CLWE 07

Chapter 07

“If you lie to me one more time, then even if you come back again, I’ll never open the door.”

At my words, the man fell silent for a moment. He hesitated as he looked at me, then finally spoke in a sigh-laced voice.

“My name is Kamin. I am Lady Aurelian’s grandson.”

“Aurel… what? I don’t know anyone like that?”

Wow, what a fancy-sounding name.
It made my ears itch for no reason, so I fiddled with the rim of my ear with my finger. Seeing this, Kamin lowered his voice even further.

“The name of the lord who rules this Fortin is Aurelian.”

“Oh, you mean Grandma Lord!”

“…Grandma?”

At my choice of address, Kamin’s neatly shaped eyebrows twitched dramatically. I smiled brightly and replied.

“Oh, I’ve been having tea days with Grandma for years now. She said being called ‘my lord’ made her itchy, so she told me to just call her Grandma.”

“…Is that so.”

Oh my, look at him.

Looks like he’s jealous because I called her Grandma right in front of her real grandson.

When I narrowed my eyes and grinned like a cat, Kamin’s shoulders flinched. As if denying his emotions, he slightly turned his head away and continued in a businesslike tone.

“In truth, that sword is an extremely precious item that only the head of our family may wield. After Grandmother divorced and left, the sword disappeared along with her.”

It was a clear explanation.

“Ahh. So that’s why you came looking for it.”

“I will provide ample compensation.”

“Well, I get the general situation, but…”

A sword that only the family head could possess—now I understood why he’d immediately accused me of theft.

So he thought the Lady Lord had hidden the sword when she divorced, and that I had secretly stolen it afterward.

But Grandma Lord isn’t that kind of person.

Based on the years I’d known her, she was someone who wouldn’t do anything unjust even if a blade were pressed to her throat.

And Louis hadn’t needed to be stolen at all—he’d just been rolling around in a field. He’d said it himself. He ran away because all the people who wanted to become his master were boring.

This is all because you ran away on your own, you know.

You should’ve at least cursed them out before leaving. Ah—right, you don’t have hands to write with.

Anyway, Kamin was standing at my door, and I had to prove that becoming this sword’s owner hadn’t been my choice.

Luckily, there was an easy way to prove it.

I raised both hands in surrender and shrugged.

“Even if I wanted to give you this sword—”

—No! I’m not leaving! I’m going to live by your side until your black hair turns white like radish roots!

Hey now, you don’t even have hair—why are you saying something so sentimental?

Thinking I was abandoning him, Louis floated up into the air and slapped himself onto my arm. The eyes of the people watching bulged.

Oh, so flying swords aren’t common around here. Guess only Louis can do that.

“…So you really are the true owner.”

Even Kamin looked utterly taken aback.

Only then did I realize he’d thought I was just pretending to talk to the sword.

Wow. Can’t trust people at all. Has he only been deceived his whole life?

I wanted to snap at him, but it was impossible with Louis clinging to me and wailing like a baby. In a voice loud enough to make your ears fall off, Louis said,

—And they just treated me like a family heirloom without actually caring about me! If they’re really my masters, tell them to say my real name!

Ugh.

Half worn down by his insistence, I asked Kamin,

“Louis says you should tell him his true name.”

“The sword’s true name?”

A shadow fell over Kamin’s face. When his handsome features crumpled, he somehow became a different kind of atmospheric beauty.

In an embarrassed tone, he trailed off,

“Louis…”

Oh, passed.

To be clear, I’m not passing him just because of his face. It’s because I liked his answer.

“You know his name properly.”

I said that to Louis. Naturally, Louis exploded.

—What do you mean properly?! He only said ‘Louis’! And more importantly, he said it himself as the master!

Ah. Right. That’s true.

But that’s not my fault.

“A normal person can’t say your full name sober. It’s way too embarrassing.”

—Master, you’re just pouring out raw honesty today, huh? When you said I was the cutest thing in the world, what was that?!

That was just a white lie I blurted out because you were noisy. Sorry.

I hugged Louis tightly. Then, grabbing the doorknob to close the door, I said,

“Anyway, since he’s not just a sword, I can’t give him to you. Please go back.”

“Miss.”

Kamin shoved his leg into the doorway so I couldn’t close it.

