Chapter 32

I will translate the text into English using first-person point of view without any additional comments. Here is the translation:

—

Carthas Blath Caladbolg.

The owner of the Dragon Slayer Sword Caladbolg, a superhuman who achieved his status with his own hands, worthy of the sword’s name.

The master of the Sword Authority, someone even the Emperor cannot treat lightly.

Right beside me, watching me with a mixture of emotions in her eyes, was Asulin, my fiancée’s father.

After a brief introduction, the master craftsman, no, His Grace the Duke, kept an unreadable expression on his face while silently observing me. But it didn’t last long.

“Hmm, could you come a bit closer?”

His Grace, whose voice had always been gentle since we first introduced ourselves, requested. I approached him, moving with a serious demeanor, not far from where he sat.

“Sit down.”

Still with that gentle voice, His Grace asked me to sit in the chair beside him.

“Then…”

I gave a slight bow and took my seat.

There was no way I could refuse in such a situation.

Once His Grace saw me sit, he nodded indifferently without changing his expression.

“Asulin, come over here and sit. If your husband follows, you should follow too, shouldn’t you?”

With a dignified attitude, His Grace also invited Asulin to sit. It went without saying that Asulin would comply without hesitation…

‘He just called me his son-in-law…’

His Grace’s words, referring to me as his son-in-law and then naturally talking to Asulin about me, left me momentarily confused.

It was surprising enough when he referred to me as his son-in-law earlier, but his commanding tone, telling Asulin to move with me as if I were his husband, added to the confusion.

‘Does he really consider me his proper son-in-law?’

No matter how hard I thought about it, it was surprising to hear such words from His Grace, who wouldn’t think highly of me.

To see what reaction Asulin, who might have something to say, would give, I turned to look at her.

“…”

‘…I was wrong.’

Seeing Asulin’s face with a faint blush, it seemed I needed more time to understand her.

Maybe this pleasant atmosphere would end, and we would simply stay in a room for the night.

But…

“Since you’ve come so far, it wouldn’t be right to just let you go after a simple greeting. We should serve something.”

As His Grace spoke, there was a light, cheerful clapping sound.

It seemed like leaving immediately wasn’t an option anymore.

The clapping reminded me of the gesture Asulin used to call servants. Seeing this, I realized who she was signaling.

Click!

The sound of the door opening echoed as the entrance to the master’s chamber opened neatly.

Olsen, the butler who had guided us before, skillfully brought a tray with glasses and bottles to our table.

“Master, I’ve brought it.”

In response to his call, he placed the items on the tray one by one onto the table.

There was a bottle of liquor that looked strong enough to drink late at night, a water jug that had been warmed up, a plate of nuts suitable for enjoying the liquor, and three glasses to drink from.

Given that there were only three glasses, it seemed Lady Caladbolg did not drink alcohol.

However, the expression on Lady Caladbolg’s face changed subtly when she saw the three glasses on the tray. I couldn’t tell why.

It didn’t seem like she was showing displeasure at not having her own glass. I couldn’t figure out why she suddenly changed her expression.

‘Well, I can’t ask directly.’

Thinking that, I carefully examined the bottle of liquor on the tray.

Unconsciously, I tried to suppress a bitter smile.

‘It’s an expensive, rare liquor that can’t even be bought with money.’

I knew what kind of liquor this was. Even the vain aristocrats of the Empire, those with the means to actually achieve such vanity, would find it difficult to obtain.

Of course, I had never tasted it myself.

‘The design of the bottle is etched in my memory, thanks to the trash some guy was drinking in front of me and my older brother.’

This liquor was called Royal Oak.

Produced by Whittaker Distillery, located in the northern part of the Zakarat Mountain Range, which was destroyed by demon attacks and is currently under reconstruction, it was a premium whiskey.

Only five bottles were produced annually, and three of them were immediately delivered to the imperial court.

Even though Whittaker Distillery was destroyed, the value of these bottles had skyrocketed, making it impossible to estimate their worth accurately.

“I apologize for not preparing anything grander given the late hour.”

If someone said that His Grace’s modesty displayed here felt overly gracious, it might be a bit much.

‘I bet if this was the former head, he would have chased me away without even offering alcohol, if he had been in this position.’

That thought made me chuckle, but I had to admit His Grace’s generous nature.

Unlike when he showed off by drinking Royal Oak in front of my brother and me, he didn’t offer us a single sip. This contrast made me appreciate His Grace’s generosity all the more.

‘Maybe he wanted to drink it himself and found a convenient excuse.’

While His Grace held the bottle of Royal Oak and revealed a longing and contentment that was hard to put into words, there was a certain look in his eyes.

‘…Honestly, I should pretend not to notice.’

My instincts, honed in the rough streets before my mind grew thick, told me to keep quiet and not provoke him.

But what about Asulin, who sat beside me, looking at the Royal Oak with a much purer expression, her eyes sparkling?

I had heard that Asulin learned to drink when the current emperor was still a princess.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“May I go rest now?”

“If you drink too much, you’ll regret it when you get old.”

“Then, please make sure to give me a good retirement package.”

“Ah, you’re quite greedy. Go ahead and rest.”

“I will follow your orders.”

Even though they were talking about serving alcohol late at night, their conversation was soft and intimate, almost like friends rather than master and servant.

Watching His Grace drink late at night, it made me wonder if Asulin developed a fascination with alcohol.

‘I can’t ask outright, though.’

—

Please note that the original text contains some inconsistencies and repetitions which I have translated as closely as possible to maintain the integrity of the narrative.