Chapter 50
“Welcome!”
As the jingling bell rang, I pushed open the door and found myself in a shop that sold finely crafted noble weapons.
The weapons seemed to prioritize ornate decoration and elegant design over practicality—swords, crossbows, shields, and more in dazzling variety.
We had come to choose weapons for the hunting festival that would be held on the last day of this summer.
“I won’t be directly participating in the hunt, but as a matter of formality I need to carry a weapon.”
“I see. But I already have something Luca gave me.”
“What? He gives gifts too?”
Rachel shot a sulky glare at Luca, who was standing beside me.
But Luca merely shrugged, which only fueled Rachel’s irritation.
“Haha, but since what Luca gave me was a dagger, I think I should still get myself a longsword.”
“Right?”
Held tight by Rachel’s arm, I looked over the swords displayed along the wall.
Luca and Sir Haeld already had their beloved masterpieces, so they weren’t choosing new ones.
“Isn’t this one really pretty, Ria?”
What Rachel was pointing at was a crossbow set with numerous jewels.
It was so small that I felt if you actually shot an arrow with it, half the gems would fall off along with the bolt.
Still, Rachel wasn’t really taking part in the hunt anyway. For her as a princess, a flamboyant weapon like that was more about showcasing her position than utility.
“I think it’s fine. It looks light, too.”
So now, I only had to pick mine.
I scanned around, looking over sleek swords.
And then my gaze caught on a sword displayed in a lavish frame behind the shopkeeper.
At a glance, it was clearly a masterpiece, its history incomparable to the other weapons.
A thin blade that looked easy to wield even with my small frame—yet its edge appeared sharper than the ridiculously oversized longswords on display.
The red gemstones embedded in it weren’t just ornamental; they shone with the dignity of wisdom accumulated through countless years of history.
I coveted it, but…
‘It’s marked “Not for Sale.” Nothing I can do about it.’
I turned my head away and picked up a light-looking rapier, about to say I’d take this one.
Vrrr—
A strange humming sound made me snap my head up.
Looking around for the source, my eyes landed once again on that sword I had just been admiring.
The sound was coming from it.
No one else seemed to notice.
Then I heard Luca’s voice.
“How much is that one?”
He was pointing at the very sword I had had my eyes on.
‘So Luca recognized it too. But it’s marked not for sale… probably the treasure of this shop…’
“A hundred gold coins would be fair, don’t you think?”
“Of course!”
I nearly fell over at the shopkeeper’s cheery voice.
How could such a hulking, muscle-bound man produce such a lilting tone?
Then again, for a hundred gold coins, anyone could sing like a lark.
‘Or maybe… it wasn’t that important a sword after all?’
“In fact, my father told me never to sell this one—said it was an heirloom!”
‘So it was like that!’
“These were the last words he left me before he departed, so I hesitated… but.”
‘You didn’t hesitate at all! And those were his final words!’
“But I’m sure my father would be delighted with a hundred gold coins. He’s off vacationing on the Tailu coast right now, so I can’t wait to share the good news.”
Ah, so he was traveling. Still, when he came back, he’d probably get smacked the moment his father found out.
The shopkeeper, smiling brightly, took the sword out of the display.
It truly looked like something worth a hundred gold coins.
Laying the sheathed sword upon a red velvet cloth, he grew solemn.
“This sword is called the Crimson Blade. I’ve heard it has a twin, but I have no idea where that one is.”
The name matched the weapon’s red aura.
He tied it with a golden cord and continued.
“My stubborn father wanted to let it rot away as an heirloom, but swords are meant to shine in the hands of a swordsman. I only regret that I left it to gather dust in a frame for so long.”
And as he said this, I thought I saw the sword tremble in response, as if it were answering him.
I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Nothing. It simply lay there on the velvet until the shopkeeper handed it to Luca.
“Moreover, if it is His Highness the Crown Prince who writes the next chapter of this sword’s history, it will shine even brighter.”
So he had known Luca’s identity all along.
His eyes were those of a man entrusting a beloved blade.
Luca handed him a banknote worth one hundred gold coins, stamped with the Crown Prince’s seal, and said:
“This sword is not for me.”