“The value and symbolism of that sword are far greater than you think. I can’t simply withdraw.”

“But this child has his own will. I can’t hand him over while ignoring his opinion.”

“A child? That is a weapon. A sword. Do not speak of it as though it were a person. What matters here is your will, miss.”

“Don’t call me miss—call me Riena, Mr. Kamin. Oh my.”

In the middle of talking, I realized something new.

“Riena and Kamin… we actually sound pretty good together.”

Riena is red. Kamin is also red.

Even our names are a match made in heaven, starting from the color.

Delighted by this new and surprising realization, I smiled brightly at Kamin. He frowned deeply and replied,

“…I do not wish to use force against a delicate woman.”

Hey. What’s that supposed to mean? Is being associated with me that unpleasant?

I cupped my cheek with my palm and sighed.

“I don’t think my looks are lacking. Though it’s true you’re handsome enough to seem inhuman.”

“You’re bold. But that’s not the issue. From my position, I must obtain that sword—even if I have to resort to somewhat underhanded means.”

“Thank you, I hear that a lot. If that’s your position, then all I can say is no, out of respect for Louis’s will.”

Honestly, it didn’t look like he’d leave quietly even if I told him to get lost.

—Master…

I patted the sword, who was choking up in gratitude. Watching this strange scene, Kamin asked,

“If I were… even the highest-ranking person in this world, would your answer still be the same?”

What is he talking about?

I shrugged.

“Of course my feelings wouldn’t change.”

“Then…”

Just as Kamin opened his mouth in response, I lifted the hand that had been patting the sword and pressed it lightly against his lips.

“Shh. Be quiet, my baby kitty.”

Kamin’s face twisted into a complete mess. Regardless, I felt a little giddy after checking something off my bucket list.

As long as you get to Seoul, the route doesn’t matter.

Halfway done felt like 98% done. Smiling cheerfully, I said,

“You should be more careful when you say things like that.”

“What things?”

“Weren’t you about to propose a contract marriage to me just now?”

“…Why have you been saying such bizarre things this whole time?”

“If we’re married, assets are jointly owned. That would be the only legal way to possess this sword, right?”

“Ah.”

Kamin’s eyes widened. It was the expression of someone realizing a method he’d never considered—thanks to me.

And then he said to me without hesitation,

“Then, Miss Riena, please marry me.”

I winked.

This guy really couldn’t scam anyone if he tried. Falling for it that easily.

Aside from worrying about him, I was in a good mood. How could I not be, when such a handsome man was proposing?

Even the former crown prince I broke off my engagement with never proposed. It feels good to be proposed to, even if it’s by someone else.

It would’ve been nicer with a huge bouquet of flowers. Even better with some prince-like lines.

“What an utterly unromantic proposal. Shouldn’t you at least bend at the waist elegantly?”

“…Like this?”

Kamin stepped back and bowed slightly. I smiled sweetly.

Then I answered,

“I reject the proposal.”

And immediately, I slammed the door shut.

…Right after that, an enormous shout erupted from outside the door.

Covering my ears, I muttered,

“Whew, he’s handsome, but his voice isn’t great.”

Then Louis answered for me.

—The one who shouted was the subordinate next to him. That man’s just standing there blankly.

“Huh? Louis, you can see that?”

—This body is a magic sword imbued with mana. Seeing through a flimsy wall like this is nothing.

As he bragged, I tapped the hilt of Louis as if patting his head and shrugged.

“Well, since I got the proposal I always dreamed of, I guess I’ll stay home quietly today.”

Louis replied in a tone like a puppy wagging its tail,

—Are we taking the day off today? You’re finally going to play with me, Master?!

“O-oh…”

Why does this noisy sword always jump to conclusions like that?

Maybe it would’ve been better to discuss how to separate that handsome man from this sword.

Though I thought so spitefully, the sword that followed me was cute too. I chuckled softly, hugged Louis, and went back inside the house.

I was tricked. Completely tricked.

It’s like I was bewitched.

Kamin irritably ran a hand through his golden hair. Before his eyes flickered the face of a woman.

A round face, wavy red hair, light brown eyes beneath a small straw hat—a cute and harmless-looking face.

Yet to Kamin, that face looked like Satan rising up from hell.

Ah… this is the first time I’ve ever been toyed with so thoroughly by someone.