TMKWPL CH 30

Chapter 30

• ────── ✦ ────── •

Marriage as a Shackle

“……Ahem.”

A brief silence hung between the two men. Then suddenly, Chancellor Federin Lewins burst into laughter, even pointing a finger at the emperor.

“Hahaha! Are you trying to kill this old man with laughter, Your Majesty? This is even funnier than the time you wore heels and sprained your ankle trying to woo Empress Lovina.”

“Hey, that was because Robina said she liked tall men! Stop laughing! Commander Lucia is a Grand Sword Master!!”

The Emperor, unable to withstand the ridicule any longer, finally spilled the secret he had intended to keep.

“……A Grand Sword Master? Do you even understand what that means, Your Majesty?”

Could this immature person have misunderstood something?

“That look! I know that look! You’re looking down on me. I may have more scars from falling over my own sword than from battle, but even I can tell. Look at this, she sliced this crystal goblet with a feather! Have you ever seen anything like it?”

The Emperor proudly grabbed a quill and the perfectly halved crystal goblet and shook them in the Chancellor's face. Federin took the goblet, and the gravity of the situation finally sank in.

In legends, a Grand Sword Master could manipulate sword aura as easily as their own limbs, similar to a high-ranking mage casting spells. Unless one had reached such a level, transferring sword aura into objects regardless of medium would be impossible. If that were the case, the story would be completely different.

This meant that even if multiple Sword Masters attacked, they wouldn't be able to defeat her. In other words, Lucia was an unstoppable human weapon.

“To achieve such results after five years of training… I knew my judgment was correct.”

“I believe that assessment came from the Commander-in-Chief. Still, are you saying marriage is the only reliable shackle capable of keeping her here?”

“Exactly! You finally—wait. Shackle is a bit harsh, isn't it? Where else would you find such a pretty shackle?”

The chancellor understood immediately, though the emperor’s thinking was hardly unique. Traditionally, when a hero defeats a demon king, marrying them to a princess isn't just a reward, it’s a strategic move to secure them in the nation. The only change is that the genders were reversed this time.

The reason they were so lauded as heroes in their own country was largely to bind them to the honour of knighthood and prevent them from easily leaving for another nation. The custom was that if a Sword Master from a country defected, they would be strongly labelled a traitor.

Lucia, though still called a monster now, would gradually come to represent the nation itself as a Sword Master. Fear might remain, but people would stop calling her and her knights criminals. But a Grand Sword Master? That meant the label of traitor meant nothing. Any kingdom possessing her, even the smallest, would gain military power rivalling the Empire itself. No nation would refuse such a hero.

Since Lucia was estranged from her only family, the Count's house, there was nothing keeping her in the Empire. Since she had no father, the emperor wanted to give her a new family, no matter who it was, and keep her. And if that family were the Imperial House itself, surely she would accept gladly.

“But you know her personality. She would never willingly become part of the Imperial Family.”

“I know. I won't force it. But my son, Airen is sincere. Sincerity always wins. You wouldn't know, since you had an arranged marriage, right? Hahaha!”

“…”

Even if things failed between Lucia and the Crown Prince, the Emperor clearly intended to marry her to a noble within the Empire. After all, countless noble ladies were already despairing over the prince’s previous engagement, him pursuing another woman briefly would hardly damage his reputation.

While calculating this rationally, the chancellor smiled coolly when the emperor suddenly mentioned his own marriage.

“You misunderstand. Beauty grows tiresome with time. Gentle and considerate men are far more popular. Like my son.”

The chancellor mentioned his son half to tease him, but the emperor laughed even louder.

“Hahaha! That reed-like son of yours? I heard a rumour he escorted a certain lady recently. Meanwhile, my son’s heart is steadfast, even after a political marriage. He has high standards, just like his father!”

At the insult toward his son, a vein throbbed invisibly on the chancellor’s forehead.

“Escorting someone counts as scandal? Then the Crown Prince’s situation would qualify as disgrace. He returned after a public engagement known across the continent—that’s practically a completed marriage. Frankly, one diamond mine seems insufficient compensation for the Princess of Perendel. Perhaps you should add another, Your Majesty.”

“W-What did you say?!”

Fire lit both their eyes. An invisible arena had formed, each man fighting while carrying his son on his back.

BOOOM!!

A massive explosion echoed through the open window.

“C-Chancellor, did you hear that?”

Both men rushed to the window.

“Your Majesty… that’s—!”

“Isn’t that the Grand Training Hall?!”

Indeed, the proud pillars of the Great Training Hall were collapsing like dominoes. Had Perendel invaded over the diamond mine compensation? Impossible… yet the emperor feared that war would break out again. Defeat wasn’t the concern, but sitting quietly, enduring endless mourning cries again was exhausting enough.

A guard suddenly rushed in.

“Your Majesty! It’s a disaster! Commander Lucia is destroying the entire training hall!”

