The Secretary of the Northern Grand Duchess Has Run Away

Chaper 14: Sword War (2)

“I said I would wait near the workshop until the sword was completely finished.”

Schmidt had already emptied nearly half of the whiskey.

His thick nose was flushed red.

“Just wait here. And don’t make it for her yet.”

Leaving the dwarf behind, I stepped out of the workshop alone.

I turned the corner and headed toward a quiet clearing, where a platinum-colored carriage came into view.

A pair of white horses were tied to a tree, leisurely nibbling at hay.

‘Helena, the Grand Duke’s daughter…’

I knew she would come today, but for her to arrive at such an early hour—

And she had even commissioned a sword from the craftsman of a rival enterprise?

I was so taken aback by her boldness that I strode straight toward the carriage.

Then, I knocked firmly on the tightly closed window.

―――――.

The window slowly opened.

With a rich fragrance came a glimpse of radiant golden hair.

Helena, the Grand Duke’s daughter of the West, with her sensual blue eyes.

Seated inside the carriage, she held a teacup and gazed at me calmly.

“Greetings, Lady.”

“Julius Roger, to meet you here of all places.”

The eldest daughter of the Western Grand Duke’s House, who knew my name.

It had only been mentioned once in the banquet hall, yet she remembered even my surname.

“I was passing by on an inspection when I recognized a familiar carriage and approached.”

“I see. As it happens, I had some business here myself.”

“Yes, I am aware. You placed an order for a sword with Master Schmidt.”

However, what truly bothered me wasn’t merely that she knew my name.

“You did it without our Grand Duke’s House knowing.”

For ten years, she had been taking a different path in business.

In those blue eyes beneath the golden hair, ambition was overflowing.

“Without knowing? I simply came to consult a famous swordsmith of the North, that’s all.”

“It isn’t just consultation. It’s Master Schmidt’s forging techniques you want, isn’t it?”

A knight of the Western Order seated in the carriage glared at me with a murderous look.

At this, the Lady gestured gracefully that it was fine.

“Well. It’s not as though I directly demanded he teach me the techniques.”

She was already aware of the provisions against leaking techniques.

As expected of a woman who had been sketching out a grand plan for ten years, she was sharply perceptive.

But I had no intention of yielding, either.

I would secure Schmidt first.

“I am sorry, but that will be difficult for you.”

I offered the Lady a slight, bright smile.

Then, stepping back again, I spoke.

“Master Schmidt will continue to craft swords only for His Grace Duke Luton.”

The Lady set her teacup down for a moment when she saw my smile.

“Is that so…?”

Perhaps intrigued by my resolute reply, she rested her arm along the window frame.

She slowly rested her chin on the back of her hand gloved in silk.

“It seems Schmidt has already betrayed the Grand Duke’s trust.”

‘So she’s figured it out even that far.’

The future Grand Duke of the West gave the same slight, bright smile.

Then she pointed directly at my face with the rest of her fingers.

“The fact that you and Debier came here in person to persuade him shows how serious this has become.”

The Western Grand Duke’s daughter’s red lips curved into a sly grin.

She was looking at me as if I were some little fox performing tricks before her eyes.

“I am simply grateful that someone from the far West worries for us this much.”

I clasped my hands behind my back and returned the same smile to the lady.

However, the words that left my mouth had little to do with my expression.

“Still, it is unfortunate. You have made this trip entirely in vain.”

Today, Helena would return without gaining anything.

“Master Schmidt will not be leaving the Luton family. Not today, nor any time soon.”

I placed a fist over my left chest.

Meeting her gaze directly—something most dared not attempt—I spoke firmly.

“Because I will make sure of it.”

The Western Grand Duke’s daughter narrowed her eyes at my resolute stance.

“I see…”

Helena placed a hand on her slender waist.

Then, within her beautiful face, she revealed a chilling glint in her eyes.

“Back at the negotiations too, I wondered why Debier bothered to bring you all the way here. Now I understand.”

She picked up the fan that had been resting on the seat.

Then, with a graceful motion, she unfolded it to hide her lips, leaving only those distinctive blue eyes visible.

“I look forward to seeing that confidence.”

Even as I began to walk away, Helena did not close the window.

She merely sat there, quietly watching me re-enter the workshop.

As if to say I should struggle all I liked.

