I carefully sat down on my bed, making sure not to wake the Duke. Then I quietly observed his sleeping face.
The sleeping Duke’s face was beautiful but looked somewhat sad.
Suddenly, I felt an urge to kiss his lips.
“I am your Holy Sword.”
I murmured without realizing.
You gave up the Holy Sword to save me. So now, I will become your new Holy Sword.
A Holy Sword that can talk, laugh, and cry with you.
I kept gazing at the Duke, as if under a spell.
[Only Belparst can draw the handle of this sword.]Why did I say that in the council hall?
Like the real Holy Sword Lapis, I can’t live for a thousand years.
I can’t live a thousand years, protect you, and your descendants. The eternal sword disappeared because of me.
You said,
[In response to my prayer, the Holy Sword descended from the highest place by itself, for our North.]Duke, what was your prayer?
I’m curious.
What kind of prayer did you make, that the Holy Sword would descend for someone like me?
Why… did you beseech the Holy Sword for someone like me?
I asked in my heart, knowing I couldn’t ask these questions when you wake up.
I don’t have the right to ask.
I was afraid of the answer.
Afraid that I might confirm I’m nothing more than a tool to you.
Hoping for more would be my selfishness towards you.
‘In this life, I’ll just support you, Your Highness. Being able to see you this vulnerable is happiness enough for me.’
I lay down quietly on the bed, continuing to face the sleeping Duke.
How long had I been there?
As the cold air began to seep in through the window gaps, I covered him with a blanket.
Then, after drawing the black curtains over the window, I quietly stepped outside. It was before dawn.
Esdel, let’s see. Wow! You’ve grown a bit taller!
My father, Michael Delparst, measured my height with his hand and laughed brightly.
Since he’s been well-fed, his face has brightened too. Michael, please thank the Duke of the North for me.
My mother, Agnes Floeur, held my father’s hand tightly while touching my cheek.
I woke up from the dream.
It had been a week since I regained my memories and face thanks to the Holy Sword.
Every night, I dream of my childhood memories. In those dreams, I am with my mother and father.
‘I was a very happy child.’
Every time I woke from the dream, I felt joy. I wondered if I was allowed to be this happy.
And I marveled again at the power of the Holy Sword Lapis, and wondered about the dark magic that had been covering me.
What kind of magic was it that even the empire’s greatest magician couldn’t break?
Who, and why, had someone cast such a spell on me?
Someone who made me forget who I am, erased my original face.
Most likely, Rahert had commissioned the magic.
And then.
The first time we met, Eodel said the dark magic on me was not unfamiliar. I wanted to meet him again, just to understand what he meant.
But since I woke up, and even after Julia left, the young magician hadn’t been seen. Nobody knew where he was.
“He’s probably buried somewhere again. Must have encountered a problem he can’t solve.”
“An unsolvable problem?”
“Yeah, that’s his habit. He won’t show up until he solves it.”
Arcadia laughed as if amused.
“That problem is probably…”
“Right, you. The empire’s strongest magician who got flung out of the carriage, almost killed, and got scolded by His Highness.”
“Stop it. It wasn’t me, it was the dark magic…”
“I know.”
Arcadia laughed again, chuckling.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re laughing because it’s funny?”
“…Yes?”
“Laughing is good…”
He said something nonsensical. While saying laughing is good, his face suddenly became sorrowful.
‘Arcadia, you’re still having a hard time.’
“Vice-Captain, will you attend Count Antoine’s reinstatement ceremony?”
“No. How can I go there, being a family member of a criminal? It would only trouble His Highness if I go.”
Arcadia murmured while looking at the distant sky.
I lightly tapped his arm with my fist.
“Ouch!”
He looked at me, surprised.
“It didn’t hurt. I was gentle.”
“The Sword Master is hitting people now.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Cheer up. It might be tough now, but… it might get better with time.”
He looked at me intently.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”
“Don’t be nice to me.”
“Why?”
“I chose loyalty.”
What is he talking about? I saw his knightly vow to the Duke, with tears and all. Why is he being so serious?
I smiled slyly.
“I know you’ve chosen loyalty. And that you’ll continue to be loyal.”
“Idiot.”
“Idiot? Even if you’ve chosen loyalty, I thought we had some friendship. Calling me an idiot?”
“Friendship?”
It’s my hope, to share a friendship with Arcadia.
With a bit of expectation, I asked.
“Is there really no such thing between us? In our relationship?”
Arcadia touched his forehead, and then…
“Ha, hahaha.”
He laughed genuinely.
“Yeah, friendship. Sure, we have that. You onion-like Sword Master.”
“Don’t call me an onion.”
“Nope. You’re like an onion, peeling layer after layer and still a mystery.”
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
