I Tried To Be Her Loyal Sword

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209화

“You’ve returned.”

After visiting Kasha, I returned home, where the chief butler, Taylor, who had been waiting at the door, bowed to me. I blinked in confusion while handing him my jacket.

“Is something wrong?”

‘It’s not usual for Taylor to come out to greet me.’

From the first day I arrived at the Duke’s Mansion, I had a deep connection with the old butler, Taylor. He was incredibly experienced and, regardless of social status, we interacted almost like mentor and mentee.

However, it was rare for someone with such significant responsibilities to come out to greet me.

“Dinner is underway in the hall. The Duke instructed that you should come to the hall as soon as you arrive, without delaying for anything else.”

“Not even to change?”

“Yes. He said it’s urgent.”

Feeling that something urgent had occurred, I couldn’t hide my stiff expression. I stood there, quickly washed my face, and moved my feet.

“I need to go right away.”

I had to go and see for myself.

“I’m here.”

“Welcome back.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Take a seat.”

As I entered the hall and greeted them, Aria, Kal, and Caesar responded in turn. The fact that they all replied indicated that I hadn’t done anything wrong, but the atmosphere felt much heavier than usual.

I sat down, tense.

“Let’s eat first. Everyone, grab your utensils.”

At Caesar’s remark, everyone picked up their cutlery. Caesar didn’t even touch his food, while Kal and Aria picked at their meals with worried expressions. I was quite hungry, but caught up in the mood, I could barely eat and found my gaze wandering around nervously.

“Not long ago, a letter arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

Not long after starting to eat, Caesar opened his mouth. He seemed to be facing a difficult issue, wearing a complicated expression. I may have looked like I was listening closely, but his strangely subdued red eyes were fixed on me.

“There will soon be an official meeting with the North. They initiated the proposal. Judging from the letter, it doesn’t seem they’re thinking of avoiding war. It’s likely they want to declare war instead. However, there’s one request from the North.”

Caesar clasped his hands together and chewed at his lips.

“They want you to attend the meeting.”

“……What?”

I doubted my ears.

‘Attend the meeting? Me? Why?’

Did I mishear? But Caesar’s serious expression suggested otherwise. I felt like I’d stumbled upon a secret and was in a daze, but quickly snapped back to reality, starting to think.

‘It’s already likely that my identity as Mir is known across the continent, so they must know that too. They probably deduced that my position as an instructor would necessitate some scouting and oversight. They might want to see the Sword Masters affiliated with the Empire in one go. Caesar and Reiner, given their positions, would certainly be obliged to attend, but my status is ambiguous enough to skip out.’

If I thought calmly, the North had ample reason to draw me in.

‘And most importantly…

I pressed my lips together, recalling earlier events.

In Diego’s office, I hadn’t just caught up with Diego after a long time.

‘I remember telling you that the ruler of the North runs a massive organization. I believe I mentioned that they were using it as a source of funds.’

‘Yes. I remember.’

‘I found that organization. It was closer than I expected… and in an unexpected place as well.’

Diego’s blue eyes opened wide.

‘It’s the Information Guild “Hide & Seek.” The guild leader there is the ruler of the North.’

Even though I had intuitively expected the organization’s name, it still made my heart race.

‘Zigmund Hyde.’

A conspirator with Cypros. The guild leader of “Hide & Seek.” A powerhouse comparable to me, and the ruler of the North.

That violet eye I always thought resembled a monster and his dark hair, as black as darkness, expressed his essence.

‘Somehow, that constant feeling of wanting to leave, looking like he was carrying a heavy burden, and repeatedly saying I’d regret saving him… it all makes sense now.’

Zigmund’s ambiguous demeanor suddenly had most of its elements explained.

‘If that guy is the leader of the North, it’s not strange for him to have specifically called me. I don’t know the exact reason, but—’

It could very well be a tactical reason, or perhaps it was just to mock me. You saved me, and look what a villain I’ve become.

Regardless of the reason, it was enough to stir my feelings.

“Well, well. What can we do?”

It was Caesar’s low voice that pulled my mind from its wandering thoughts.

He looked at me with concern.

“Will you attend the meeting? If you don’t want to, I’ll find a way to avoid it. You don’t have to force yourself.”

His attitude of prioritizing my feelings gave me strength.

I briefly adjusted my calloused fingertips and offered the brightest smile I could muster.

“What reason would I have to back down? I’m all for it.”

If there’s going to be such a meeting, I’d be grateful to be invited directly rather than eavesdrop.

“You’re quite bold.”

Caesar let out a short sigh at my unwavering answer. He seemed worried about me, but perhaps reassured by my confirmation that I was okay, his expression softened a bit.

“In the competition between nations, you will officially attend as a special attendee at the request of the North, not as a guard of the Emperor. When you go to work tomorrow, you should receive a summons from the Emperor. More details will come then. Everything I’ve been told ends here.”

“Understood.”

I replied readily. Caesar, who was staring at me, reached out and ruffled my hair. It was a touch filled with both admonishment and encouragement.

“You’re stepping into a difficult path too quickly.”

The red eyes, often referred to as demonic in society, softened with a bittersweet gentleness. It was a subtle change, but I noticed.

