SWS CH 00

Prologue

“Is this really the famous swordmaster family?”

A 400-year-old tradition.
The prestigious swordsman house of Bloodymary.

Their radical transformation took less than half a year.

“The Bloodymary family abandons swords and draws ‘kimchi’ instead!”
“From the battlefield to the fashion world! The swordmaster family’s knitting collection takes over!”

No longer just a house known for producing elite knights, the Bloodymary Ducal House reinvented itself through all kinds of business ventures and rose to become one of the three wealthiest families in the Western Empire.

The mansion, which had been as dark as a raven until recently, now glowed brightly with warm lights.

“So that’s the gate, right?”

“They say if you pass through it, you can reach the empire on the other side instantly?”

“I can’t believe Bloodymary, of all families, would open a passage like this. They were famous for being so closed-off…!”

A previously unremarkable tower on the outskirts of the castle suddenly asserted its presence. Magical patterns carved into the stone walls lit up one by one, blue and gold lights overlapping as the entire tower pulsed as if it were breathing.

Through that light, a woman stepped forward with elegant poise.

Her voluminous golden hair, milky white skin, and a striking crimson dress formed a sharp contrast. She looked like a blazing flame, instantly stealing everyone’s gaze.

She was breathtakingly beautiful.

And yet, the noblewomen invited to the event watched her with eyes filled with dissatisfaction and disdain.

“A commoner acting as if she owns the ducal house. How far the dignity of the family has fallen.”

At the countess’s quiet whisper, other nobles exchanged uncomfortable looks.

Halara Seheb.

A woman infamous in the territory as a seductress. A mere commoner with nothing to her name except a pretty face.

How could someone like her be accepted as the duke’s daughter-in-law?

“No matter who she’s married to, a commoner is still a commoner.”

“She must’ve bewitched him with that face. I mean, look at her. That face alone is absurdly beautiful.”

Under the pretense of trying to make sense of the situation, they tore Halara apart with their words.

Otherwise, how could they accept the idea of a commoner daughter-in-law entering such a prestigious house?

“But I heard that all the hit products and even the gate were created by that woman.”

Someone cautiously shared a new rumor.

The noblewomen scoffed immediately.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“With what ability? I heard she’s good for nothing except dressing herself up.”

But only for a moment.

A chill ran down their spines.

The noblewomen turned around with uneasy expressions, and the chatter died instantly.

“You all seem very interested in my daughter-in-law.”

“D-Duchess…!”

Standing there was Francesca, Duchess of Bloodymary, her crimson eyes blazing like the scorching sun as she released an overwhelming pressure.

“And tell me, ladies. How dare you insult my daughter-in-law?”

Her sharp gaze swept over them.

The noblewomen panicked, glancing somewhere else.

At Halara Seheb.

No.
Halara Bloodymary, now.

‘What should we do, Halara?’

Just moments ago she had been the target of ridicule, but now the noblewomen looked at her with anxious, pleading eyes, like subordinates watching their superior’s mood.

Halara silently mouthed back at them.

‘Don’t worry about the aftermath. Just insult me harder. Ruthlessly.’

They understood her request, but hesitated, darting their eyes between her and the duchess.

‘Even harsher?’

‘Yes! Enough that she won’t be able to hold back from throwing me out!’

In truth, these noblewomen had been hired by Halara herself.

Paid handsomely.

Hired to prove that she was useless.

‘Hurry!’

After receiving frantic signals from her eyebrows, they finally opened their mouths.

“Isn’t it true that the new daughter-in-law is a commoner, Duchess? Of course, we never meant to insult the Bloodymary family.”

“That’s right. We weren’t criticizing the house. We were simply worried that a commoner daughter-in-law with nothing to her name might tarnish the family.”

Good job. Nice.

Suppressing a satisfied smile, Halara stepped forward before the furious Francesca.

“Mother, they’re right.”

“My dear?”

“I can’t let myself disgrace the family any further. I’ve already ruined the gate opening ceremony you worked so hard to prepare, and dragged the family’s reputation through the mud. So I think it’s best if we divorce—”

I’ll just divorce him and disappear through the gate, shall I?

She wanted to say it boldly.

But she never finished the sentence.

Smack!

A crisp sound echoed as a noblewoman’s head snapped to the side. What clung to her cheek was a perfectly ripened head of kimchi.

“A-Aaah! What is this?!”

“What do you think it is? Medicine to fix the sewage-pit stench coming out of your mouth.”

Francesca added coldly,

“To dare insult my daughter-in-law in front of me. You were prepared for the consequences, weren’t you?”

“Mother, wait.”

A young nobleman with tied red hair approached with a cold smile. It was Nikolai Bloodymary, the eldest son.

His hand was already gripping his sword hilt.

The noblewomen clamped their mouths shut in fear.

“Isn’t that kimchi something Halara personally made?”

“Oh dear. What a mistake.”

“Tsk. Kimchi is already scarce and expensive. No wonder Halara said such nonsense.”

“I’m sorry, my dear. That was my fault.”

Under Nikolai’s icy gaze, Francesca carefully set the kimchi down.

“Anyone who dared insult the duke’s daughter-in-law will be dealt with personally by me. Surely then Halara will forgive us.”

As one of the empire’s top swordsmen drew his blade, the surrounding nobles held their breath.

“Huh? A fight? Then let me join too.”

The youngest son, Helbern Bloodymary, appeared at Nikolai’s side as if from nowhere, grinning as he brushed back his short hair.

“I was already annoyed hearing them trash-talk Halara, so this works out.”

Just as Nikolai lowered his sword, Helbern stepped forward instead.

“Stop!”

Halara hurriedly stepped in front of the pale noblewomen.

“Please don’t hurt them. I’m begging you!”

“Oh? Okay.”

At that single word, Helbern immediately backed down, his murderous aura vanishing.

Unbelievable.

The Bloodymary family was still terrifying, but to see them completely at a loss because of just one woman?

“How did a commoner daughter-in-law charm a family this prestigious?”

One noblewoman blurted out in genuine disbelief. This line wasn’t scripted.

‘I agree with that.’

Halara sighed softly.

How did the iron-blooded swordmaster family end up like this?

‘I just made the kimchi I wanted to eat and did whatever I felt like!’

For some reason, her in-laws adored her.

And even—

“Halara.”

The protagonist of this novel, the infamous brute of the swordmaster family, now her husband, Docep Bloodymary, had changed as well.

“Divorce? I must have misheard.”

Obsession flickered in his pitch-black eyes.

“Without you, I’m nothing but a thug. You wouldn’t try to leave me knowing that. Right?”

His sculpted face was expressionless, but madness shimmered in his stare.

‘This genre completely derailed.’

This was absolutely not something a male lead from a romance-free fantasy novel should be saying.

And yet, here he was, shamelessly delivering possessive lines.

“…And our child needs a father.”

Pfft!

“A child?!”

What are you even talking about?

“Yes. For the sake of the child, stay with our family. I’ll give you everything you want!”

“Halara! I’ll be amazing to my niece or nephew! Let me be a great uncle!”

I’m not pregnant.