Episode 211
The legendary swordmaster, Vadel Orhart, stood there.
The noblest knight in the world, and the greatest swordsman on the continent.
Before him, the six-winged angel, Aurelia, knelt in defeat.
On the tranquil surface of the lake, with the endless expanse of water stretching beyond the horizon.
A few petals drifted down, dancing like snowflakes. They were blood-red plum blossoms.
He was powerful. Unbelievably so.
Was this the sword that once clashed with the “Hero from Another World” and ended in a draw, unable to determine a victor?
”…I concede.”
Her six wings were shredded, torn to a state beyond recognition by the swirling petals of blades. The once pure white was now stained with blood, and Aurelia murmured in pain.
The holy sword Durandal in her hand emitted a faint, powerless glow.
“Raise your head.”
Before her, Vadel Orhart, also known as the Empire’s First Prince Lancelot, spoke.
“The victory is yours, Holy Maiden.”
”…!”
“I believe you are the one truly worthy of wielding the holy sword, and I wish to honor your nobility.”
The swordmaster spoke.
“What is it that you truly desire?”
The false Holy Maiden asked. The swordmaster replied with a meaningful smile.
“That our lies may hold more value than the truth.”
The clash of four swords had ended, and two duels had reached their conclusion.
Yet, the titles of the Celestial Sword and the Holy Sword were not claimed by the victors.
They belonged to the defeated.
“With this, we shall appoint the victor, Charlotte Orhart, to the position of Celestial Sword against the Dale of Saxon—”
The Grand Duke of Lancaster continued, addressing the lady of the plum blossoms who knelt quietly.
“Furthermore, as the head of the Lancaster family, I hereby declare that ‘Charlotte Orhart’ will be adopted as my daughter and granted the name of Lancaster.”
“Your Grace…!”
The Grand Duke of Lancaster spoke, and at his words, a ghostly expression flickered across the face of the ghostly sword, Sephilia.
“Do you understand the implications of your words?”
“I understand them perfectly.”
The Grand Duke of Lancaster replied without a hint of hesitation.
“Charlotte Lancaster will henceforth be the sword that leads our Lancaster family into the future, and my eldest daughter.”
Charlotte Lancaster nodded silently. At the same time, the swordmaster lightly tapped her head and shoulders with the flat of his blade, completing the modest ceremony.
The Dale of Saxon watched her silently.
Witnessing the most noble sword maiden in the world, who would endure any humiliation to remain by her lord’s side.
“Holy Sword Durandal’s master, Holy Knight Aurelia.”
The ceremony was modestly conducted. Then, Count Philip of Brandenburg, who officially oversaw the sword trials, spoke with feigned solemnity.
“I, as the proud son of the Holy Knight, hereby appoint Holy Maiden Aurelia as the master of the Holy Sword!”
”…Thank you.”
The pure white Holy Maiden, the false Aurelia, bowed her head silently. Behind her, the shadow of the dark Aurelia watched from the Dale’s shadow.
It was at that moment.
“But there is one thing I must address! Lady Aurelia!”
Philip interrupted the formalities, raising his voice.
“Speak.”
“Lady Aurelia, you are still the daughter of a mere serf! Is it not problematic for someone of such lowly birth to wield the Holy Sword?”
Philip exaggeratedly gestured, his voice booming. It was a common scene where nobles flaunted their ‘bloodline’ to oppress the daughters of maids or serfs.
“However, if you were to unite with me, Philip, the proud son of the Holy Knight and Count of Brandenburg…! You would gain undeniable legitimacy as the master of the Holy Sword…”
Srrng.
At that moment, Aurelia, who had been kneeling in silence, drew the holy sword from her waist.
“If you utter such nonsense again…”
She stopped there, her words hanging in the air.
The pale blade of the holy sword shimmered silently, and Philip’s face turned ashen in its presence.
“It was merely a suggestion! Not coercion, just a hope for reconsideration…!”
Philip stammered, his voice faltering as he hastily closed his mouth.
Beside the Holy Maiden, the Empire’s First Prince Lancelot turned his head with an expression devoid of emotion.
The newly appointed Grand Duke of Lancaster, and his adopted daughter, ‘Celestial Sword Charlotte Orhart,’ caught his gaze.
At that moment, his eyes met those of the Dale of Saxon, who watched him quietly.
For a brief moment, an indescribable complexity flickered across Lancelot’s face. But his turmoil ended there.
“I swear to announce these events to the Empire in the name of the Empire’s First Prince, Lancelot.”
Finally, the chaos of the sword trials came to an end.
Only a few swordsmen and a handful of knights under Philip’s command knew the true events that transpired here.
But as the tale of the sword trials spread across the continent, carried by word of mouth…
Like the flutter of a butterfly’s wings causing a storm, it would bring about an unparalleled whirlwind.