“……What? Why?!”

“It seems there was a conflict with the other Knight Orders!”

The Emperor clutched the back of his neck. He had taken care of the Black Knights during Lucia’s five-year training, but during her six-month childcare leave, he had ignored the rising complaints from the other Orders. He had expected friction, but not the literal demolition of the palace's pride. Federin, however, couldn't suppress his laughter.

“Hahaha! Your Majesty... a Crown Princess who smashes an imperial property? Can you handle that?”

“I-If she becomes my adorable son’s bride, she’ll surely cha—”

“No. She will not.”

“….”

Both men fell silent. Neither of them had even considered whether Lucia herself wanted any of this.

“Then I shall visit Commander Lucia, who will soon be summoned to a disciplinary hearing. There is something I must discuss.”

“Oh, that matter? Leave it to my son Airen. We must give him an opportunity.”

“…Very well. Though your son himself refused the task. In that case, please calculate the reconstruction budget for the new Grand Training Hall.”

“W-What? That’s your job as Chancellor—!”

But the chancellor had already vanished. The Emperor hurriedly pulled documents from his drawer. Clutching his stomach, he looked ready to collapse at the thought of this year’s reserve budget being swallowed by reconstruction costs.

• ───────── ☽༓☾ ───────── •

A disciplinary meeting was convened immediately after Lucia left the ruins. As though waiting for her return, the nobles gathered like a swarm the moment she caused trouble. Lucia examined the orders given to her at the table surrounding her once more. The documents were clearly hastily prepared. And instead of the Commander-in-Chief’s seal, an unfamiliar stamp marked the document. She thrust the document at them, silently pointing to the strange seal.

“That belongs to the newly appointed aide. By the time the Commander-in-Chief returns, you were scheduled to be stationed elsewhere anyway. Quite unfortunate timing for such an incident, wouldn’t you say?”

Clearly, they had pressured the inexperienced aide to punish her in some way. The order was to deal with a magical monster that randomly appeared in the distant border region with the Kingdom of Perendel. Killing them wasn’t difficult, but the problem was their unpredictability, there was no telling when the mission would end.

A few days away from her child might be manageable, but an indefinite deployment? Her child was special, her identity as a saintess must remain hidden.

Lucia’s first thought wasn't about the monsters. It was:

What if I’m gone that long, will Nia forget me?

Children grew quickly at this age. Even short absences could make them unfamiliar…Such were the entirely unnecessary worries of an overly doting mother.

“I cannot accept this.”

Except for Count Rendall smiling, the nobles erupted in murmurs.

“Disobeying an order? Then you must accept punishment. What if we demand you step down as commander?”

The nobles began to sneer and Count Rendall clearly anticipated this outcome. But Lucia looked straight at their foolish faces.

“Fine. I resign.”

Shock spread through the chamber. No one expected her to walk away from the prestigious position of Commander so easily. Count Rendall’s face lit up, his goal was to put his own incompetent son in her spot. But the other nobles turned pale. They had only intended to humiliate her, not drive her away entirely. If Lucia quit, the Emperor and Chancellor would hold them responsible for losing the Empire’s greatest asset. They would lose their fortunes, their titles, or worse.

Panic set in as the nobles desperately pleaded at Count Rendall with their eyes.

Bang!

 The door burst open and Crown Prince Airen entered, his eyes sparkling like a puppy who had just been told it was time for a walk. Airen quickly assessed the room. Lucia was calm but the nobles were so flustered by his arrival that they forgot to greet him.

“Where are you going? Sit down!”

“If you quit, what will happen to your knights? How can you be so irresponsible to your men?!”

The middle-aged men, suddenly stood up and began to try to dissuade Lucia, as if they had never bothered her. Only Count Rendall watched with glee. As Lucia moved to leave, Airen approached her, snatching the disciplinary order from Lucia’s hand.

“Wait. Talk to me first. As for you all, I have a separate task for Commander Lucia. That should settle the matter of the training hall, shouldn't it?”

He smiled charmingly and teared the document to shreds. Count Rendall turned purple.

“Your Majesty! You cannot tear up an official document!”

“Silence, Count Rendall!”

The other nobles shouted, desperate to save their own skins.

““His Highness has personally come! Show respect!”

“Commander Lucia, go! Attend to your urgent mission at once!”

They practically pushed Lucia and Airen out of the room, wiping cold sweat from their brows as they bid them a frantic farewell.

“…How could you all do this?! A disciplinary council must issue punishment!”

“Count Rendall! Have you lost all sense?! Do you realize what nearly happened?!”

“We refuse further discussion with you!”

“Let today’s matter remain confidential. Everyone, disperse.”

As if shaking off bad luck, they rushed from the chamber one by one. Left alone, Count Rendall could only slam the table in rage.

Chapter 29

Chapter List

Chapter 31