Chapter 9
As soon as I mentioned retirement, Kaiden’s stern voice and Blade’s shocked voice followed immediately.
I didn’t even look at them, pretending to be only interested in the food in front of me. It was because I felt unnecessarily guilty.
But I have my own circumstances, so what am I supposed to do? I’ll have to talk to Blade again later.
But why is Kaiden acting like that? It was when I tried to sneak a glance at him.
“Retirement… is that what you desire?”
I turned my head at Lucas’s voice. Lucas was staring at me with wide eyes.
‘…What’s with that expression?’
It felt a bit unsettling. Then, Serena, who was sitting beside me, asked.
“Sir Marion. Are you seriously wishing to retire? Why?”
Serena was looking at me with an expression of incomprehension.
Well, for someone of commoner origin to become a Swordmaster and live off the imperial stipend was an incredible rise to success and honor.
Kicking away such a prestigious position was something incomprehensible in their common sense.
‘That’s true. Even until just the other day, I had no such intentions.’
“My body isn’t what it used to be. Even yesterday, I was injured by a maid’s attack.”
“Oh…”
Yesterday’s injury became a good excuse. Even Swordmasters can get hurt if they let their guard down or if unexpected variables arise.
“I’m sorry. Because of me…”
Serena apologized in a voice tinged with guilt. I shook my head.
“No, it’s true that my body isn’t what it used to be.”
“I see.”
Serena thought for a moment, then spoke with a bright expression.
“I’ll make a suggestion to His Majesty! Even regular knights retire after a few years of service, so…”
“Serena.”
“Princess Serena.”
Lucas and Kaiden interrupted her at the same time. Serena looked back and forth between her brother and Kaiden with a bewildered expression.
They were trying to stop the young princess from making a promise she couldn’t keep.
Lucas spoke up.
“Sir Marion. The imperial family does not permit Swordmasters to retire. You must have known that from the moment you were knighted.”
In response to his sharp remark, Kaiden answered on my behalf.
“Marion was attacked by a troll a few days ago and is not in full health. Please let it slide.”
It sounded as if he was implying I’d lost my mind. I glared at Kaiden, fuming.
Kaiden shot me a fierce look. It was a silent pressure not to interfere.
Lucas set down his napkin and gave a subtle smile.
“It’s too intriguing a statement to let slide. Even so, when a Swordmaster speaks of retirement, as a member of the imperial family, I must pay attention.”
“After facing magical beasts for ten years, it’s natural to grow weary. I’m planning to give Marion a long vacation.”
“Isn’t a long vacation just another way of saying retirement?”
“That’s mere speculation.”
The two men’s gazes clashed in the air, sparks flying.
I couldn’t interject at all. It was my issue, so why did their intensity feel greater than mine?
Lucas, as a member of the imperial family, was taking this matter seriously, while Kaiden seemed intent on covering it up.
I had a sinking feeling that retirement wouldn’t be easy.
Lucas turned to me and asked.
“Sir Marion. What is the reason you wish to retire? I understand you admire my elder brother, His Highness Crown Prince Marius.”
“Cough!”
I choked on the water I was drinking.
I hadn’t expected the Second Prince to bring up the Crown Prince.
Well, the story of my affection for the Crown Prince was widely known.
That’s why the imperial family felt at ease sending me under Kaiden, another Swordmaster and a grand duke.
Logically speaking, placing two Swordmasters, who represent immense military power, together was extremely risky for those in power.
Moreover, one of those Swordmasters was already a grand duke with significant authority.
But the other was a half-wit commoner who couldn’t even read.
The imperial family deliberated. How to manage this ignorant, overly powerful fool?
They say ignorance breeds courage, and indeed, as a child, I caused a few incidents in the palace.
Unable to control my anger at the excessive disdain from surrounding nobles, I half-destroyed a section of the palace. And it was Kaiden who stopped my rampage.
