Chapter 68

On the eve of their departure from the Duchy of Trebache.

A small banquet was held under the name of Duke Edelmar. It wasn’t a gathering that drew in external nobility but a modest affair filled with the duke’s own people. However, the banquet itself was anything but modest.

The hall was filled with food and splendid lighting, all set up for dancing.

Musicians from the theater began their performance with violins and pianos, filling the hall with lively music. As the atmosphere warmed up, Duke Edelmar stepped onto the balcony of the banquet.

Duke Edelmar, his hair neatly combed back, swirled the glass in his hand and gave a toast.

“To the two guests who graced Trebache, cheers.”

With his brief toast, the music resumed, and one by one, people started moving to the center of the hall to find partners to dance with. Among them were nobles affiliated with the Cambria Foundation, people of the duke, and…

‘Is it always this uncomfortable?’

-Formal wear tends to be like that, doesn’t it?

Najin was also getting ready to step into the hall. Unfamiliar with the formal attire he was wearing for the first time, he fidgeted with his collar when someone placed a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Duke Edelmar standing there.

“Now, now, the star of the stage shouldn’t be lurking here. Isn’t your lady waiting for you?”

“…Excuse me?”

With a click of his tongue, the duke gently pushed Najin’s back. With a bewildered look, Najin turned to find the duke winking at him, as if to say, do well.

‘What’s all this…’

Everything felt alien—the atmosphere, the lighting. Feeling awkward, Najin began walking towards the center of the hall, aware of the many eyes on him, though he couldn’t fathom why.

…Unbeknownst to Najin,

The escapade involving Najin and Dieta over the past few days had spread far and wide, embellished by the duke’s influence. The more the tale spread, the more ‘justification’ it gained.

The story of a woman imprisoned by the ducal family and the man who dared to rescue her alone, romanticized for the audience. Thus, it was no surprise all eyes were on him.

Among the focused attention,

Najin crossed the hall, presumably towards Dieta, who awaited him as the duke had implied.

With the music playing lively tunes, it was time to find a partner for the next dance. Dieta stood at a corner of the banquet, hands clasped, smoothing over her hands.

‘It’s strange, as expected.’

Though she had attended banquets before, no one had ever asked Dieta to dance. It was to be expected. Dieta was a discarded child of the ducal family, and asking her to dance meant becoming a laughing stock.

Thus, she always watched the banquets from the sidelines.

She had never stepped into the center of the hall to dance. She had never been the shining protagonist on the stage. As a child, she had envied those who danced at the center of the hall.

‘It’s all in the past now.’

Dieta let out a thin smile. She was of age now, wasn’t she? Already twenty. It would be embarrassing to have her heart flutter at such a dance at her age.

Thump, thump…

Embarrassing, truly embarrassing.

Yet, why was her heart pounding so loudly? Swallowing her nervousness, Dieta looked towards the hall. Najin should be standing on the opposite side; would he find her amidst the crowd?

As she entertained such silly thoughts,

She noticed the other attendees of the banquet stopping one by one, their gazes fixed in one direction. There, across the center of the hall, walked a figure.

With hair tied neatly back in shades of gray and white,

Eyes resembling the hue of sunset,

And dressed in formal attire,

Dieta’s eyes widened as she belatedly recognized the man as Najin. His appearance was so different from usual that she hadn’t recognized him immediately. He was quite handsome to begin with, but dressed up like this, he seemed different.

With everyone’s attention focused,

Najin crossed the hall, directly towards Dieta. The attention that had been on him naturally dispersed towards Dieta, who stood where he was heading.

And then, finally, thump.

Najin stopped in front of Dieta. He extended his hand and bowed slightly, just as he had been taught by Wolfhild for a day. It was a gesture of invitation to dance.

“May I have this dance?”

Staring blankly at Najin, Dieta soon smiled and nodded.

“Yes, I would be delighted.”

Dieta took Najin’s hand. Together, they moved towards the center of the hall. As the protagonists of this banquet, the attendees naturally made way for them.

In the brightest spot under the lights,

Dieta stood at the center of the hall.

As the current tune neared its end and a new one was about to start, there was a brief silence. Only the loud beating of Dieta’s heart echoed in her ears. But soon, even the pounding of her heart was drowned out by the start of the new performance.

All she could hear was the lively music,

And all she could see was Najin, holding her hand.

Her face flushed, but taking a short breath, Dieta cautiously took the first step. Neither she nor the man before her had properly learned to dance, so it was bound to be a mess. To avoid falling, she had to move carefully…

That’s what Dieta had thought.

So… it was somewhat of a stutter at first until Najin, after “carefully observing” the most elegantly dancing couple, suddenly became adept, before he even knew it.

As the tune ended and a break ensued, Dieta, sitting at a tea table in a corner of the banquet hall, caught her breath and glanced at Najin. Initially, Najin had awkwardly matched his steps with hers… but at some point, as if he had learned the dance, he led confidently, leaving a strong impression.

‘Is that even considered leading…?’

Adjusting her waist, pulling her arms, and even twisting his body to correct any odd movements. Though Dieta had never properly danced before, being led around by Najin, they received a round of applause by the end of the song.

Even professional dancers were impressed, indicating a high level of skill…

It was absurd. Dieta chuckled and spoke.

