Chapter 82
“What exactly is going on here, Baron Illin?”
The emperor’s face turned red and blue, like someone who had just dropped the cork into a bottle of expensive wine.
But Winter, looking bright and calm, bowed politely and answered with perfect manners.
“I came to apply after seeing the notice for Monica’s bodyguard recruitment.”
“Bodyguard?”
The emperor let out a laugh.
“A duke wants to be this child’s bodyguard?”
“I am Baron Illin, Your Majesty.”
The emperor couldn’t believe the ridiculous scene happening in front of him.
Winter Orsches’ roleplay was laughable.
If he really wanted to sneak in, he should’ve at least used magic to disguise himself—or worn a wig or something!
But no, he shamelessly wore the same training uniform as everyone else and proudly showed his very recognizable face.
The only difference was that his expression had changed. It wasn’t cold like before—it had become more expressive.
There was no doubt—this was all on purpose. A bold provocation.
“…Can you take responsibility for claiming you are not Winter Orsches, but Baron Illin?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
After thinking for a moment, the emperor drew his sword and handed it to Ager Sudden, who stood beside him.
“Fine, Sir Illin.”
Then the emperor gestured for me to come closer.
When I approached, he placed his hand on my shoulder and announced loudly,
“This child’s guard must be chosen carefully, so we’ll need to test your skills here since you don’t have any reputation.”
He was going to make Winter fight? Against Baron Sudden?
I looked up at the emperor with wide eyes.
My godfather was clearly misunderstanding something.
“We already have plenty of applicants, and I don’t want to waste time unnecessarily.”
He assumed that since Winter was pretending to be a baron, he wouldn’t be able to use his dragon power—and in his young body, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
But that was a huge mistake.
I covered my mouth with my sleeve and whispered softly to Winter.
“This works out. Win the duel and come with me somewhere after.”
Winter glanced at me with a strange expression.
Just then, I felt someone’s piercing gaze. I looked up—and there was the emperor, staring at me with a terrifying expression.
Oops! I forgot—he’s a Swordmaster too!
A Swordmaster’s senses might not match a dragon’s, but they’re far above regular humans.
Seeing his shocked face, I just moved my lips silently, gave up on excuses, and quickly sat down in the audience seats.
“…Daughter.”
“Ah, oh no… did you say you’re hungry, my sweet potato?”
I tried to pretend nothing happened and offered Gogu-ma a cookie.
But he suddenly burped for the first time in his life and turned his head away from the cookie.
Putting the cookie back, I grumbled,
“Please don’t hurt him too badly. He doesn’t know anything… he’s pitiful…”
“If he loses, he’ll wish he was dead.”
The emperor glared sharply at Sudden, clearly pressuring him to win.
I actually felt sorry for Baron Sudden.
‘Ager Sudden… the man who will become a future Swordmaster.’
My godfather was planning to crush Winter completely.
But unfortunately for him… that wouldn’t happen.
***
Ting!
The legendary sword, a national treasure that had seen countless victories, flew through the air.
“Cough! I lost…”
Even though Baron Sudden had fallen, the arena was completely silent.
The excitement in the air from earlier disappeared shortly after the duel began.
Ager Sudden was a promising young knight in his mid-20s.
Winter Orsches was just a rebellious 14-year-old with scary rumors surrounding him.
But once the duel began, everyone saw the truth with their own eyes.
They saw what overwhelming power really looked like.
They understood why Winter was known as [Egrio], a being beyond normal humans.
“…Take him for treatment.”
Even the emperor, who had earlier warned Sudden not to lose, now looked at him with pity in his eyes.
There was no question about the result. It wasn’t a close match.
Winter didn’t play around or humiliate Sudden.
He was polite, but utterly merciless. He crushed Sudden’s pride without hesitation.
As a fellow swordsman, the emperor fully understood the pain Sudden must’ve felt.
“Do we even need a selection competition now?”
While returning the sword he had picked up from the ground, Winter asked this calmly.
He was a monster.
The emperor asked quietly,
“Where does your sword point?”
Winter smirked slightly.
“My sword will dance as you wish, so there’s no need to fear. Because…”
Winter Orsches—or rather, Baron Illin—smiled.
“It’s a sword to protect Miss Monica. Of course.”
The emperor let out a short sigh.
The realization hit him.
His daughter was about to be taken away—and he was helpless to stop it.
***
“…So that’s everything that happened.”
Winter—no, Baron Illin—and I sat inside a luxurious carriage.
He had changed into the red uniform of the Western Empire and was holding Half-Sweet Potato (Ban-Gogu-ma) in his arms.
Half-Sweet Potato used to cry every time Winter held him.
But now, he had grown. He didn’t cry anymore.
Instead, he burned with fighting spirit and tried to bite him with all his might.
While I explained what had happened in his absence, Winter calmly listened—skillfully dodging the baby’s tiny but sharp teeth.
“I think the one who gave Oscar trauma wasn’t Boris, but Joseph.”
Half-Sweet Potato used all his little limbs to pin down Winter’s arm like a wrestler.
Then he proudly bit Winter’s hand.
“If Boris had shown such signs as a child, we would see them even now. But clearly, he’s just a jerk—not someone traumatized. He’s just… transparently mean.”
“Waaaah!”
Half-Sweet Potato bit down, full of excitement.
But Winter was wearing gloves.
The bite had no effect. Disappointed, the baby started to cry.
I glared at Winter. He gently scooped up the baby and lifted him like an airplane.
But the crying didn’t stop.
[Waaaah! So noisy!]
My bracelet spirit finally woke up.
[We’re outside! Are we going to buy gems now?!]
“…We’ll stop somewhere first, then buy gems. Go back to sleep.”
Raglia seemed to calm down for a moment.
I took Half-Sweet Potato from Winter’s arms.
Then Raglia started glowing and singing in an unknown language.
“Poor child, your father will protect you, so sleep peacefully… Have a happy dream and come back again…”
Winter also began to hum along softly.
Like magic, the baby stopped crying and fell asleep.
“That’s a dragon lullaby for sick children.”
As soon as the baby fell asleep, Raglia stopped glowing and went silent again.
Even shaking the bracelet didn’t wake him.
The carriage became quiet, and I muttered with a pout,
“Your Grace, please don’t tease my sweet potato.”
“Sorry. He’s gotten even cuter. I couldn’t help it.”
Winter’s face was full of mischief.
He looked like he was about to tickle the baby again, so I quickly shielded him with my hands.
‘What’s this strange feeling?’
Winter’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
It was scary—he was acting differently today.
Then I realized why.
‘Ah… it’s because he’s playing the role of Baron Illin.’
In the original story, Winter loved pretending to be someone else.
Whenever he used a new identity, he would act like a totally different person—even changing his personality.
He found joy in it.
Acting as someone else made him feel normal. It made things feel new and fun.
Don’t wake the ornery, sleeping baby. That’s just a bad idea.