“I’ll ask Sylph if it knows anything about these gold coins.”

After my not-so-great experience of explaining the invisible Sylph in front of Lucion, I excused myself for a moment. I could feel Lucion’s peculiar gaze on me as I left.

‘Come on, have some faith in me! I really need to hasten my training to materialize spirits. Otherwise, I’ll end up being the duchess who sees ghosts alone.’

“Sylph, I need a favor. Can you contact Sylphide?”

I wasn’t sure how to communicate with the spirit realm. At my request, Sylph seemed puzzled, barked once, then disappeared, only to return a little later with a scrap of paper in its mouth.

The anti-fraud magic will last about a year after leaving the space. If you wish to trade with these gold coins before then, select a virtuous partner. From Sylphide.

“One year!”

‘When the heroine opened the vault, there was no such limitation! Is it because an extra like me opened it? That’s too discriminatory!’

Ugh, but it could’ve been worse, like ‘100 years’ or ‘forever.’

Otherwise, these gold coins would have been nothing but ornamental with no practical use. Then, they would only be usable as an unpayable collateral.

Returning to Lucion, only Darius was left there.

“These gold coins are enchanted with magic thoughtfully left by our ancestor, Duke Inkheart. As you know, it prevents the greedy from even touching them. The magical effect will last for a year after being removed from the vault.”

“One year. We’ll need to revise the duchy’s financial plans. Seems like we’ll have more breathing space.”

Unlike me, who’s full of desires, the pure and honest Darius was genuinely happy. He began to outline plans for using the gold coins – renovating here, revitalizing there, but never mentioned anything for himself.

“Duke, it wasn’t just the people’s gold that our ancestor prepared. He also left a gift for his descendants.”

I took out a sword from among the treasures mixed with the gold coins. It was the magic sword I’d noticed since first meeting Sylphide.

“This is…”

Swoosh.

As Darius drew the sword, a faint blue glow emitted from it. Even to someone like me, who knows little about swords, it was clearly extraordinary.

And to a swordsman like Darius? Had Lucion been there, he too would’ve been unable to take his eyes off it.

“Such a beautiful sword.”

“I knew the moment I saw it. This sword was meant for you.”

The main character, who had always carried a sword that was like his other half in the story, now stood before me with this new blade. My heart raced alongside his.

“Do you like it? This will be your companion in battle from now on.”

He alternated his gaze between the mesmerizing sword and me.

“Annette.”

Suddenly, without warning, he pulled me into an embrace.

“D-Darius?”

“I want to name this sword after you.”

“What?”

His sturdy shoulder bumped against my nose. His refreshing scent filled my senses.

“I’ll carry this sword with me into battle. It will share my meals, always be by my side, just like my horse. So, if I’m to name it, I can’t imagine any name other than yours.”
Even when faced with a mountain of gold coins, Darius’s voice was calm. But now, holding the sword, he was ecstatic, as if intoxicated with rapture.

Could a sword mean so much to a swordsman?

‘It makes me happy to see him this happy.’

No, but not my name!

“My name won’t work!”

“Why?”

Darius twirled my hair around his finger, his eyes showing no doubt that I might refuse.

‘Of course, the male lead in a romance novel would do something like this.’

In the original story, this event occurred after several battles. Starting with a cold encounter with Darius, then the heroine finding the Duke Inkheart’s treasure vault, followed by more battles together, this mid-story event unfolded.

〈I want to dedicate the honor of this war to you. In appreciation of your dedication, I wish to name my sword after you.〉

Even then, Darius hadn’t fully trusted the heroine, and the naming of the sword was more an expression of gratitude. So why now with my name?

This event in the story was significant, symbolizing the change from camaraderie and trust to affection.

“My name is too pretty for a sword.”

“Then I’ll use a masculine form of Annette. What would that be?”

“I don’t know! And a masculine form won’t work either!”

“Why not?”

Darius was unusually insistent.

“The owner of the name doesn’t like it.”

“You need to give me a reason to be convinced.”

I couldn’t say, ‘You might flirt with another woman using that sword, right?’

How could he think of naming a sword he’d carry for life after me?

What would happen between him and the heroine if we divorced? I didn’t want to be the cause of their love quarrel. Men can be so clueless about women’s hearts.

〈Is that sword named after your ex-wife?〉

〈Ah, Annette? There’s no special meaning, but if it displeases you, I’ll rename it after you.〉

〈Yes, please call it by my name from now on! Shout my name the loudest on the battlefield!〉

〈You don’t have to be jealous. You’re the only one I love. Ah, regret marrying before meeting you. Glad I divorced.〉

〈Ho ho ho.〉

〈Ha ha ha.〉

Such cheesy conversations they would have.

I had no intention of immortalizing my name in the romance between the heroine and the male lead.

Darius looked genuinely disappointed.

“Really, it can’t be?”

“Yes.”

Darius, looking dejected, played with the sword.

“I won’t name it then. No other name would be meaningful.”

“You’ll find a more fitting name later.”

Like the heroine’s pretty name.

I don’t know why I get so worked up thinking about it.

“A name without your essence is meaningless. I’ll wait for you to give permission to name it after you, or perhaps you’ll name the sword yourself. Until then, it remains nameless.”

Darius whispered to me softly.

“It’s the first time I’ve asked someone to name my sword.”

Yeah, I’ve read about it in the novel.

‘You’re not just asking me, are you? You’d use anyone’s name if you got close.’

“This sword would be perfect for Lucion.”

Ignoring Darius’s gentle demeanor, I picked another sword from the pile of treasures.
Unlike Darius’s magical sword, which had special abilities, this one was a renowned sword in its own right. Its long blade seemed perfect for Lucion, whose limbs were long and stretched.

However, Darius’s eyebrows quivered at my suggestion.

“We can’t give that sword to Lucion.”

“Why not?”

Swords were Darius’s expertise. I wondered if there was something negative about the sword that I wasn’t aware of.

“Because the scabbard is red, and Lucion doesn’t suit red.”

“For that reason?”

“He’s a member of the Black Knight Order. Maintaining a uniform color is important.”

“If that’s the issue, we can change this red scabbard to black and gift it along with the sword.”

Darius’s brow furrowed in dissatisfaction.

“No, that won’t do.”

“Why? Is there a tradition in the North that changing a scabbard brings bad luck to the receiver?”

Darius practically snatched the sword from me, exclaiming,

“It’s too good a sword to give to Lucion. I’ll keep it.”

Such audacity!

“But I’ve already given you one!”

“I have two hands, so I’ll use dual swords. That’s why I need it.”

“Fine, then a shield.”

“I might use a shield instead of dual swords someday, so I can’t give that away either.”

He quickly grabbed a mirror-like silver shield.

“Then the boots…”

“Lucion recently got new boots. No need to give him more.”

Finally, I exploded in anger.

“Fine, fine! So stingy! Take them all, Duke! I’ll get a new set made at the blacksmith. A full armor set tailored for Lucion!”