Chapter 10

Although we often bicker now that the sword can talk, it’s still the precious gift Dad gave me… and it’s my friend.

I can’t let anyone take it away! I made up my mind to pretend I didn’t hear Ex’s voice once we arrived in the capital.

But just then, the sword suddenly flashed several times, as if it were angry.

[Who are you calling your friend?! You insolent brat! I am the great Holy Sword, Ex! I’m not the kind of being that befriends little kids like you!]

“Hey! I told you not to read my mind all the time!”

[Hmph! Not my fault I can see everything. And you foolish little brat—if you know I can read your thoughts, then just think things in your head. What’s with that outrageous plan to ignore me, huh?]

‘Ugh, I should ignore him.’

[You brat!!]

The sword kept buzzing and flashing, prompting Dad to glance back and forth between the sword and the carriage window with a troubled look.

“Um… Eve? Sweetie? Is Ex talking right now?”

“Yeah? Uh-huh. But he’s just saying nonsense.”

[This little brat, seriously!]

“Then could you maybe ask him to quiet down a bit…?”

Dad, now visibly fidgeting, kept picking up and putting down Ex’s scabbard.

Neighhh—!

Just as Dad finished speaking, the horses pulling the carriage let out sharp cries and came to a sudden halt.

“…?”

“……”

Soon after, the knights flung open the carriage door and peered inside at us.

“Is there a problem? What was that light just now?”

‘…Ah!’

So that’s why Dad told Ex to be quiet. Only after making eye contact with the knights did I realize and hurriedly stuffed Ex back into the scabbard.

“N-No problem at all!”

“Haha, as you can see, everything is fine. Apologies for the trouble.”

After Dad and I apologized several times, the knights, still looking a little suspicious, glanced around the carriage’s interior before signaling for the journey to continue.

We rode the carriage for a whole week.

After traveling day and night for seven full days, we finally arrived in the capital.

Thankfully, we stayed at the best inns in each town and had delicious food, so the week-long journey wasn’t too difficult.

But…

“Ahh… I want to rest.”

Traveling by carriage for a whole week wasn’t easy, and now I was blinking sleepily while riding piggyback on Dad’s back.

The end of our journey only deepened the mystery about the imperial knights’ sudden visit.

‘How did they manage to send a carriage in just two days?’

It takes a whole week to get back to the capital…

[You fool. Do you think the prince walks around like you? Royals and nobles can teleport between locations using portals.]

“Portals?”

[You dimwit! I told you to think inside your head! Yes, portals. Precious things that common brats like you would never even see. With them, you can travel to the ends of the earth in three minutes.]

That kind of thing exists? The capital really has everything, doesn’t it?

As Dad carried me toward the prince’s palace, I found myself in awe of this unfamiliar world.

When we finally arrived at the prince’s palace, Dad gently let me down.

“Alright, sweetie. From here, you need to walk. We’re about to meet His Highness, the prince.”

“Okay! I can walk now!”

“Good. Let’s also leave Ex behind. You can’t carry weapons when meeting royalty.”

I hesitated for a moment.

“But Dad, what if someone steals Ex while we’re inside?”

Just then, Ex scoffed loudly.

[Oh, please. What a ridiculous concern! I’m not a sword that just anyone can pick up, brat!]

Dad echoed the same sentiment.

“Don’t worry, Eve. No one’s going to steal Ex. Alright, let’s head in.”

“Okay!”

Right away, I handed Excalibur to the palace guard standing watch outside.

[Aren’t you being a little too unbothered, brat?]

“Let’s go, Dad~.”

Ignoring Ex’s comment, I clutched my dad’s large, warm hand tightly.

Holding my hand, Dad stepped into the prince’s palace.

The attendants who saw us quickly approached and said that His Highness was waiting, then guided us to the reception room.

I held tightly onto Dad’s hand as we walked slowly, sneaking glances around the inside of the prince’s palace.

A place I never imagined I’d set foot in was far bigger, wider, and more beautiful than I had ever imagined.

With my mouth slightly open in awe, we soon arrived at the reception room where the prince was waiting.

“You may enter.”

After knocking politely to announce our arrival, the attendant bowed deeply and stepped aside.

Without a sound, the enormous doors opened, and Dad and I stepped into the reception room.

There, sprawled comfortably on a luxurious sofa, was the prince, waiting for us.

Standing beside him was a man with neatly tied brown hair—someone we’d seen at our house before.

He smiled warmly upon seeing me, nodding slightly as he stepped forward.

“This way, please. His Highness, Prince Lemart Callixt, the great star of the Empire, awaits you.”

Lemart Callixt.

I repeated the prince’s name silently to myself.

It seemed to suit him perfectly—the noble boy with silver hair and eyes like ruby gemstones.

Following the man’s guidance, we stood before the prince.

“We greet Your Highness, the prince.”

Dad bowed politely first.

Though he tried to appear calm, the hand I was holding trembled like an old wagon.

Squeezing Dad’s hand gently, I followed his lead and bowed deeply without hesitation.

“…Greetings, Your Highness.”

As I raised my head slowly, I cautiously looked up at the prince’s face.

Bathed in the golden glow of the afternoon sun, the prince looked even more majestic than he had when cloaked in robes at our humble home.

He looked barely thirteen or fourteen.

Yet, his mature gaze, far beyond that of an ordinary teenager, gave off a sense of untouchable dignity.

“You must have had a long journey.”

As I was stealing glances at his face, Lemart smiled slowly and spoke.

‘It was a long journey.’

We’d ridden a carriage for a whole week, after all.

Still, thanks to the prince’s special arrangements, we had stayed at the best inns in every town, making it a surprisingly luxurious trip.

Remembering the pleasant journey, I looked at the prince again.

He raised a steaming teacup to his lips and gave a slight nod, motioning for us to sit.

We cautiously sat on the sofa.

With our hands politely folded in our laps, we waited for him to speak again.

Then—

“…?”

The brown-haired man standing behind Lemart and I made eye contact once more.

Each time our eyes met, he gave me a kind smile.

I wasn’t sure if it was okay to smile back in this situation, but it felt rude to leave him smiling alone.

“…Heh.”

Forcing my stiff lips to curl, I gave him a small smile.

Satisfied, he tilted his head slightly and turned back toward the prince.

Noticing my empty hands, Lemart narrowed his eyes slightly and asked,

“Where is the Ego Sword?”

“Oh, I… I left it outside since I wasn’t allowed to bring weapons in.”

I opened and closed my empty hands as I answered politely.

Lemart gave a soft “Ah” as if he had just realized, then stared intently at my face.

His ruby-like eyes fixed on me with sharp clarity.