He handed it to me.
“Ria resonated with it. That’s rare. I’m sure this sword belongs to her.”
“Resonance! Then this is a joyous day indeed!”
The shopkeeper waved the banknote happily.
“Are you really giving this to me? I’m still just a beginner who only practices in the training yard…”
A hundred gold coins—the price of a mansion.
In my hands, the sword vibrated faintly.
“I already have the imperial heirloom sword of the Greffin royal family. And Ria, you take your swordsmanship seriously. I saw you training in the yard last time.”
Last time… he must mean that day when, after practice, he was waiting in the reception room of my house.
“This time, try everything you want. I’ll help you.”
This time.
The words reminded me of my past life, of injuries and shattered dreams.
I nodded.
“Alright, I’ll try it your way.”
The weeping prodigy broken by injury was gone. Only I remained, alive and breathing.
The bell rang again as we left the shop.
Rachel carried the jewel-encrusted crossbow she had chosen.
“‘My Younger Sister’s Double Life’—that’s good.”
“What do you mean?”
“When you write your memoir later, make that the title.”
Sir Haeld chimed in:
“Then mine should be The Princess’s Double Life—ugh!”
Rachel pressed the heel of her sharp shoe onto his foot with a smile, silencing him. Then, as the carriage she had summoned arrived, she climbed aboard.
“Ria, it was nice seeing you today! Let’s meet again!”
Waving brightly, Rachel and Sir Haeld departed to the sound of hooves.
Soon after, Reyes’s carriage arrived, and we climbed in.
The blazing red sun sank behind the distant streets.
Through the carriage window, a gentle breeze tousled my hair.
Luca, gazing at me, lifted a hand and tucked my hair behind my ear.
I caught his hand and lowered it, saying:
“You’re a good person, Luca. I hope you’ll be like that to others too, not just to me. Someday, be a true king.”
Even if I didn’t say so, he would become a wise ruler, leading the empire to prosperity with Senia.
But when he returned after ending the war, would I still be here in this empire?
I might have to go abroad to treat my illness. I might end up living there.
So before then, I wanted to tell him as much as I could.
I wanted him to know what it meant to be emperor of this empire. For now, the Greffin Empire was in the calm before a storm.
The concubines and villainous families schemed to seize power, and remnants of the Mage Nation would soon rise in war.
It was all part of the novel’s plot.
How exhausting it must be to be the protagonist. I stroked his fine hair.
“You know what I mean, right?”
I couldn’t tell if the one before me was a puppy enjoying my touch, or a tiger cub destined to trample everything beneath him.
“Yes. I’ll do well. If it’s your words, Ria, I can do anything.”
And yet, the fleeting glimpse of a dangerous beast’s eyes still left me tense.
Whether he knew it or not, the oversized cub leaned into my hand, seeking praise.
When we arrived at Duke Reyes’s estate, I stopped Luca from escorting me all the way to my room. Instead, I lent him the ducal carriage to return to the palace.
I was already much later than the return time I had told Father, and if Luca showed his face too… well, considering a father’s heart, that would hardly be wise.
The same had been true in my past life.
Once, after a night out, a close junior from the dojo happened to walk me home. Father, coming back from work, spotted us in front of the house.
What did he say when he got home…?
I can’t recall clearly, but I think it was something like:
“That boy has no future. I’ll have to cut him off someday.”
Yes, something like that. But who—
“Gasp! Since when!”
Father was suddenly behind me, staring through the window at the retreating carriage carrying Luca.
Did he have no presence at all? I jumped back in fright.
“Sorry, I’m late. You must have been worried.”
Better to confess my fault first and hope for forgiveness, so I put on a teary face.
“Worried? You’d be a worry anywhere.”
I had thought I appeared more mature than others my age, but perhaps in a parent’s eyes, their child would always be like one playing too close to the water’s edge.
He patted my head gently, smiling warmly.
“Next time, let me know in advance if you’ll be late. You must be tired. Go rest.”
Only after confirming I had returned safely did he finally leave the window.
Thank you very much 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