I Tried To Be Her Loyal Sword

---

231 Chapter

As expected from Atara, known as the wealthiest in the continent, the banquet was extravagant, but I had no time to enjoy it. I struggled amidst the gathered nobles.

“The House of Crisis has historically commanded the military in the Empire, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“To be a Sword Master at your age, truly impressive.”

“Oh, it’s nothing…”

I mechanically responded to the overflowing praises. It was better than being insulted, but for me, enduring this was equally difficult.

People showed no signs of leaving my side, seemingly trying to connect with the Solarit Empire’s social circle through me, but since I was far removed from the socialite scene, I had nothing special to say.

As I stood there praying for the time to pass quickly, one of the nobles cautiously asked,

“Have you had a relationship with His Majesty the King for a long time?”

The scattered gazes of the crowd immediately focused on me. They seemed curious, even if they didn’t directly ask. I sighed inwardly.

‘I was wondering when the questions would start.’

News of Leo lending me his palace had already spread everywhere. On top of that, my attire matched his so perfectly that the controversy only intensified.

“We’re old friends.”

“My goodness, since when…?”

“Since His Majesty fled to the Empire as a child.”

There was no reason to keep it a secret, so I answered honestly. The nobles who were surprised by my words began whispering among themselves, and soon they were crowding around me again.

‘Just leave me alone…’

If I could, I wanted to escape and quietly drink on the balcony, but I pressed on because of my responsibility representing the Empire.

‘I should have gotten a crazy nickname like Crisis too.’

I looked at Leo, who sat on the throne with envy.

Normally, most people should gather around King Leo; however, the area five meters in front of the throne was desolate. It was as if no one wanted to dance before the throne.

Leo, lounging there with a champagne flute, looked not overly relaxed but rather bored. Truly, he embodied the image of the tyrant he was infamous for.

‘All the questions meant for you are coming to me, and you’re yawning?’

The stark contrast with my situation made me more jealous, but I took a deep breath to regain my composure and shifted my gaze. If I made eye contact with Leo, he would surely come over, and the situation would become even more tiresome.

“You’re in charge of the reinforcements, correct?”

In the moment of my thoughts, a low, rough voice echoed near my ear.

Instinctively, I grabbed the hilt of my sword. A strange aura put my nerves on high alert.

I turned my head to the owner of the voice.

“Just a greenhorn.”

There stood a burly middle-aged man with a fierce look, resembling a bandit, looking down at me.

As he appeared, the nobles surrounding me gradually backed away. They were all afraid of him.

‘Impressive.’

I could sense the aura of a Sword Expert from him, but I was also not weak enough to be easily intimidated. The scars on his eyes, mouth, and cheeks didn’t seem to be mere decorations.

“And you are?”

I took a sip of my wine and asked casually. The murmurs around me only grew louder.

It was only natural for a man who looked to be well over forty to find me young, so his provocations didn’t have much impact on me, but I could only drop my formality since he did.

The man raised his eyebrows and glared at me sharply with his deep brown eyes.

“I’m Wilhelm Ostheon, the Count of Atara’s border.”

The title of Count of the border meant he was a lord with lands adjacent to the territory. Officially ranked between Count and Marquess, he held practical power comparable to that of a Marquess, recognized for his achievements in guarding a troublesome region.

I nodded and extended my hand to Wilhelm.

“I’m Kashmir Crisis, commanding the reinforcements.”

Wilhelm seized my hand with a strong grip. His hand, as big as a cauldron lid, was as rough as the cracked earth due to drought, giving insight into his harsh life.

“Do you have business with me?”

“I just came to confirm that the commander of the reinforcements has arrived.”

Unlike the nobles’ refined pronunciations, his speech was mixed with a rugged dialect, sounding like metal clashing.

As Wilhelm stared at me with his raw, unfiltered gaze, I carefully studied him.

‘Karasho, my master.’

His dark orange hair, warmed by the light of the crystal chandelier, resembled the color it had before Karasho’s hair turned white.

Had I briefly been lost in nostalgia, Wilhelm clicked his tongue.

“Being strong doesn’t mean one can lead. I don’t understand what the Empire is thinking.”

Shocked expressions turned towards Wilhelm. I let out a hollow laugh and set my glass down on a nearby table.

“That statement could lead to diplomatic issues between Atara and the Empire, you know?”

“Sending a greenhorn like you as the commander is itself a diplomatic issue.”

“Leaving talent aside, the Empire sending reinforcements is a goodwill gesture. Does Atara repay goodwill in this way?”

“Goodwill? Is there such a goodwill filled with calculations? If Atara’s defenses crumble, the Empire will be the next in danger. Isn’t your intention to use Atara as a shield?”

His dark brown eyes blazed fiercely. His large, rough hand clenched into a fist.

“I have lived my life witnessing blood along the border, but I still feel fear on the battlefield. War is not something a greenhorn like you can endure.”

With eyes flashing like a beast, Wilhelm resembled an enraged wolf.

I did not shy away from his gaze, as I placed one hand into my uniform pocket. My fingers brushed against a smooth, pebble-like object.

