Chapter 21

I’ll translate the provided text into English using first-person point of view while maintaining the narrative style and avoiding commentary.

—

I say,

“You know, when I first heard your father’s outrageous claims, I shattered the desk right in front of me.”

Even though she spoke as if it were all in the past, her attitude as she raised her right hand, which had presumably smashed the desk, conveyed just how furious she must have been at the time.

I silently nodded, showing that I understood the rage she felt back then.

“And I swore in front of my father that if I ever met you, Commander Swordlowe, or any of his kin, I would make them suffer the same fate as the desk I destroyed.”

“Of course, it was a promise worth keeping.”

Understanding the calmness with which she expressed her past anger,

“Do you know? When I first went to the southern part of the Zakarat Mountain Range, where our forces were under heavy attack, and heard that the one responsible for stopping us was none other than a blood relative of Swordlowe…”

Her lips seemed to be about to reveal a secret only she knew.

“I’m curious,”

I asked, prompting her to continue.

“Hmph! Whether it’s his son or his father, they’re both rotten to the core! Fine! Since this has happened, I’ll demand justice for the insult to my sword and rank from that brat!”

Her tone, which had been calm before, suddenly shifted to the rough, impatient voice often heard on the battlefield. This was out of character for someone whose appearance and demeanor usually exuded calmness and mystery.

Even someone familiar with street talk like me was surprised by her coarse speech, which rivaled the seasoned veterans on the battlefield. It was enough to startle anyone who had initially been drawn to her looks but was taken aback by her commanding voice and rough mannerisms.

Yet, there was one difference in Asulin now compared to then.

“…That’s what I said.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than her face turned red, revealing her embarrassment.

It was unclear whether she was embarrassed because of her usual behavior or because she was saying such words in a peaceful room instead of on a battlefield.

‘Adorable…’

I could barely suppress a sigh filled with admiration, feeling a sense of dizziness at how adorable she looked, different from her usual self.

Does she know that the man she took as a hostage should have behaved properly and flattered her?

To think she could hold such an adorable thought while discussing serious matters.

If caught…

She might turn the blood of the man she wields her blade against into something sticky.

Well, I just need to be careful.

‘It’s innocent if I don’t get caught. Innocent if I don’t get caught.’

With this resolve to keep my true feelings hidden, I continued the conversation with Asulin in a detached tone, as if it were already in the past.

“You weren’t making idle promises. There must have been some reason for me to still be alive.”

I cautiously asked why her promise hadn’t come to fruition.

“Haha…”

A light laugh escaped Asulin’s lips as she replied,

“On the battlefield, watching you and those you led, I realized something.”

“What did you realize that kept me alive until now?”

“Frankly, I believe that if the top is rotten, so is the bottom.”

“…I agree.”

Though her words were indirect, I couldn’t miss the meaning behind them as I quietly agreed.

“But in that moment on the battlefield, seeing you, I realized that sometimes, that truth might not always hold.”

Asulin smiled slightly, having built up to her main point after a long pause.

Though she spoke as if it were no big deal, listening closely revealed the brilliance of her insight.

At that time, when we faced each other on the battlefield near the Sword Mansion’s territory, not far from the southern Zakarat Mountain Range,

The opponent who faced Asulin was the elite Black Wing Knights, known for their prowess, who had gathered most of their forces to stop the Glorious Knights, whom Asulin led.

And leading the Black Wing Knights was Andymion, my older brother, and I, who wore a steel mask and served as his aide under the title of Shadow.

However, even though they had gathered their forces, the number of Black Wing Knights was significantly less than that of the Glorious Knights who had participated in the expedition.

“I was certain I could crush such a small force in an instant.”

Hearing Asulin’s confidence in her victory, I recalled the events of that time.

“It was thanks to my brother’s cunning tactics that we barely managed to stop the large army in the initial battle.”

Reflecting on the past, the memory came to mind quickly.

It was a great battle, nothing more needed to be said.

While commanding armored knights larger than myself without a hint of disorder, Asulin charged forward to break through the frontline held by the Black Wing Knights.

My older brother, despite being a frail heir, showed no fear and calmly led the troops, holding back Asulin’s fierce assault.

For the Glorious Knights to break through the frontline, they had to push through a narrow path and reach the encampment where the Black Wing Knights were stationed.

“At first, when I reached the position where you were, I thought you were mocking me.”

Hehe-

Asulin laughed lightly as she spoke, but recalling that moment wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

Moreover, Asulin, who had been played by my brother’s tactics, must have been infuriated beyond measure.

Why wouldn’t she be?