“I hope you don’t carry too much.”

His words, though lacking in grandiosity or flair, always struck a chord in people. It was probably because he was so inherently earnest. I bit my lip to hold back the swell of emotions and gently fixed the hair he had disheveled as I smiled.

“I’m not struggling since you’re sharing the burden with me.”

That was completely sincere.

After finishing the meal, I retreated to my room.

The black rose room I had been using since entering the Duke’s Mansion initially had a rather dull and solemn feel, but it was gradually transforming into a cozy and clean ambiance per my preference.

‘This is supposed to be the heir’s room… What if I actually become a little lord at this rate?’

While dismissing my attendant and changing clothes alone, I suddenly felt a pang of worry. I was already being treated as the heir at the grand noble meeting, and it seemed like Caesar was subtly pushing me towards that role. I worried that I might accidentally end up being recognized as the heir.

‘I need to hurry and suggest drawing lots.’

Caesar had said to draw lots with Kal and Aria to decide the heir of the Duke’s Mansion. Knowing his personality, he wouldn’t say something like that lightly, so he must have meant it sincerely.

I felt unsure if it was okay to let things go on like this. Instead of solidifying my position as the heir, I should draw lots quickly and pass the role to either Kal or Aria.

Knock, knock.

“Miss, are you there?”

“Just a moment.”

Just as I was finishing up changing, I heard a voice from outside the door. It was my maid, Maria. Sensing her approach, I quickly tidied up my appearance and opened the door.

“What’s the matter?”

“This afternoon, a letter arrived addressed to you.”

Maria handed me an envelope. I received it.

“However, it looks suspicious since there’s no sender or address, just your name written plainly. I made sure there were no danger signs, but… do you have any idea who might have sent it? If not, I can just dispose of it.”

The kraft paper envelope was stiff and clean. As per Maria’s words, only my name was plainly written on the surface. As I delicately traced the elegant handwriting of my name, I soon smiled coldly.

“Yes, I know.”

The envelope was imbued with a faint magical aura. It was so faint that one wouldn’t notice it without knowing the owner of that magic.

Despite having the air of being quite intentional, I well understood whose aura it was.

“It’s the information I requested a while ago.”

The face of that unpleasant person floated in my mind. Zigmund.

I reassured the worried Maria and returned to my room. Though I felt the urge to crumple the envelope in my hand multiple times, my rationality still held me back.

Months ago, I had gone to “Hide & Seek” on my own and bought information directly from Zigmund. The three people I had requested information about. My mother, Anthea Hela, Leo’s caretaker, Leisha, and Zigmund himself.

‘The information will be delivered to your home.’

Zigmund had shamelessly replied like that. And he had true to his word. I grimaced as I remembered that time and looked down at the envelope.

‘Should I open it or not?’

At the time, I could answer that I wasn’t sure if I considered him a friend, but now being friends with him was tantamount to being a traitor. Given that my relationship with Zigmund had deteriorated to the point where it couldn’t get any worse, even looking at materials that passed through his hands felt awkward.

‘But he wouldn’t lie when it comes to something like this.’

Even if out of pride, he would thoroughly investigate the information he’d give me. That much I knew of Zigmund.

‘I need information about Leisha…’

I sighed, wringing my hands over the envelope.

Thanks to Yasha and Caesar, I learned quite a bit about my mother, and I no longer had curiosity about Zigmund. However, I still lacked information about Leisha.

‘This should be fine since it’s information received as a guild client.’

Resolutely, I decided to open the envelope with a paper knife.

Inside the smoothly opened envelope were three sheets of paper. I removed all three and perched on my desk.

‘First, let’s skip the one about my mother.’

The first page, detailing Anthea Hela, I passed over. I had already satisfied most of my curiosity about her. I would read it thoroughly later, but what I was most curious about right now was the information on Leisha.

I focused on the name Leisha on the next page.

[Leisha. Moonlight Wolf Beastkin.]

I already knew it, but the powerful opening line was followed by information I hadn’t known. I began to read slowly, blinking.

‘She attended the Imperial Academy and was the second-in-command of the Magic Department. At that time, she was friends with Anthea Hela, who was head of the Magic Department, and Leandro Romanov, who was the top student of the Sword Department. They were called the three musketeers. Leandro Romanov… later became the Empress of Atara, the mother of the current king.’

Leandro Romanov. It was the moment I finally learned the name of the character who only appeared as the mother of the male protagonist in the original “Fairy Forest.”

‘Alexandros Leandro Leonid Atara. So, the origin of the first middle name came from his mother.’

I gulped slowly.

The fact that Leandro, Anthea, and Leisha knew each other was something I was hearing for the first time and was truly a helpful insight.

‘Zigmund, that guy is turning out to be useful.’

I turned the page, feeling a bit miffed.

“…Ha.”

Then I let out a hollow laugh.

Even now, the one who complicates my heart the most, the hardest to comprehend, was undeniably him.

[Zigmund Hyde, the ruler of the North.]

Below that proudly written name and title, there was a single sentence in handwriting that was unmistakably his.

[The biggest bastard of your life.]

It was the most perfect description.