd look of annoyance on her face. Just as she was about to say more—

“Lady Ariel! The carriage has arrived!”

“…Already? Wait here, sis!”

Ariel rushed off at the servant’s urgent call, leaving me staring blankly as my response vanished in an instant. I turned to Kil.

“Is something happening today? Did I forget an event or something?”

“Not exactly. There was a bit of a stir yesterday when you weren’t around.”

Kil pressed his palm to his forehead as if someone had blundered.

“Word came from the palace. Crown Prince Diego Solarit is…”

Suddenly, the mansion doors burst open. When I instinctively turned towards the noise, my eyes widened in shock.

“…planning to visit the Duke’s residence today.”

Kil’s words trailed off with disbelief, and I found myself gaping.

With his neatly combed golden hair, perfectly tailored attire, and sparkling jewel-like blue eyes, he stood there looking immaculate—so unlike my own disheveled state.

While I stood frozen, he approached with a smile like sunlight, contrasting sharply with Ariel’s pallor.

“It’s been a while, Princess Kashmir.”

Kil’s expression became as withered as dried seaweed.

“So… why have you come to see us?”

I sat awkwardly on the reception room sofa, having hastily changed my clothes without even a proper wash. Diego’s perfect posture and effortlessly crossed legs were compelling against my own weary appearance. His sharp eyes narrowed with mirth.

“I missed you, after all.”

Clang!

The teacup filled with black tea slammed on the desk, fracturing the silence. I swallowed hard, glancing at Ariel, who was smiling pleasantly.

“We are so delighted and honored to have Your Highness visit our humble abode. I wish we could have rolled out the red carpet better, but you did give us ‘half a day’s’ notice, so we may be lacking in hospitality. The Duke is also away at the palace, which is unfortunate.”

Ariel emphasized ‘half a day’ with sardonic precision, and as I pieced together the earlier events from Diego’s arrival, I raised an incredulous eyebrow.

Normally, gentlemen gave notice at least three days in advance when visiting another noble’s home. And if a member of the royal family comes to visit, a week’s notice was the etiquette. It was a big deal to host royalty, after all. Although it wasn’t a strict rule, it was the common understanding.

‘But… visiting with only half a day’s notice…’

While Diego was known to be flexible, he generally valued formality and etiquette highly, especially as a prince destined to deal with nobles who placed great emphasis on ceremonial traditions. Today’s event seemed uncharacteristic of him.

Whether or not I bore the confusion on my face, Diego simply smiled radiantly.

“The Duke’s residence is always well-kept, isn’t it? Hospitality was flawless.”

“I’m glad to hear that. We had quite a ruckus preparing since early morning.”

Kil replied with a sly grin, causing my heart to skip a beat. Kil usually didn’t smile easily—his smiles tended to appear only when he was angry.

“Haha! The fact that everyone welcomes me sincerely makes me so very happy. I didn’t know you cherished me this much.”

Diego laughed heartily and elegantly raised his teacup, seemingly oblivious to any mockery, as if he relished the moment.

Ariel, Kil, and I, who were much younger and less socially adept, couldn’t help feeling overwhelmed by his confidence.

As I quickly shifted my gaze between Ariel’s clenched fists and Kil’s vacant smile, I awkwardly broke the silence.

“Your Highness, didn’t you have something to discuss with me?”

“Oh, Princess Kashmir. Indeed, I came to see you.”

Diego, who had been watching Kil and Ariel with delight, turned back to me, their looks of mischief fading with the shift of his focus.

“I have something to give you and a few matters I wish to discuss privately. Would you mind stepping aside for a bit?”

Ariel’s eyebrows twitched, and Kil’s smile deepened. I sensed a sudden surge of mana gathering in their hands, ready to erupt.

“K-Kil, Ariel. I need to have a private discussion with His Highness, so could you step aside for a moment?”

Like separating wild beasts from people, I had to pull Kil and Ariel away from Diego. Although they both fixed their intense gazes on me, locked in determination, their eyes softened once they met mine.

“…I’ll step back for now.”

“I hope you have a good time.”

The two complied, retreating cautiously to the door at a tortoise’s pace. They looked reluctant to leave. I watched sympathetically as I waved them off.

Once the reception room door closed behind them, a tranquil silence enveloped the room. It was just Diego and me left.

I inhaled sharply and lifted my eyes to face him.

“What brings you here? If you’re willing to come all this way, it must be something serious.”

Diego’s gentle smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a serious expression as he looked into my eyes.

“I can confirm there are no eavesdropping devices here. There’s no one listening in.”

“Would a ducal residence with two sword masters in it even be able to install such devices? There’s no one around, I can assure you.”

