I Tried To Be Her Loyal Sword

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Chapter 190

Four days have passed since the chaotic and terrifying Swordsmanship Tournament ended.

There was an assassination attempt on Helios, and in the arena packed with countless citizens of the Empire, it was revealed that I am Mir. The Empire was completely turned upside down by this incident.

Many foresaw a war, and the number of people fleeing the continent to escape the war was increasing. This was the second time that the Emperor’s life had been threatened, leading many to doubt the security of our nation.

And even in this dark, stormy prelude, the fact that the Princess of Crisis was the Sword Master Mir was constantly on people’s lips.

Over those four days, I saw my face on the front page of the newspaper every single day. Thanks to Zigmund, the photo taken while I had a haggard expression amidst the tension—how I managed to use Photo Magic in such a situation remains a mystery. The race of journalists was far more impressive than I had thought—every time I saw that article, my face burned with embarrassment.

The fact that the Kashmir Crisis was Mir was spreading across the continent beyond the Empire.

So has my life drastically changed 180 degrees since that major event? Not quite.

My room was filled with letters from journalists requesting interviews, but all of them were handled by my capable head butler, Taylor.

For four days, calls had persistently come from the Imperial Palace and the Temple, but Caesar cut them all off, claiming I was unwell. As I never did venture into the social circles, I wouldn’t have been a spectacle among the bustling aristocrats anyway.

Since that incident, I was unexpectedly living a life that had changed not 180 degrees but rather a full 360 degrees, eating and lounging in the mansion.

“Can you please let me go now? I’ll kneel!”

And on the fourth day, I found myself hanging upside down in Caesar’s office, being bombarded by the unavoidable wrath of fate.

The rope connecting my ankles to the ceiling swung left and right, causing my body to sway like a pendulum.

Having long surpassed human limits, my ankles didn’t hurt, nor did I feel any blood rushing to my head, but the suffocating air in the room was unbearable.

‘Please, let me live.’

I took a moment to absorb my upside-down view before shutting my eyes tightly in guilt.

“Come here.”

With his hands clasped under his chin, Caesar, who had been deep in thought, slowly opened his lips. At his words, I felt a flicker of hope and immediately severed the rope before performing a somersault and landing on the floor.

This rope couldn’t hold me. What bound me were the individuals who tied me up.

‘Maybe I should’ve just stayed hanging.’

As my upside-down view returned to normal, I regretted coming down. Caesar sat at the desk in the center of the office, flanked by Kal and Aria, and they looked like the three great kings of hell.

As I walked towards them, I felt my body shrinking.

“It’s fine if you move without telling me your plans.”

As I stood before the desk, Caesar spoke in a low voice. His voice was fissured, which struck me as odd; though he shouldn’t have caught a cold, it was clear he had suffered quite a bit. His sharp tone pricked at my conscience.

“No need to explain how you predicted the future and acted accordingly.”

Despite my overwhelming curiosity, Caesar spoke firmly, weighing heavily on my mind.

“So, please don’t deny me that request.”

Though Caesar’s voice seemed calm at a glance, those of us who knew him well could sense the horror intentionally concealed beneath that calm facade.

Four days ago, after Zigmund disappeared, the chaotic arena regained a measure of calm. In the midst of it, Caesar suddenly dashed over, paler than a ghost, as he broke through the shattered barrier towards me. His big hand, which seemed ready to crush my own, trembled madly.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“Wait, Duke…”

“It’s me!”

As Helios urgently tried to stop him from striding ahead, I saw Caesar lose his grip on reality.

“Please send me away before I lose my mind and bring this arena crashing down.”

His pupils were wide, his red eyes a mix of horror and survival instinct.

Helios sighed heavily, clearly exhausted from having to dodge threats to his life.

“…Go then. The Princess of Kashmir must be tired too.”

As soon as Caesar received permission from him, he led me away, marching off without a single goodbye—a considerable rudeness, but in the presence of the Emperor’s permission, no one could say a word. I followed him back to the mansion without resistance.

“…Father.”

“Later.”

Once we stepped into the mansion, Caesar took a moment to catch his breath as if trying to suppress something. For the first time, he directly refused to communicate with me. I felt the urge to bite my tongue as I opened my lips.

“No. We need to talk now.”

I too pressed the issue for the first time, unwilling to honor his intent as I felt that if I didn’t speak now, I might never get the chance. It would be simpler to just bear the blows one at a time.

Caesar turned to face me. His unnaturally dilated pupils were filled with emptiness, revealing his fragile state. I swallowed hard, the words swirling in my mouth like poison.

“I’m going to join the war that’s going to break out soon.”

Caesar stopped breathing. Not just his breath; all movement and the pulse of life seemed to freeze. It was painful, but I did not look away from his eyes. I had to face all kinds of death.