“You seem quite proud of the life you’ve lived.”

“I’ve endured my life with pride and a sense of duty.”

Wilhelm answered gruffly.

“That’s the same for me.”

A refined killing intent seeped from me. A chill ran through the air. As the sword emitted a faint wisp of smoke, I curbed a smile at the corners of my mouth.

“I, too, have lived a life witnessing blood.”

Our years of experience might differ, but the weight of life in that field remained the same.

With my aura, Wilhelm twitched his eyebrows and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. It appeared to be a habitual action. Between us, a tense standoff continued.

“Count Wilhelm Ostheon. I will not forgive this rudeness.”

Blocking my path was my aide, Jonathan.

“Commander Aimery?”

I was slightly surprised but quickly reined in my aura. Jonathan was my aide, so it was natural for him to attend the banquet, but I didn’t expect him to intervene in my business.

I knew best that he didn’t particularly like me.

“What are you doing? Step aside.”

“I cannot stand by as the commander’s aide.”

Jonathan remained indifferent even before Wilhelm’s fierce gaze. His suffocating calmness was daunting when facing him, but now, standing on my side, it felt incredibly reassuring.

“To tell you to retreat means to take your hands off your sword. You should realize that disrespect towards the commander is a disrespect towards our entire reinforcements.”

Unlike me, who had adopted a somewhat gentle attitude to size Wilhelm up, Jonathan seemed ready to call for Helios at any moment. Perhaps I even blinked at his intensity; Wilhelm raised his hand, which had been gripping the sword’s hilt. It was a sign of no intention to attack.

“…I wasn’t planning to exchange real blows anyway.”

Should he swing his sword at me, no matter how powerful Wilhelm’s noble standing was, it would be difficult for him to remain unscathed. Turning slightly, he stole a glance back at me.

“I don’t mean to acknowledge you. You must prove that you are fit to be the commander.”

An icy atmosphere surrounded Wilhelm’s demeanor. I continued to grip the smooth object touching my fingertips, smiling brightly at him.

“I expect you to prove that you, too, have the qualification to say such words.”

‘You, being so weak with people, should know. It’s a magic tool that detects trustworthy individuals.’

Before coming here, Kal and Aria had gifted me a so-called ‘person detector’. Since it was a prototype and could be used only once, I had debated using it before coming to the banquet.

Bzzzt—

And the detector was clearly vibrating here, standing before someone untrustworthy.

“As a commander, I have shown an untrustworthy appearance. Thanks for your help.”

After the detector’s vibrations ceased, I held it for a moment longer and nodded towards Jonathan. It wasn’t a situation I couldn’t handle without his help, but I genuinely appreciated the unexpected favor.

“Of course, I was just doing my duty.”

He fluttered his eyelashes and casually turned his gaze away. His pit-like black pupils still did not reveal his true feelings.

“You are our face. Please do not crumble anywhere.”

Though devoid of any emotional undertone, his neat and straightforward voice felt kind in itself.

I chuckled softly.

“Sure. I am your commander.”

I had never forgotten that weight even once.

After the incident with Wilhelm, the footsteps of the nobles who had approached me came to an abrupt halt. Instinctively, it seemed they were keeping their distance from me, as I had briefly released my killing intent.

I stayed a few more minutes out of courtesy before stealthily leaving the banquet hall like a shadow.

“I thought I was going to suffocate to death.”

Huff, I released a long breath and loosened my tightly bound neck. Even having experienced it several times, I never got used to banquets.

Since it was my first time seeing the palace, I wandered for a while, not knowing the area, but soon found a balcony.

‘Most of them are occupied.’

The balconies, draped with curtains and tied with red ribbons to signal occupancy, were in the majority. I wondered if people were waiting outside for Leo while catching a breeze, but today didn’t seem to be that day.

Just as I was about to turn back,

‘Wait a minute.’

A familiar aura carried through the air, causing me to halt in my tracks.

Doubt turned to anxiety, anxiety to certainty, and certainty to shock. I turned my body around and began to run madly.

‘No way, how? No, why? How is this happening?’

This was someone who absolutely should not be here.

Running this much was not difficult at all, yet the sweat starting to bead on my hands was a sign of tension, fear, or perhaps something else entirely.

Whoosh!

I threw open the curtains of the furthest balcony without hesitation.

“You… you crazy bastard.”

And I spat out curses at the sight before my eyes.

“Ah.”

It was still warm for a winter season, yet he seemed to fast-forward time.

It felt like he had summoned all things into winter.

Without hesitation, I approached and seized him by the nape of his neck, lifting the upper half of the figure perched precariously on the railing along with the black cloak into the air.

What kind of courage was this? Until that moment, he hadn’t even gripped the railing.

“Hello, Shushu.”

That voice, grating against my eardrum, was maddeningly sweet and also familiar. I bared my teeth, gripping his collar even tighter as his red lips curled, and laughter slipped from his teeth.

I was reflected in a translucent violet surface that looked lifeless.

“Your welcoming has become excessive.”

Beneath the moonlight, he glimmered as if he would vanish at any moment. It was Jigmunt Hyde.