His sigh released tension as he lightly leaned back against the sofa, his golden hair spilling across the crimson fabric, the previously rigid posture now relaxed. He seemed to show a vulnerability reserved only for me.

Diego was a man of extreme rationality, always thinking analytically and making wise judgments.

While it sounded as though he had come to see me, there was surely more to it than that.

“I presume you’re aware that the terror incident a while back was backlinked to the House of Cypros and the North. After all, you were the one who dealt with the explosives.”

His voice grew heavy, indicating that the issue was far more serious than I had anticipated. I nodded stiffly in response.

“While there’s consensus on the involvement of the House of Cypros, we lack any solid evidence. We need definitive proof to bring them down. I’ve been thoroughly investigating them to uncover that evidence. In the process, I stumbled upon something related to the North. As you seem to have plans concerning the North as well, I wanted to share this information with you.”

The North. I listened intently, knowing this information could be crucial for me. His blue eyes had a frosty glint of reasoning.

“The one in cahoots with Cypros is the chieftain of the North.”

“The chieftain, you say?”

I furrowed my brow, sifting through memories from the past.

An ally of Cypros. A ruler of the North. I strained to pry open the faint gap of memories from my previous life but came up empty. I could not recall if there had ever been any mention of them in the original story.

“I couldn’t uncover detailed personal information. He’s quite the enigmatic figure. All I’ve been able to ascertain is that he’s one of the big players controlling the underworld. He seems to be running a considerable organization.”

“And do you know where that organization is located? If we can sever ties with their money source, things should go a lot smoother.”

“I’m currently looking into it. It doesn’t seem like an ancient establishment. The unusual movements from the North began roughly five years ago, so it’s likely that their foundation coincided with that time. However, I hear that their power isn’t easy to contend with. It’s an organization that has spread across the continent. Even if we find it, cutting ties may not happen so swiftly.”

I bit my lip and rubbed my chin. No matter how formidable the North’s monster-taming abilities were, they could not last long without funds to procure supplies. However, if they had sufficient financial backing, this war could stretch on longer than anticipated.

‘Well, that’s probably how they managed to turn the tables in the original story.’

The Northern invasion felt akin to a remote island nation overpowering a unified empire—it would have taken significant preparation and strategy to enact it.

As I contemplated this, lost in thought, Diego took a sip of tea and offered me a soft smile. It was more comforting than anything else, as though he were reassuring me.

“This is troubling news, but don’t shoulder it all alone. It’s not just your problem; it’s ours. We’ll navigate this together. You’re not alone.”

As Diego reached out, he gently brushed my hair away. Looking into his contrasting eyes felt liberating, as though the weight pressing down on my shoulders was suddenly lifted.

Like opposing sides of a magnet, Diego and I always fit together seamlessly. He had a way of reading me, sensing my needs and responses almost intuitively.

“…Thank you. Just as you’ve been trustworthy by sharing this information, I’ll place my trust in you as well.”

I couldn’t help but rely on someone who felt so dependable. Despite my nature of reluctance, I found myself leaning on Diego. He truly felt like an ‘adult.’

“Good thinking. You can rely on me whenever you need. I’ll always be here waiting for you.”

Diego broke into a bright smile that seemed to scatter rays of light. He playfully added a hint of mischief to his demeanor.

“Please tell your siblings not to hold a grudge against me. I just noticed they seemed set to tear me apart, and, well, I had to relay the information quickly. The palace has too many ears, so I felt safer here at the Duke’s. That’s why I came here, even against my better judgment.”

“I’ll handle it with Kil and Ariel.”

“Good. I wouldn’t want to upset my brother-in-law and sister-in-law.”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean, I want to get along well with Crisis.”

Diego concluded smoothly. As I stood there momentarily stunned, he casually reached into his pocket, pulling something out.

Inside a small case laid the necklace with a ring.

“I told you I’d give you a token from the Swordsmanship Tournament. I thought about the design and figured you’d think of me if you saw it.”

The circular ring appeared silver from afar but revealed itself to be platinum upon closer inspection. The sapphire in the center was of a size that was neither too burdensome nor too small, reflecting the exact hue of Diego’s eyes.

“Do you remember what you said? That you’d keep it close to your heart and always carry it with you?”

As Diego stood, moving closer, he gently draped the necklace around my neck. Our eyes met; I found myself gazing up at him while he looked down at me.

Shadows cast a deeper veil across his face, but his sparkling blue eyes seemed to glimmer even under the shade. They fluttered for a brief moment and then fell closed.

He leaned down and pressed his lips against my forehead. The sensation against my skin sent a delightful shiver coursing through me. When Diego pulled away again, he turned to me with a radiant smile.

“Don’t forget that I’m here for you. You can rely on me whenever you need to.”

The warmth of his kindness melted away any burdens I had been carrying.