Fortunately, young me fell for the Crown Prince at first sight. So, the imperial family made a bold decision.
They placed a watchdog in the grand duke’s household and entrusted my education to him.
‘And so, for ten years, I was stuck in the Baltstein territory, slaying magical beasts.’
The imperial family solved their problem by throwing the troublemaker into a cold, beast-infested land.
I gave Lucas a self-deprecating smile.
“They don’t even treat me well, so I think ten years is enough.”
* * *
“You called for me?”
“Sit.”
As soon as breakfast ended, I was summoned to Kaiden’s study. He got up from his desk and gestured for me to sit on the sofa.
I subtly gauged Kaiden’s mood, and it didn’t seem particularly bright.
[Just you wait. Grand Duke Kaiden is going to be just like me.]
Blade snorted from atop my shoulder.
Indeed, just ten minutes ago, I had to endure Blade’s nagging until my ears practically bled.
[Did you listen to a word I said?! You’re barely managing your terrible image, and you just blurt out retirement talk to the imperial family?!]
‘I have my own reasons!’
[What reasons?!]
‘…In my past life, I was a minor villain in a book, and if I mess up, I could die…’
I couldn’t bring myself to say that out loud.
‘Ugh… life is bitter.’
I munched on the snacks the butler brought, soothing my frustration.
Once the butler left the study, it was just Kaiden and me. Well, counting Blade on my shoulder, three of us.
Kaiden got straight to the point.
“You shouldn’t have brought up retirement in front of Prince Lucas.”
Blade muttered [See?] from the side. Ignoring him, I focused on Kaiden.
“Why not?”
“Do you intend to reveal all your weaknesses?”
“What weaknesses? That I faint at the sight of blood?”
Kaiden touched his forehead as if he had a headache.
“Yes.”
“I didn’t mention anything about that at breakfast.”
“But you did say your body isn’t what it used to be.”
“Oh, that…”
I responded nonchalantly.
‘Isn’t it true I can’t handle blood? If that gets out, wouldn’t it help my case for retirement? It’d mean I’m useless.’
That’s what I was thinking when—
“Don’t think it’ll make retirement easier. The imperial family will never let you go.”
“…Are you reading my mind now?”
I looked at Kaiden with wide, startled eyes, and he sighed with a weary expression.
“You’re one of only two Swordmasters in the empire. If the imperial family learns of your weakness, they’ll use every means—magic, divine power, whatever—to find a solution. And…”
“And?”
Frustrated, he yanked off his cravat, which seemed to be choking him, and tossed it onto the desk.
“The Second Prince will start meddling with you from now on.”
“What?”
I looked at Kaiden, dumbfounded.
Meddling in *that* sense? I tilted my head, unable to comprehend.
“What do you think of Prince Lucas?”
“Why the sudden question? He’s strikingly handsome.”
Kaiden ran a hand through his hair in frustration at my blunt comment.
“handsome … you say.”
He looked irritated, and I couldn’t understand why.
Lucas was a noble imperial and the male lead of the original story. Plus, he has a female lead, so why would he bother with me?
Knowing the full plot of the original story, this sounded utterly absurd to me.
“Why are you saying something so ridiculous?”
As I asked, Kaiden tapped his fingers on the armrest—tap, tap.
To others, it might look relaxed, but to me, who’d known him for years, it betrayed his anxiety.
Why was he anxious?
Unable to figure it out, I tilted my head again, and he slowly spoke.
“…The Second Prince and the Fourth Princess need forces to support them. That’s why the Fourth Princess came here for a marriage meeting with me.”
“I know that.”
Kaiden furrowed his brow.
“Since those two arrived here, there have already been two assassination attempts.”
“That must be tough for them.”
When I expressed sympathy, Kaiden sighed.
“What I mean is… you need to understand that those two are people who’ve survived such dangers for years.”
“What?”
“What wouldn’t those siblings do to survive?”
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By Anna 💓