“Your Grace, the Grand Duke of Lancaster.”
Vadel’s widow, Vanessa Orhart, bowed her head quietly.
And now, the Grand Duke of Lancaster, reborn as another swordmaster, stood before her.
“As you know, it has been some time since my wife passed.”
The Grand Duke of Lancaster spoke.
“This is merely a formal arrangement for Charlotte’s sake; nothing will change.”
What Charlotte Orhart needed to do to claim the name of Lancaster was not difficult. There was a widow who had lost her husband, and a man who had lost his wife.
“Even if it’s just a shell of formality, I don’t mind. I simply wish to repay the debt of not being able to help an old friend.”
“Did you teach your daughter his sword?”
“Yes.”
The Grand Duke of Lancaster replied, and Vanessa’s expression clouded. Under the protection of Saxon, the swordmaster’s daughter had already grown into a fine knight. But becoming a daughter of the Lancaster family and inheriting Vadel’s sword carried a significance beyond that.
Yet, there was nothing that could be undone.
As the sword trials concluded and the events that transpired there began to spread across the continent through the mouths of gossipers.
The Dale of Saxon, too, finally completed the trials and returned to his domain.
Bearing the four swords of the Seven Swords of the Continent.
“I’m glad to be back.”
Dale said, and the Celestial Sword Charlotte Lancaster did not reply.
“Did you know from the start that His Grace and your mother would remarry?”
After a moment of silence, Charlotte asked, and Dale nodded.
“There are those who bring whispers from all over the continent.”
With the blue butterfly fluttering behind him.
“Still, I never imagined you would claim the Plum Blossom Sword.”
“No one could have imagined it.”
Charlotte smiled.
“I’ve been watching your exploits all along.”
“Through those who bring whispers from all over the continent?”
“Yes.”
Dale nodded.
“You left the Saxon family to join a mercenary band, participated in the Baramir Count’s territorial war, led the right wing, broke through the enemy’s left, and captured the opposing noble after a flanking maneuver.”
”…!”
“Then you excelled in five more territorial wars, left the mercenary band to become an adventurer hunting monsters, and later eradicated a troublesome troll horde in the Free City of Prona, becoming the city’s hero.”
Dale recounted Charlotte’s deeds without pause.
“To me, you are a sword beyond compare.”
Dale said. Not the cold figure from the sword trials, but the Dale that Charlotte remembered.
”…Dale.”
Charlotte bit her lip, unable to find the words. She wanted to voice the emotions welling up in her throat.
But Charlotte Lancaster simply smiled quietly.
For a sword does not think.
“Lady Charlotte has returned.”
That night, in the Duke of Saxon’s study.
The Lord of Death and Darkness, the pinnacle of the Black Tower, Dale’s father, the ‘Black Duke,’ spoke.
“And she has claimed the name of Lancaster.”
“I did not foresee this.”
“But now you must.”
The Duke of Saxon replied.
“She is no longer a fallen noble of a ruined kingdom. She is the eldest daughter of the Lancaster family, holding the title of one of the Seven Swords of the Continent.”
“What are you implying?”
“She can no longer exist as a mere knight protecting you. Moreover, our protection of Saxon is now meaningless.”
The Duke of Saxon answered with the coldness befitting one of the Empire’s foremost nobles.
“If she wishes to remain in our Saxon duchy, she must pay the corresponding price.”
“A noble’s bargain?”
Dale asked, and the Duke of Saxony nodded silently. There are many ways for the nobility to strengthen and solidify their alliances. Among them, there was only one thing that a man and woman of marriageable age could exchange at that moment.
“Could you give me some time to think?”
“Take your time. Just remember…”
The Duke of Saxony nodded again, and then, as if the cold demeanor he had just shown was a lie, he smiled warmly.
“Remember that I always support your decisions.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Dale bowed his head and turned away.
Not long after.
Beyond the Duchy of Saxony lay the Demon King’s domain, and beyond that, the Land of Darkness. Led by the immortal Count Frederick, the former lords of Saxony began to gather at the Shadow Tower.
In the White Tower of the Sistine Papal States, a secret pact for “national independence” was being forged, led by the Holy Maiden Aurelia.
Among the three great ducal families of the Empire, the Grand Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Saxony officially announced the engagement of their eldest daughter and son.
Lastly, whispers spread through the blue web that an envoy from the third great ducal family, the Duke of Exeter, had contacted the White Tower to join the “Independence Alliance.”
There were things Dale knew, things he didn’t, and matters he was directly involved in.
The political landscape was shifting rapidly.
Amidst it all, Dale was certain of one thing: it wouldn’t be long before the sparks igniting everywhere erupted into a full-blown explosion.