The carriage carrying me and Ascan arrived at the Kalua Imperial Palace.

Carriages of nobles attending the party stretched endlessly, as far as the eye could see.

Although I had dined with Helsion here not long ago, the crowd today was on an entirely different scale—the banquet hall was extravagantly vast and splendid.

Zen, who had accompanied us to the entrance, bowed deeply in respect.

“This is a place I cannot enter with you. I shall wait outside.”

“Alright. See you later.”

Reluctantly parting with Zen, I stepped inside the banquet hall. For some reason, Ascan refused to move even a single step away from my side.

Apparently, he was following Helsion’s imperial command to protect me.

Nobles of the Kalua Empire whispered among themselves as they watched me and Ascan. Many gazes were directed at me with curiosity, but just as many were fixed on Ascan.

“What? That man is the Captain of the Royal Guard? He’s been hiding such a handsome face behind a mask all this time?”

“Look at his uniform. That’s the official Royal Guard attire.”

“I heard for sure—just now at the entrance, during identity verification, someone called him Count Atreias.”

“No way! There were rumors after the title ceremony that he was good looking, but I never imagined he’d be this stunning!”

Among the murmuring voices, this particular conversation stood out clearly to my ears.

Bishop, the butler, had mentioned I was the first woman to visit the mansion, but apparently, Ascan had never revealed his face publicly before Helsion ascended the throne.

It seemed as if hearts were literally pouring out of the eyes of the young noble ladies and noblewomen who were seeing his face for the first time.

Watching countless women whispering and staring at Ascan, I lightly elbowed his side and whispered teasingly,

“Ohhh, quite popular, aren’t you?”

At my teasing remark, Ascan frowned and shifted his body toward a shadowed corner.

He positioned himself at an angle where others couldn’t easily see him, deliberately blocking as many gazes as possible.

“It’s merely uncomfortable.”

Suddenly, I recalled attending a party with Ascan ten years ago.

Back then, he had similarly avoided people’s stares and said the exact same thing.

—What, are you shy?

—No. It’s uncomfortable.

I had wondered whether, after so many years, he had changed—or remained the same. Now I realized he hadn’t changed at all.

Unconsciously, a smile escaped my lips.

Noticing this, Ascan looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Just thinking you’re the type who’d have a hard time dating.”

I blurted it out instinctively, remembering what I’d said back then.

—You’re the type who’d have a hard time dating.

—I have no interest in such things.

—Ha, people who say that are usually the first to fall in love.

Young Ascan had stared at me with a look full of unspoken words—but he never replied. Back then, as a slave, he likely couldn’t voice everything he wanted to say.

While I was momentarily lost in these nostalgic memories,

Ascan, who had been staring at me incredulously, tilted his head slightly and whispered softly into my ear,

“You don’t need to worry about that. Someone already likes me very passionately, after all.”

“…!”

I gazed at Ascan with startled eyes.

It was obvious he meant me—the woman who supposedly “liked him very passionately.”

It felt like being abruptly yanked from reminiscing about the past straight back into reality.

‘He’s saying not to worry because of me? What does that even mean?’

Is he implying he’d date me?

My face flushed hot at the sudden thought. Probably because I teased him first, he simply teased me back in kind.

“Well, w what? If crowded places make you uncomfortable, go wait on the balcony.”

The grand banquet hall connected to multiple balconies. If one sought solitude, they could quietly enjoy the view and rest undisturbed.

Instead of answering, Ascan glanced toward a nobleman approaching us. His gaze, icy and sharp unlike when he looked at me, instantly intimidated the man.

The approaching nobleman quickly turned on his heel and vanished elsewhere.

It wasn’t just nobles—even palace staff behaved as if actively chasing people away to ensure no one got too close to him.

I stared at Ascan, puzzled by his behavior. He glanced sideways at me and asked,

“Will you come with me to the balcony?”

“No.”

I couldn’t leave my seat—I had to verify the Kalspelliver, which was supposed to be revealed tonight.

