Sword Emperor, Becoming the Young Lady of a Viscount House

Chapter 14

-Heeeiiiing!

Chris, who arrived late, dismounted from his horse.

He hurriedly approached Beatrice and scolded her.

“Young Lady! Jumping off a horse so suddenly is dangerous, don’t you think?”

“I thought it looked urgent, so what else could I do?”

“You could have been seriously hurt. No matter how urgent it is, jumping off a galloping horse is absurd.”

Certain that a battle had occurred,

Beatrice rode Chris’s horse until they were close enough to identify the situation.

The situation looked dire.

At first glance, a suspicious group wearing masks was attacking another group riding in carriages.

Moreover, a young noble lady seemed to be in danger.

Beatrice immediately commanded Chris to advance, and he dealt with one of the attackers with his bow.

Despite that, the girl still appeared to be in danger, so Beatrice had jumped off the horse, using its momentum to slash at her enemies midair.

“Well, it’s fortunate I wasn’t too late.”

She was glad she had made a quick decision.

After all, masked attackers usually didn’t have good intentions.

Beatrice approached the young lady who had fallen to the ground and extended her hand.

“Are you all right?”

“Lady Beatrice!”

Dora came running over in a hurry.

The situation had barely been resolved.

Only then did Airy regain her senses, taking Beatrice’s hand to stand up.

She immediately expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you so much.”

Dora echoed her sentiment.

They had nearly lost the young noblewoman.

The very thought of it was horrifying.

“Thank you for saving us. Truly, we were on the brink of disaster. I’ll never forget this debt of gratitude.”

Dora bowed deeply.

Her gratitude was beyond words.

“Well, I just helped because I could.”

Beatrice rubbed her nose as she replied.

From her perspective, it wasn’t a big deal.

Her legs and waist still ached from leaping off the galloping horse at high speed, but saving lives was worth it.

‘Still, how did they get annihilated by a bunch like this?’

The scene was horrifying.

The carriage was half-destroyed.

The legs of the horses were riddled with arrows.

The corpses of knights, who seemed to have been protecting the group, were scattered everywhere.

What puzzled her was how these attackers, who could defeat knights, had been killed so easily by Chris’s arrow and her own attack.

“Can you tell me what happened here? I think I need to hear it.”

Beatrice decided to listen to their story.

There was a whiff of intrigue in the air.

**

Before hearing the full details,

they first had to deal with the bodies of the deceased knights.

It was a vital task, and Beatrice thought the same.

Although she had no personal connection to the dead knights,

they had died fulfilling their duty. It was a sacred and honorable act.

Airy, who had made a final grave for the last knight, knelt with sorrowful eyes.

She clasped her hands together, praying aloud as rain poured heavily around her.

“May their final journey be blessed. Solid, please guide the honorable knights of Aivan to glory. Their deaths were not in vain.”

When Beatrice heard the name of Solid, she murmured inwardly.

‘Pray for their souls.’

[Don’t worry. In the afterlife, the souls of those who sacrificed themselves for others are cherished.]

‘What does death have to do with you, anyway?’

[I am the God of War. I govern all those who lose their lives in battle. I can confidently say they were honorable.]

‘…Fine, that’s enough.’

Beatrice muttered as she rose to her feet.

“If only we had arrived a little sooner.”

She had heard a brief explanation.

The group wasn’t one that would normally be wiped out by mere ruffians.

However, a peculiar barrier had been deployed.

It was a force that restricted all the power of “Spirits.”

‘So that’s why mana couldn’t be used.’

Beatrice had tried to channel mana into her sword due to the urgency of the situation.

But it hadn’t worked, as if something was blocking it completely.

“Sir Lewis was an advanced knight.”

“…Losing someone like that must hurt deeply.”

“Yes, it’s an indescribable sorrow.”

Airy smiled bitterly.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she wiped them away, forcing a smile.

Still, the tremble in her voice was unmistakable.

“He was not just an advanced knight; he was my guardian for the past ten years.”

“…I see.”

Beatrice knew well that the pain of losing someone dear was beyond words.

Even offering comfort here could feel like an insult.

“It’s probably the work of the Resistance. If they targeted me, they must be a faction opposing the king.”

“The Resistance?”

“They’re the only ones who use these strange tricks to restrict mana. It’s strictly forbidden by the law.”

“I see. So, the inability to use mana was all because of them?”

“…Most likely. Sir Lewis was on the verge of becoming a Master, but without the power of the Spirits, he was just slightly stronger than an ordinary knight. He couldn’t handle such a large group.”

“Young Lady, don’t grieve too much.”

“It’s okay. I’m already grateful enough that my nanny is safe.”

‘If mana hadn’t been restricted… things could have been dangerous.’

Beatrice thought to herself.

A Master, they had said.

Her minuscule mana wouldn’t have stood a chance against someone of that level.

However, if mana and Spirits were restricted, Beatrice was confident she could easily defeat anyone.

After all, she was the Sword Emperor.

Her foundation itself was different.

“Given the situation, I couldn’t properly introduce myself earlier.”

Airy looked at Beatrice.

Her expression was a mix of sorrow and gratitude as she introduced herself.

“I am Airy Arvanceco. May I know the name of my benefactor?”

When Chris heard the name Arvanceco, his eyes widened.

He had suspected it from the title of “Young Lady,” but hearing it confirmed hit differently.

