Chapter 3

Hiding the secret that shouldn’t be revealed, I had to manage my expressions carefully while also preparing to navigate this difficult situation gracefully.

I couldn’t afford to neglect observing Asulin, who was finely adjusting her distance from me, always ready to dive in at any moment.

“She’s really beautiful,” I thought inwardly as I scrutinized the bride standing proudly before me and took in her surroundings.

Even just by looking at the grip she held and the enormous blade resting on her shoulder, one could tell that despite its size, the blade glittered under the moonlight in a dazzling and blinding manner, contrasting sharply with her petite frame.

Though merely a weapon designed to take lives, the blade’s reflection under the moonlight had a captivating allure that drew many gazes.

But anyone who got too close to that allure, like a moth to a flame, would find themselves drenched in the morning dew of the battlefield that very day.

I knew well enough that she had cut down countless powerful opponents who stood in her way with a blade far too large for her stature, and she had defended the nation by cutting down the monsters invading the weakened imperial territories during the prolonged civil war.

Due to her fame and infamy, she was known not by a beautiful title befitting her appearance, but as the Sword Demon, a name that highlighted her strength and notoriety.

Honestly, even considering the terrifying appearance she had on the battlefield, she deserved the title Sword Demon more than Sword Flower.

When she received the title Sword Demon from the new emperor, her expression hadn’t changed at all, which solidified her official title as Sword Demon both internally and externally.

If she weren’t holding a sword, her beauty would have been intoxicating enough to draw countless butterflies, but with a greatsword resting on her shoulder, she exuded both beauty and danger, causing even the butterflies flying towards her to retreat.

And she knew—or perhaps didn’t know—that these complex thoughts were swirling in my mind.

“Since there’s nowhere to run, just stay calm. I don’t want to hear any gossip about chasing you around.”

As I pondered how to escape this situation, Asulin’s voice interrupted me, urging me to stop thinking. This led me to focus more intently on observing her.

She had blue hair, a trait unique to members of the Sword Commandery Dukedom, and her neatly arranged features, contrasting with her green eyes, made her stand out as the most beautiful person in the empire, not just the strongest swordsman.

Despite her delicate appearance, her body, honed through relentless training, radiated a presence that even her uniform couldn’t fully conceal. Her beauty was undeniable, but it wasn’t just her face that commanded attention; her lack of expression added to the pressure she exuded.

Even if she weren’t holding a sword, or if she did hold one but her appearance was more beautiful than intimidating, it still wouldn’t change the fact that her lack of expression was unsettling.

I decided that I needed to break that expression first.

“If you put down that sword, I won’t run away. How about you put it down?”

“…This is your first time.”

Her response, which strongly countered my attempt to lighten the mood, and her step-by-step approach, made the coldness in her previously expressionless face deepen.

…Maybe I should have just kept quiet.

Focusing on Asulin as she closed the gap between us, I saw her expression finally soften, revealing a slightly scowling face.

It wasn’t anger, but it wasn’t quite disappointment either.

“The bride and groom who engage in a sword fight on their first night and then flee is something that hasn’t happened since this house was built, and you are the first.”

With each word, Asulin’s emotions escalated, and even without seeing her frown, the unmistakable rage was palpable.

The problem was that I was the cause of this rage.

…Is this really worth getting so angry over?

I had heard rumors that in the Caladborg Dukedom, the bride and groom would engage in a sword fight on their first night, but…

Even if that were true, I had only left because I didn’t think such a confrontation was appropriate in that place.

Asulin’s expression, as she approached me, seemed to emphasize that my actions were dismissive of her, making her feel cold.

No, this isn’t just a strategic marriage; it’s more like abduction.

After incorporating me, a survivor of the Sword Mansion who uses the sword techniques derived from it, into the family, they planned to either disable my mana core so I can’t use a sword again or even take my life through a formal marriage.

To get so angry over a marriage ceremony that may or may not happen?

If they’re going to take my life anyway, shouldn’t they let me enjoy it, even if it’s just a little bit? Starting off like this seems too harsh.

“I’ve said it before, I really hate fighting with swords when I’m trying to finish up my day.”

So, I suppressed my complaints and tried to ignore Asulin’s icy gaze and steps with forced humor.

“…”

While her steps paused momentarily, the coldness in her eyes remained unchanged, indicating that my efforts were futile.

Hmm, this isn’t good.

My mind raced, trying to come up with ways to defuse the situation, but all the ideas that came to mind were quickly dismissed, leaving me with nothing practical.

I imagined kneeling and groveling to calm the bride’s anger, or bravely declaring that I’d accept the sword fight, but these were unrealistic thoughts.

If I were in perfect condition, I could manage to withstand her terrifying strikes without winning or losing, but unfortunately, my injuries from the final battle of the Succession War haven’t fully healed yet.

If it were just physical damage, I could strengthen my body with aura, but the injury I sustained near the end of the civil war wasn’t external; it was internal.

The core that stores mana naturally circulating in nature and converts it into aura was slightly damaged.

While this injury doesn’t significantly impact my daily life, until the core heals, I can’t store mana collected through breathing exercises into the core, let alone convert the minimal mana remaining in the broken core into aura.

Facing this transcendentally strong sword from the Sword Demon, who has advanced beyond the Sword Commandery, was nearly impossible.

Even if I could manage a few strikes, relying on innate skill and timing, it wouldn’t be sustainable against an immortal-like figure in a place like hell.

Thud!!

A sound broke through my thoughts, snapping me back to reality.

Given the way Asulin approached me with what appeared to be a drawn sword, it was clear that her anger was genuine, not a figment of my imagination.

It seemed inevitable that we would engage in a sword fight.

“How many strikes can we exchange?”

Naturally, my mind wandered to how many times I could withstand her strikes.

When she took another step, I considered a surprise attack to turn the tables, but even I found the idea ridiculous and discarded it.

Perhaps because I was increasingly aware of my lineage as a member of the Count family, or maybe because memories of my twin brother sacrificing his life to save me kept surfacing.

Regardless, the inner voice telling me not to bow my head to anyone from the Sword Commandery grew louder.

“Then…”

As she approached with a chilling statement, the pressure emanating from her overwhelmed me, even though my internal injury hadn’t fully healed.

…What should I do? It’s easy enough to avoid, but if I avoid again, things might not end well.

For now, I decided to wait until she finished speaking to decide what to do next.

I focused intently on Asulin’s every move as she slowly approached me.

If she attacked me with her sword while we were close, I could prepare to dodge, even if I couldn’t counterattack.

However, my preparations were for naught.

As Asulin’s words came out, she was already within striking distance where she could easily obliterate the upper half of my body.

“Changing the location will allow us to finish the match we couldn’t complete earlier?”

The moment I heard this curious question for the first time, my controlled speech faltered.

“Y-Yes.”

My uncontrollable stutter surprised me, especially given the calm tone of my voice.

“…That’s good to hear.”

As Asulin’s cold expression softened and she spoke, I could see her lips curve gently.

Unlike mere words of relief, her visibly relieved demeanor was disconcerting.

How long has it been since I felt this kind of surprise?

Ever since I inadvertently revealed my face through the shattered mask while trying to protect my older brother, I had never seen such a genuine reaction from Andymion.

As I watched the inexplicable warmth in the Sword Demon’s expression grow, I realized this feeling of surprise might be the first in my memory.