As if he’d expected my answer, Ascan nodded and said,

“…I have to chase away pests. Uncomfortable as it is, I’ll have to stay here.”

“Pests? Good heavens, are there actual bugs in the imperial palace?”

Naturally, images of multi legged insects flooded my mind.

Startled, I hurriedly stepped closer to Ascan, ready to hide behind him or flee at any moment.

Ascan quietly observed me pressing close to him, then smiled faintly—an unreadable smile.

“Yes. So you’d better stay tightly glued to my side.”

Though different from Arwen Empire’s warm atmosphere, I’d thought Kalua Empire had its own charm and splendor.

But all those pleasant thoughts were instantly canceled.

Pests? Pests?!

It was utterly unthinkable that bugs would infest the imperial palace. While I nervously scanned the surroundings,

“The Emperor and Empress have arrived!”

With the chamberlain’s booming announcement, Helsion and Seruna entered the banquet hall.

Helsion, lavishly adorned, looked every bit the dignified emperor. Beside him, Seruna stood out as a beauty radiating purity.

As I stared blankly at Seruna, Ascan spoke quietly beside me.

“Do you see the person standing to the Empress’s left?”

Following Ascan’s words, I turned my gaze to Seruna’s left side. A notably short and frail elderly man caught my eye.

When I nodded, Ascan whispered low enough for only me to hear,

“That is Marquis Manoko. You’d do well to memorize his face.”

“Understood.”

“Above all else, avoid meeting the Empress and Marquis Manoko alone. They’re skilled in hypnosis—you might fall victim without even realizing it.”

I already knew this from the novel, but I hadn’t expected Ascan to warn me in advance. I stared at him blankly.

Misinterpreting my gaze, Ascan opened his mouth again, concern evident in his expression.

“If, by any chance, you’re forced into such a situation, remember this.”

“What?”

“Don’t smell anything. Don’t listen to any sounds.”

I’d already prepared thoroughly to resist hypnosis, but I nodded earnestly at Ascan’s advice.

Better safe than sorry.

At that moment,

As Helsion and Seruna took their seats on the imperial thrones prepared in the banquet hall, the chamberlain stepped forward onto the stage and announced loudly,

“This is the first public unveiling of Kalspelliver. Let us all admire together this glorious magical sword of the esteemed Kalua Empire.”

It seemed the party’s official proceedings were finally beginning.

Swishhh—

The red drapery, which I’d assumed was mere decoration, parted to reveal a single sword.

Encased in a sheath as red as blood, the sword’s form exuded nobility. The gemstone embedded at its center was unmistakably an ancient magical crystal.

Fascinating. At a glance, it was clearly no ordinary blade.

As I stared, spellbound, at Kalspelliver—the sword I’d only ever seen in novels—I suddenly glanced up at Ascan standing beside me.

Ascan was a man indifferent to everything. Whether as a boy or now, he rarely showed interest in anything special.

But this time was different.

In Ascan’s gaze fixed upon Kalspelliver, I sensed greed.

Though we’d been separated for periods, I’d known him for many years. Others might be fooled, but not me.

I couldn’t definitively conclude he’d “turned dark” just from this, but I realized he desired Kalspelliver—just as in the original novel.

‘Why does he want that sword?’

The unasked question lingered on my tongue.

Did he crave the honor of possessing Kalua Empire’s representative magical sword—or, as in the novel, was it for the purpose of world destruction?

Depending on Ascan’s true intentions, much of the future story would change.

Soon, people began moving closer, eager to get a better look at Kalspelliver.

Just then, the chamberlain who had unveiled Kalspelliver spoke in a resonant voice,

“We shall grant one honored guest here the privilege of personally drawing Kalspelliver. Please raise your hand if you wish to participate.”

It appeared to be an event prepared by the royal family to accompany Kalspelliver’s unveiling.

Whoosh—I was the very first to raise my hand, without the slightest hesitation.

I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Ascan looked at me with surprise—he clearly hadn’t expected me to volunteer to draw Kalspelliver.