Without a word, Caesar turned away from me and left for his room. I didn’t stop him. Although I had spoken in a panic, knowing I needed to say something before the situation dictated otherwise, I also understood he needed time.

For the next four days, Caesar didn’t show his face to me. Not only did he avoid me at meal times, but even when I mustered the courage to visit, the only message I received via the attendants was that he was unavailable right now.

Time passed peacefully yet not peacefully, and it was only today that Caesar finally called for me. And here I was, in this situation.

“A noble family above the marquess level is not required to serve in the military. Even if the regulations change to require one of you to go, I’ll be the one to go, so you three don’t need to worry about it.”

In the precarious atmosphere, Caesar spoke quietly. His hands clasped together were pale, as if he were holding back something powerful.

Above all, he wouldn’t meet my gaze.

“Children shouldn’t suffer because of wars started by adults. This war is a sin that must be borne by my generation. You have no obligation to it.”

Every one of his words was laden with heavy responsibility.

He was right. I didn’t need to bear the responsibility for winning or losing this war. It was a conflict created by generations above mine.

‘But if I think like that, then there hasn’t really been anyone who made enough mistakes to truly be responsible for this war.’

Should I blame the previous generation’s Imperial Army for suppressing the North under orders?

But they were in a position where disobeying commands would result in immediate execution.

I might blame the previous Emperor who carried out tyrannies, but he was already dead. There was no way to seek revenge on a handful of ashes.

So where should the age-old grievances of the North be directed? Was it right to obstruct their rightful vengeance?

But the current Empire isn’t the one that has sinned.

The questions with no answers stretched endlessly like a Möbius strip.

Unfortunately, there was no answer here. All that could be done was to do our best from our respective positions.

“If you turn a blind eye because it’s not your obligation, this world will become far too bleak.”

Despite my inability to conceal my guilt, I spoke firmly. Facing tragedy rather than looking away from it. This was my best effort.

“You know how strong I am, right? I don’t plan to die on the battlefield. I will return alive.”

I would kill and return alive, paying for life with life. Living was far more challenging than dying.

At my resolute words, Kal, who had been leaning against the bookshelf with arms crossed, finally stood up, having looked into empty space for a while.

“You’ll be a kind hero to the world.”

His red eyes, the same shade as Caesar’s but with a considerably different feel, stared at me.

“To me, you’re a cruel person.”

His eyes looked both pitiful and ferocious, like a wounded beast. The red irises shimmered with moisture.

I forced a smile, trying to twist my stiffened lips.

“You still love me, don’t you?”

Such boldness was something I wouldn’t have imagined in the past. I had learned to be loved since coming here. Kal’s face twisted as if he were about to cry.

“…That’s the biggest tragedy in my damned life.”

Kal was very good at lying, but it was painfully clear to me that he was lying. It was still true now.

He didn’t say any more, only lowered his head. It signaled to me that he wouldn’t try to stop me.

“Are you saying I wouldn’t go if you tried to stop me?”

In response to Caesar’s hollow voice, I just laughed. He already probably knew the answer wasn’t really a question. Caesar let out a hollow chuckle.

“Well, you already know I can’t break you.”

He murmured in a locked voice with his face buried in one hand. I closed my eyes and counted to three. It was a trick to gather my waning resolve.

“Let Aria persuade you herself.”

With Caesar’s permission implied in his words, I slowly turned to the silhouette atop the desk.

The one who had hung me upside down the moment I entered this place, the child who had never once taken her eyes off me since then.

As Aria jumped down from the desk and approached me with unrestrained steps, I instinctively looked away. Her small hand gripped my collar tightly.

“Look at me, Princess Kashmir Crisis.”

Her voice was impossible to resist. I gulped hard and slowly raised my head.

“Look properly. Don’t look away.”

The blazing blue flames held not sadness or anger but a resolute will.

“It’s not just you who can protect me. I can protect you too.”

It was something I had heard before. Aria’s words had always struck me heavy and deep.

“Are you ready to bear the consequences that come with this choice?”

Her overly significant words demanded explanation as I looked at Aria, but she showed no intent to explain. Her gaze demanded an answer.

I hesitated for a moment, but after a while, I opened my lips. The answer I would give was already decided.

“…Yes. Whatever it takes.”

I wouldn’t have made it this far without that commitment. If it meant protecting this family, I was willing to do anything.

“Then go. I won’t stop you.”

Aria released her grip on my collar. Her short pink hair flowed down my neck, and her fairy-like face showed unwavering determination. Aria had grown so much that she could no longer be called a child.

I had expected her to hold on, and I nodded, slightly dazed.

At that moment, I should have taken her words more seriously.