She was convinced she already held the upper hand in the sword market.

‘She has every reason to be so relaxed.’

Ten years later, Leonil of the Western Grand Duke’s House would grow enough to rival Luton, the continent’s second power.

Perhaps the one who contributed most to that rise was none other than Helena, the eldest daughter.

“Master Schmidt, I’m coming in.”

I calmly spat out any lingering thoughts of her from my mind.

Then I decided to focus entirely on this dwarf before me.

“Ahem… Yes, you’ve returned.”

The craftsman seemed to have sobered up and had pushed the liquor Helena gave him far away.

He looked at me with a serious expression.

“I heard you’re currently acting as Debier’s proxy.”

“That’s correct. Julius Roger, candidate.”

He rose from the furnace, facing me.

I stood 182 centimeters tall, and he was about a head shorter than I.

“Then tell me—why did Debier leave you here? To keep watch, in case I tried to sell my techniques?”

“No. From the start, Lord Debier held no expectations of you whatsoever.”

I glanced down at the simple round table in the workshop.

The whiskey I had left behind appeared untouched.

“Damn it, then why did you come? To stay behind and talk trash about me?”

“Well. I don’t have such a distasteful hobby myself.”

Expressionless, I walked past the round table.

My steps stopped in front of a sword Schmidt had crafted recently.

I picked up one of the rapiers.

Lifting the cleanly designed, light yet sturdy blade, I assumed the en garde stance.

“The reason I’m here is to help you reclaim your reputation as a master.”

The keen edge rose upright before my nose.

In the polished surface, Schmidt’s heavy features were reflected.

“Tell me—why do you think sales of your blades are so poor these days?”

“Hmph… According to Debier, it’s because the designs are plain.”

The half-dwarf crossed his arms with an indifferent look.

His thick forearms bulged powerfully.

“But every weapon must be faithful only to its purpose. Ornaments get in the way in real situations.”

The dwarf’s inflexible nature revealed itself without disguise.

He seemed utterly unwilling to see his masterpieces used as mere luxury goods.

“I want to forge swords that protect life.”

Schmidt looked toward the bottle of Leonil liquor resting on the round table.

Then, he spoke his honest thoughts.

“That young lady who came today said the same thing to me.”

No matter how many decades he had worked for Luton, one is always drawn to someone who shares their ideals.

For someone who poured his soul into his work, it was simply disappointing that the Luton family did not understand him.

“To be frank, I was a little swayed. That young woman had deep knowledge and understanding of swords. A rare person.”

I stood silently, watching the dwarf who had turned his gaze away.

Then I asked in a firm voice.

“Are you aware that woman is the one who stole all your customers?”

“What…?”

The craftsman’s eyes widened as though he was hearing this for the first time.

“The lady you just met is the representative of the Leonil Arms Dealer, who has ensnared several generals, including Major General Gilbert.”

I slowly spun the bottle on the table.

“She plans to combine your techniques with beautiful designs. She has no regard whatsoever for your pure convictions.”

“…”

Schmidt’s thick cheekbones trembled faintly.

He had thought she was simply a woman who loved swords—but she was the very one who had cornered him.

“Is that…true…?”

“Last night, the Grand Duke of Luton confirmed it himself. It’s certain.”

At the mention that even the continent’s second-in-command had verified the information, the dwarf exhaled deeply.

He hadn’t even been driven out of the Grand Duke’s House yet, but already someone had come to steal his techniques.

It must have been a heavy blow to him.

And in times like these, one instinctively reaches out for a glimmer of hope.

“I will help you. I will secure customers for you.”

As soon as I offered this simple solution, Schmidt immediately showed interest.

However, he soon came to his senses again and shot me a wary look.

“So, under the condition that I plaster jewels all over my designs?”

I gently shook my head to say there was no need for that.

Then, I presented another option.

“No. We will not use any jewels. Instead, we’ll adopt a strategy of changing our customer base.”

“Changing the customers…?”

Hearing there was another plan, the half-dwarf finally showed genuine interest.

I led him out of the workshop.

“Until now, who were the majority of your clients ordering swords?”

“Of course it was the generals of the Empire. I’ve done nothing but craft ceremonial long swords for them.”

No matter how famous a place may be, once it falls behind the times, it is destined to be forgotten.