Countless others also raised their hands, declaring their intent to participate.

Naturally, I wasn’t the only one curious about Kalspelliver.

As I tensely wondered how they’d choose among so many volunteers, unexpectedly, Helsion—who had been seated on a golden throne—stepped forward and pointed directly at me.

“Lady Brellof, come forth.”

Rumors of my arrival in Kalua Empire had already spread far and wide.

Some in the banquet hall had already suspected my identity and whispered among themselves, but when Helsion called my name, even those uncertain became fully aware.

That I was the rumored genius of magical engineering—and the continent’s greatest arms dealer.

Murmur murmur—

The banquet hall, silent just moments before, now buzzed with chatter.

Everyone stared at me, exchanging words about me.

“So the rumor that Lady Brellof of Arwen Empire came to Kalua Empire was true.”

“I’d heard rumors, but she really is stunningly beautiful.”

“I told you earlier I suspected her—if only Captain Ascan hadn’t been beside her, I’d have approached to speak.”

“With a face like that, she’d thrive even without an impressive background…”

Amid the flood of comments about me,

Helsion raised his hand as if signaling for silence, and the nobles’ murmuring gradually subsided.

“As Lady Brellof has honored my summons by coming to Kalua Empire, I wish to bestow upon you the privilege of drawing Kalspelliver.”

Without declining, I slightly bent my knee in a respectful bow.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

This was an unexpected windfall.

Click clack—I walked confidently toward where Kalspelliver rested.

When I reached arm’s length, ancient magical engineering formulas—previously invisible from afar—came into view.

As expected of an ancient weapon. Kalspelliver contained inscriptions even I couldn’t decipher, sparking intense curiosity.

Upon reflection, Kalspelliver itself was a magical engineering weapon. To me, a genius in that field, its allure was undeniable.

‘So this is the legendary sword I’ve read about in the novel.’

Unconsciously, my trembling hand grasped Kalspelliver. Carefully drawing the blade from its sheath, a distinct metallic sound rang out.

Shhhlung—

Though I hadn’t exerted much force, the blade slid out as if eagerly awaiting release.

Dazzled by the radiance pouring from the sharp blade, I barely noticed the cheers erupting from the gathered crowd.

“So magnificent!”

“Will it really spew fire as rumored?”

Embedded near the hilt of Kalspelliver I held was an ancient magical crystal.

Like all magical engineering weapons, its precise capabilities would only be known after engraving and bonding with its owner—but its immense power was undeniable.

Pretending to be deeply moved, I deliberately wore a rapturous expression while silently memorizing every magical formula visible on Kalspelliver.

Kalspelliver was kept under Kalua Palace’s ironclad security. Who knew when I’d get another chance to touch this sword?

Partly driven by pure research curiosity, partly because I suspected knowledge of Kalspelliver might prove useful later.

‘If Ascan and Kalspelliver are connected as in the novel… just in case.’

While secretly bright eyed, rapidly examining Kalspelliver,

A soft female voice suddenly spoke from behind me—I hadn’t even noticed her approach.

“So you are Lady Brellof. I’ve heard much about you, but this is my first time seeing you in person.”

Reflexively turning my head, I saw Seruna, Empress of Kalua Empire.

Even from afar, she’d seemed delicate enough to awaken protective instincts—and up close, that impression intensified.

In the brief time I’d had, I’d already memorized over half the countless magical formulas inscribed on Kalspelliver. Only my age made such a feat possible—but I regretted not having more time.

Helplessly, I sheathed Kalspelliver and returned it to its original position.

Seruna didn’t seem to have intentionally interrupted me, but I couldn’t ignore her greeting and keep staring at the sword.

“I greet Her Majesty, Empress of Kalua Empire.”

I bowed with an innocent smile, pretending ignorance of the fact she’d once sent assassins to kill me.

“No need for such formality. Somehow, I feel we’ll be seeing each other often from now on.”

Seruna’s words felt oddly significant. But I merely smiled, feigning complete ignorance.