Traversing such a narrow, winding path, even without any ambushes, was a daunting task, almost impossible to pass through.

And at the end of this arduous journey was…

“The knights were gone, replaced by conscripts. Even now, thinking about it, I acted rashly and impulsively when I saw victory within reach.”

Sigh—

An indignant sigh escaped Asulin’s lips, clearly audible.

“That wasn’t such a big deal.”

I said calmly, looking at Asulin.

“It was the result of utilizing the information I had collected to the fullest before meeting you.”

As someone who experienced the situation firsthand,

Asulin could easily have said something regretful.

After all, my older brother had put in considerable effort to lure Asulin in.

Setting up a group of conscripts in front of the camp and gesturing for her to come closer with a finger, he used her personality to bait her into a trap.

Even though it was a situation where the troops and knights, exhausted from forced marches, deserved at least a minimal rest,

Asulin, convinced that victory was within reach, disregarded the basic combat doctrine and charged towards the encampment where my brother was, driven by her allure.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it was a trap, but…”

“You were confident.”

“…Haha, you’re right. No matter what, whether it was a retreat cut off from behind or traps set up in front of the camp, I believed I could handle it all without hesitation.”

“My strike was aimed at that very moment.”

“Yes, you jumped over the trap you yourself had set to catch me. If that suspicious knight hadn’t approached me with a sword drawn, wearing a steel mask, I might have caught you a little faster.”

Asulin’s mouth formed a line of dissatisfaction, clearly expressing her displeasure.

“Hmm…”

Seeing her expression, I internally sighed, trying to moisten my suddenly dry lips.

Of course, they would be dry. In the civil war, I was the one who caused Asulin the most trouble.

So, as the silent knight wearing a steel mask, I pretended to be my brother.

Not only that, but I also added suspicion to myself, being the knight who caused Asulin the most grief during the war.

If caught, it would be worse than death. So, I had to be cautious, always watchful.

Repeating this resolution several times in my mind, I waited cautiously for what Asulin would say next.

“You were strong, but honestly, that knight was also tough enough to challenge you at any moment.”

For a moment, Asulin displayed a look of dissatisfaction, but then she calmly praised the skills of the knight she had faced—me.

Despite the poor memory of being thoroughly defeated, acknowledging the strength of the opponent who pushed her so hard showed her admirable boldness.

It felt good to receive high praise, whether it was for the skills of the knight I pretended to be or the skills I used to confront her.

In any case, I am me.

“But…”

As Asulin’s expression shifted to one of curiosity,

“What about that knight? With such skill, he should have survived until the end of the civil war. What’s his name, and how is he doing now?”

The question Asulin followed up with was one of the most important aspects I needed to be cautious about since arriving here.

Her expression held a mysterious anticipation that I couldn’t decipher.

“He came. He…”

The crucial moment had arrived, and I couldn’t avoid it or dodge it.

There was no need to think about how to respond.

Ever since I anticipated this kind of situation, I had rehearsed the answer many times and completed a model response in my head.

“His name… I don’t know. My father… that is, the former head of the household, brought him along like a hunting dog when the civil war began.”

“A hunting dog… Even if you look down on him, he was more like a wolf.”

Strangely, every time Asulin mentioned another version of me, her mood seemed to improve.

Even when recounting memories of being thoroughly defeated, I had assumed she would be in a bad mood.

Why does her expression seem to brighten up more and more when she mentions another version of me?

…Could it be that, unlike the precious trophy I’ve kept, she wants to savor and enjoy this version of me to the core?

Shiver—

“Why do you look like that?”

“No, it feels like a cold breeze just passed by.”

“…The window is closed.”

“So it must be my mood.”

“…Anyway, even if I don’t know his name, a knight with such skill should still be in your family. Is he doing well?”

Asulin’s eyes, which radiated a strange excitement, were filled with an intensity I couldn’t begin to guess.

Her eyes held emotions I couldn’t comprehend with my shallow knowledge.

Anger directed at a mortal enemy who almost took her life.

Deep-seated competitive spirit shown towards such a formidable rival.

These were the main emotions I could discern,

But…

“…”

In her eyes, waiting for my response, there was something else, something I couldn’t interpret.

What could it be? It was quite intriguing to realize that Asulin harbored a peculiar sentiment towards another version of me.

But here, it was clear that probing further would only expand her interest unnecessarily.

“He died. Not long after we temporarily allied to successfully repel the demons, shortly after.”

I recited the prepared response in my head without hesitation, carefully observing Asulin’s reaction.

It crumbled.