Arvanceco.

It was a name no one in Krapos could fail to recognize.

Except for one person: Beatrice.

She called on Solid for assistance.

‘Solid, do you know anything about this family?’

[Young Beatrice, your lack of common knowledge is astonishing. How can you—]

‘…I could always melt the sword.’

Solid and Tyrfing were separate entities.

Even when far from Tyrfing, Solid could communicate with Beatrice because the sword served as their connection.

If Tyrfing were melted down, Solid wouldn’t be able to remain in this world.

Startled, Solid quickly supplied information.

[They were founding heroes. Originally, the Cenci and Arvanceco families were inseparable friends.]

‘I see. But why are they a viscount family while the Arvancecos are dukes? That’s quite the disparity.’

[Beatrice wasn’t interested in power. Besides, the Arvancecos were stronger and contributed more to founding Krapos. Some even argued that the Arvancecos should have become the royal family.]

‘So helping her was a good move.’

Beatrice, satisfied with what she learned, replied inwardly.

“Beatrice Cenci.”

“Ah…! If it’s the Cenci family, I know it very well. Such a long-standing lineage…”

Airy abruptly stopped speaking.

She realized that the Cenci family had played a role in this rebellion.

Her expression stiffened for a moment.

“Are you perhaps headed to the battlefield?”

“I am.”

Dora stepped forward and asked,

“I know this is presumptuous, but… as you can see, we’ve been annihilated. We cannot ensure the Lady’s safety.”

“That seems to be the case. Unfortunate.”

“If the Cenci family could help us just this once, we Arvancecos will not forget it.”

“There is only one carriage.”

Beatrice stated the practical reality.

“It’s impossible to take everyone.”

Not all the knights had died.

There were three soldiers and two knights left.

The problem was that there was only one carriage,

and the number of horses was limited.

“I understand. As someone who owes you my life, I trust you. Please, take the Young Lady to the capital.”

“Nanny!”

“This is the only way, Young Lady. It’s the best option.”

“Still, how can you send me off alone?”

“I’m sorry, Young Lady.”

Beatrice clicked her tongue lightly.

What a pity.

If only they had arrived a little earlier, this tragedy might not have occurred.

Beatrice decided to show mercy.

“Taking one more person won’t be an issue. You can come along.”

“But…”

“The driver’s seat is empty.”

Beatrice visualized the arrangement in her head.

It wouldn’t be proper to seat the young noblewoman behind the horse. Lilith might complain about it, but Airy would ride in the carriage.

Chris’s horse would carry Lilith.

The last seat, next to the driver, could go to this Dora. That seemed neat enough.

“But the remaining soldiers cannot come with us.”

The Cenci family’s soldiers were already crammed into the carriage’s storage area.

It was already packed with cargo and soldiers, leaving no room for Arvanceco’s soldiers.

“If you accept this offer, we’ll travel together. Our destination is the same anyway.”

“…Thank you.”

From Arvanceco’s perspective, it was an offer they couldn’t refuse.

Their carriage was destroyed.

And, more importantly, all their horses were dead.

Walking to the capital was not an option.

Dora bowed deeply.

**

-Thud.

The carriage shook.

Beatrice barely held back the urge to vomit.

‘But why does she keep staring at me like that? It’s uncomfortable.’

[Young Beatrice, treat the young Arvanceco well. The Arvanceco family has always been trustworthy. She, having inherited their blood, must also be steadfast. Building a connection wouldn’t hurt.]

‘I’ll handle it my way.’

[Young Beatrice, you have absolutely no charm.]

‘Melt.’

[My apologies. That was out of line.]

“Um…”

“Do you have something to say?”

Beatrice’s tone was naturally stern.

Despite being born into a noble family, some things didn’t change.

After living nearly fifty years as a man, it was laughable to think her way of speaking would suddenly change just because she was born as a woman.

In any case, she was far from a girlish sensibility.

‘Still, it’s fortunate. Her mental strength seems solid.’

Though she had just lost her closest protector,

Airy quickly regained her composure.

In less than half a day.

“May I ask, how old are you?”

“…”

Beatrice paused for a moment to calculate her age.

“Sixteen.”

She spoke confidently.

“…I’m eighteen.”

“I see.”

“That makes me older.”

“So?”

“And of higher status.”

“…What exactly are you trying to say?”

Airy boldly looked at Beatrice and spoke.

“Why are you speaking informally to me?”

-Flinch.

‘So that’s why she’s been staring at me…’

Honestly, she hadn’t even realized.

She had consistently been using informal speech.

It was a habit ingrained from her past life.

In modern times, where there was no class system, she had always used informal speech with those younger than her.

“My apologies. It’s just a habit.”

Beatrice admitted honestly.

‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Since this world has a class system, it’s only right for someone of lower status like me to use honorifics.’

That was her thought.

…Though it might feel a little awkward.

If it had to be done, she would do it.

Using honorifics wasn’t a big deal.

However.

“Oh, no.”

“…?”

“It’s fine. You’re my benefactor, after all.”

“Then why…”

Airy looked slightly flustered, as if that wasn’t what she had meant.

“It’s just…”

“Just?”

“…I, I’d like to speak casually as well, if that’s okay.”

Beatrice was taken aback.

It wasn’t because of her words.

Rather, …the sight of Airy blushing like a girl seeing her first crush was utterly unfamiliar.