“You haven’t taken dance lessons by any chance, have you?”

“I haven’t.”

“Really? It didn’t seem like it was your first or second time.”

“It was my first time today.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

As Najin nodded, Dieta laughed. The first time, he said.

“It’s an honor. To have become the first dance partner of a future Sword Master. Seems like quite an achievement.”

“Sword Master?”

“Aren’t you aiming to etch your name among the stars? To reach the highest place, if not a Sword Master?”

At Dieta’s question, Najin laughed.

“Well, it’s not incorrect. Becoming a Sword Master is indeed a goal.”

“It seems there’s more to it?”

“A Sword Master is a part of the journey, not the destination.”

“A realm unreachable even if one dedicates their entire life to it is merely a step in the journey. Always…”

Even as she laughed, Dieta couldn’t deny it. The man before her was indeed special. A person who aims for heights unimaginable to ordinary people.

“A step in the journey, not the destination…”

Mulling over his words, Dieta stared intently at Najin, resting her chin on her hand.

“Maybe I should dream a bit higher myself?”

“There’s no harm in that. For example?”

“My original goal was to create a trading company big enough to engulf the Arbenia ducal family. To reach the pinnacle as a merchant.”

But, Dieta murmured.

“If I look higher… there is something.”

A tower built of gold coins.

Sitting atop that tower, there would still be higher places to reach. If she had reached the peak with gold, it was time to scatter those coins and seize power.

“Should I become a pillar of the empire?”

The words were spoken lightly.

But that goal was anything but light. What is a pillar of the empire? Higher than a duke, with only the emperor above, the absolute power holders.

Recognized by the emperor,

Sometimes even purging members of the imperial family,

Not bowing to anyone,

Truly the pillars that support the empire.

The five pillars of the empire, known as the Imperial Pentagons, represent the highest position a power seeker can attain. In some ways, it’s a title comparable to a Sword Master. Indeed, the empire’s first pillar was ‘Sword Master Gerd’, so it wasn’t an inaccurate statement.

“If you become a Sword Master.”

Dieta looked at Najin and smiled.

“I would need to be one of the Imperial Pentagons to stand on equal footing with you.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s how it is.”

She leaned back in her chair.

And let out a contented sigh.

“It’s still a distant story, but as you said, there’s no harm in dreaming big, right?”

Well, that’s one thing.

Dieta mused and looked straight at Najin.

“I enjoyed tonight. I felt like I was the protagonist of a fairy tale. I never imagined I’d be dancing in the center of the stage, it was quite a magical feeling.”

Everything was so wondrous.

Tomorrow, she would return to being the Snake that Swallows Gold, dealing with complex issues, and facing off against the Arbenia ducal family…

But at least for tonight, Dieta could enjoy herself as Dieta.

Pleased with that fact, Dieta smiled warmly. And she felt a slight pang of regret. Special times feel special precisely because they must return to the routine.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

‘But still…’

Dieta glanced at Najin.

Not everything would return to routine. This feeling for him seemed unlikely to fade. In his presence, she could always be herself.

Thump, thump, thump.

The loud heartbeat, this fluttering rhythm was entirely her own. And she wouldn’t let anyone take it from her. The Snake that Swallows Gold never lets go of what it sets its eyes on.

With the lengthy ordeal concluded and the duke’s farewell, Najin and Dieta boarded the carriage headed for Cambria. The carriage smoothly cut through the wind, moving forward.

What followed was simple.

Upon returning to the city, Najin would dye his badge red, claiming his place among the highest-ranking adventurers, and Dieta would reclaim her position as the head of the trading company. Despite the numerous obstacles and incidents, things had come to a satisfactory conclusion.

Everyone believed this without a doubt.

What they hadn’t anticipated was the first child of the Arbenia ducal family’s tenacity, and that the rumors that had reached him were not to be trusted.

“I challenge you to a duel.”

The first thing that greeted Najin and Dieta upon their return to the city was Prince Agesio and a line of knights behind him. Despite receiving orders to return to the ducal family, Agesio had postponed his return, waiting for Najin and Dieta instead.

He couldn’t accept it. The fact that Dieta, an abandoned child, had outsmarted him, and that all his plans were thwarted by a mere adventurer.

Even if he had to step back, the ducal family’s honor had to be restored. That was Agesio’s thought, his chosen wrong answer. He didn’t know how to accept defeat or endure humiliation.

He had never been defeated.

Nor had he ever endured humiliation.

Of course, Najin didn’t necessarily have to accept the duel. There was no justification, no reason.

“You wouldn’t refuse a duel, would you? A man aspiring to be a knight can’t decline an honorable duel, or he wouldn’t be worthy of knighthood. Isn’t that right?”

But.

“If you understand honor and pride.”

The moment Agesio lightly uttered those words, Najin found his justification, his reason.

“I accept the duel…”

Before he could finish his sentence,

Najin drew his sword. The blade, pulled out with a harsh scrape against the scabbard, gleamed menacingly.

Accepting the duel was what that meant.

As one of the knights took a step forward, Najin chuckled and flicked his drawn sword. Responding to the cheap provocation, Najin too hurled a cheap taunt at the knights.

“Do you need to come at me one by one?”

Najin threw his sword scabbard to the ground.

“Wouldn’t it be more balanced if you all came at once?”