The emotion in her eyes resembled the despair felt when a sandcastle painstakingly built by neighborhood children collapses under a single step.

It was a feeling I couldn’t understand, and one that would cause trouble if I did.

“…I see.”

There was no trace of the emotion I had sensed moments ago in Asulin’s eyes as she accepted my words.

I wondered if I had misread her,

But,

“It must be sad to lose such a fine knight.”

With a swift gesture, Asulin offered condolences, preventing me from delving deeper into her emotions.

“It feels like losing an arm.”

“I understand. If I lost Katarina like that, I would be devastated too.”

I did everything I could to prevent any further discussion about ‘another me’ becoming a topic.

Even as I continued talking, my curiosity about why she sought the whereabouts of ‘another me’ persisted.

I nearly asked why she cared so much about his whereabouts,

But,

“No.”

I drew a mental line and focused on preventing any further mention of ‘another me’ in both her and my thoughts.

To succeed in this hostage situation,

I needed to be seen as someone who lived a life without a name, scavenging for food on the streets, rather than the successor of the Sword Mansion, recognized as one of the masters of Imperial swordsmanship.

And who had been given this identity by Andymion Mesa Failord, the man who left me his name and ultimately his breath.

…It’s quite ironic.

Even after the man who forcibly took me in as a tool and used me like a tool died, the anger never subsided.

And yet, upon learning about a twin brother I never imagined existed, I felt neither discomfort nor resentment, but genuine joy.

Even though the bonds formed with my brother and other dear people were due to this man, and even though these bonds fueled my determination to stay in this quagmire,

This man’s influence was also the reason I couldn’t let go of the Sword Mansion.

‘So, I can’t abandon the Sword Mansion.’

I repeated this internally, sorting out my thoughts.

Indeed, blood is thicker than water.

Even if someone faced a situation where death was inevitable, if I could die in their place, allowing them to rest peacefully,

Who wouldn’t accept such a request?

Even if time were to rewind and I were to face the same situation again,

“I will rest easy now. You’ve truly suffered.”

I would repeat these words as I gently closed the eyes of my sleeping brother.

Without a moment’s hesitation.

“Regrettable.”

“…What is it?”

“I wish I had brought some wine to toast our long conversation.”

As soon as I started, Asulin’s face immediately brightened up.

Our conversation deepened as we continued.

“As we delve deeper into this story, I find myself compelled to express admiration for the knight who narrowly avoided death or capture, and for your skill in bringing me in without revealing your hand.”

Facing Asulin, who expressed regret over a situation where we had the upper hand but ended up with nothing,

“Our forces retreated without gaining anything. I feel a twinge of regret and respect for you.”

Reflecting on your indomitable and fearless character,

“If I had known you would arrive so boldly at our encampment, I would have welcomed you with open arms. But it was best to keep your presence a secret until the very end.”

I relayed the impression my brother had of me back then directly to Asulin.

“Hehe… hehehehe.”

I could hear Asulin’s light laughter as she gently touched her forehead with three fingers.

There was no trace of negativity or envy in her laughter; it was pure admiration.

Even though it was late and we shouldn’t have been awake, her laughter filled our bedroom with warmth.

“Honestly, when I saw you arrive so confidently at our encampment, I was full of hope that I could capture you. I was so sure that capturing you was almost a given.”

“…Our knights struggled to protect their reckless lord.”

“The struggle… While our records were impressive, the Glorious Knights didn’t inflict substantial damage. We watched helplessly as you escaped.”

“No, no. Thanks to you, I changed my original plan to advance without hesitation. Instead, I aimed to subdue you and take the Sword Mansion. In a way, you effectively thwarted my plans.”

“Even though it’s pointless to discuss this now, I can at least take pride in not causing significant damage to the territory and its people.”

“You have every right to be proud. I guarantee it.”

“It’s remarkable to receive such high praise from Asulin Blatt Caladborg herself.”

“I’ve heard plenty of compliments on the battlefield, but hearing this one makes me genuinely happy.”

“Praise, even if excessive, isn’t necessarily bad. It benefits both the giver and the receiver.”

Thus, as we reminisced about the recent past,

We slowly, very slowly,

Talked about why she saved me right after the civil war, when death was imminent, and how she responded to it.

We shared stories and listened to each other,

As we praised the excellent ‘older brother’ who was vastly different from our inadequate father,

And listened to Asulin’s account of proposing the abduction marriage to the emperor, who declared his intention to execute ‘the older brother,’

By the time she finished telling the story,

Zzzzz—

—

The sound of crickets, unusually vivid despite the winter, filled the air as dawn deepened.