Therefore, we had to secure a stable clientele that would not be swayed by trends.

And those customers were right where I pointed my finger.

“From now on, our clients will be the young knights of the Academy.”

Far in the distance stretched the beautiful rooftops of Nord Academy.

It was the largest gathering in the North, home to thousands of distinguished knights and mages.

“Even in this age of peace, they swing their swords countless times, always training to protect their families and homeland.”

Standing beside me, Schmidt blinked his eyes slowly.

I leaned closer and whispered softly.

“Just as you wish, your swords will be put to meaningful use.”

The middle-aged dwarf swallowed hard.

Seeing that he was tempted, I added one last sweet remark.

“Imagine those young ones, after all their hard work, growing into generals.”

Together, we gazed up at the radiant rooftops, soaked in sunlight.

At the edge of the roofs stood a statue of an imperial hero, a graduate of Nord Academy.

“They will only ever order swords from you, Master Schmidt. They will be your lifelong patrons.”

I tapped the blade of the ceremonial sword I was holding.

Not a single nameplate was engraved upon it.

“They’ll never end up discarded after a few months like these worthless standard-issue blades.”

Schmidt let out a short breath.

And as if the last traces of drink had left him, his gaze grew serious as he spoke.

“I didn’t say I’d never considered selling to students.”

The deep wrinkles etched in his brow exuded a solemn dignity.

“But the children are even more sensitive to trends and designs than the generals.”

Schmidt took the sword from my hand.

He stroked the plain, unadorned hilt as if it were his own child.

“It’s a ruthless market where you can be ostracized just for using the wrong brand of sword.”

A sword faithful to its purpose—yet able to captivate the youth.

Just hearing the challenge described that way made me let out a faint laugh.

“Don’t worry. We already have the ‘most popular knight in the entire Academy’ to set the trend for us.”

The craftsman met my lifeless black eyes and for a moment didn’t say anything.

With a hesitant expression, he seemed to search his memory for who that knight could be.

Then, the instant he recalled the most beautiful daughter among Luton’s children—

“I can’t believe I didn’t think of her… How did she slip my mind?”

“I’ll handle setting the stage. All you need to do is craft the sword with care.”

I clasped my hands behind my back and offered a sly smile with my characteristically narrow gaze.

“All right. Then where is the blueprint?”

“Right here.”

The moment he gave his consent, I drew out the blueprint I had painstakingly prepared since last night.

At this, the dwarf’s characteristically fierce eyes widened.

“What…? You’ve already brought it…?”

“Yes, I prepared it in advance.”

Schmidt tapped his chin lightly with a fist while scanning over the design.

His brown eyes darted busily over the lines.

“But the design itself hasn’t changed. It looks exactly the same as the other swords.”

“That’s right. The point lies precisely here.”

My finger touched one part of the blueprint depicting the sword.

“All you have to do is carve a black lion emblem right here.”

It wasn’t the sleekly extending blade.

Nor was it the crossguard like those of the Western Grand Duke’s swords.

“This part won’t interfere with the sword’s performance. And it allows us to reuse existing stock.”

“Yes, if it’s there, it won’t damage the performance or look ostentatious…!!”

Even a craftsman with decades of experience could instantly grasp the brilliance of this design.

His brown eyes glowed with a passion he hadn’t shown in a long time.

“Can you complete it within today?”

I watched the excited dwarf with the leisure of a sly fox.

Then Schmidt laughed heartily and brought his heavy hand down on my shoulder.

“Ha ha, of course!! This will be finished in no time!!”

He quickly reached out to snatch the blueprint.

But since my hand still held it tightly, he paused for a moment, startled.

“Wait, before that—let’s draw up a contract.”

“A contract…?”

The eyes of the craftsman, who had worked over thirty years in Luton’s workshop, suddenly gleamed.

Those deep brown dwarf eyes fixed firmly on me.

“You…”

The delighted expression that was about to launch into work vanished completely.

Of mixed blood, he gazed at me and instinctively felt an unease.

“Don’t tell me… you plan to profit personally behind the Grand Duke’s back?”

For a moment, a hush settled over the workshop that was usually so noisy.

His gaze was terribly serious as he looked into the deadened eyes I had honed during my years as chief secretary.

“Debier won’t stand by and do nothing…”