Chapter 9

After Shan’s visit, Elje was sick for a few days. Astin asked what was going on but she couldn’t explain anything.

She didn’t think much about her marriage to Shan, but after his visit, she began to think about it. She realized that she would have to spend the first night with him. While writing the marriage contract, the number of times regarding sleeping together was just a detailed provision. However, seeing it in a document and experiencing it in person were completely different.

Come to think of it, women in the capital were dying to spend the night with Shan regardless of whether they were single or married, and that was the case even when they were on the battlefield. Strangely, Elje suddenly felt bad and frowned.

When she recalled the battlefield, she remembered a series of bad memories. There were prostitutes who followed the army since all the soldiers were in a state of need. So if there was a pretty guy, it would have been normal for him to catch their eyes.

Elje has always been seen as prey; everyone was eager to mess with her. Of course, after the “dining table incident,” no one came near her, but she had a hard time in the beginning.

The memory of that time made Elje feel uncomfortable about sexual contact. Even when she was in Korea, she was obsessed with swords, so the only contact she had with men was through kendo and fencing.

To think that Shan and I would do something like that…… 

“Oh, stop thinking.”

Elje shook her head to get rid of those thoughts. She was getting ready to go out after receiving a message and she didn’t want to spoil her excitement with memories of the past.

Elje was excited because she received news that the rapier and parrying dagger she commissioned some time ago were ready.

She was busy preparing for the wedding, but she had to go pick them up herself. The blacksmith she entrusted with the production of her swords was cranky and would not give the swords to anyone. She was amazed at how ill-tempered he was when she first encountered him. Elje shook her head for a moment recalling the memory of visiting Master Harvin.

It wasn’t long after she returned to the Valoir Empire, Elje, who was taking care of a depressed Astin, was wandering around the market next to Manuaf Square to buy the medicine the doctor prescribed. She took the wrong road and reached the outskirts where she accidentally found a weapons shop.

Elje was planning on throwing away the swords she used on the battlefield and ordering new ones. She glanced at the swords on display and realized that they looked good.

The bells jingled as Elje opened the door and went inside. There was an old man sitting behind the counter with a gloomy expression.

Elje decided to buy the swords from here so she smiled and said.

-Hello. Do you have rapiers and parrying daggers?

The owner of the weapons shop opened his mouth for the first time.

-This wench wants a rapier and a parrying dagger?

-……

Elje’s smile cracked. She was dumbfounded when the old man started to quarrel with her. The old man got up and brushed the dust off his bottom. He was shorter than Elje and he was fat and stocky; he also had a messy beard. The old man pulled a long stick from under the counter and threw it at Elje.

Elje looked at the old man as she caught the stick. He then tapped the counter with his hand and said.

-Swing it.

Elje roughly swung the stick up and down. The old man lost his temper.

-No, not like that! Get it right!

What? Elje swung the stick again. This time, she swung it down with a pretty good form. However, that didn’t seem to satisfy the old man’s heart. He roared.

-No! Again!!

Elje sighed inwardly and held herself upright. As if holding a rapier, she moved the stick forward then the old man struck the counter with both hands and shouted.

-Do it right!!

This old man really……

Elje bit her molars tightly. And this time, she trusted the sword, splitting the dense air with fierce blue eyes.

She first felt a vibration; the strong vibration caused the swords hanging on the wall to clatter.

Then she felt wind; a gust of wind blew through the shop even though all the windows and doors were closed.

The wind quickly subsided. Elje’s hair was fluttering from the wind and slowly settled down. The stick was aimed at the middle of the old man’s forehead and Elje stopped it a nail’s distance away from him.

-……

The old man was silent for a moment. His eyes showed surprise and excitement mixed with faint fear. Looking at the stiff old man, Elje regretted it a little, it was too much for the weird old man.

-Excuse me…… Are you okay?

Elje lowered the stick and asked tentatively. The old man spit out.

-The second.

-Yes?

-It’s the second time.

Elje blinked for a moment and curiously asked him about the situation.

-What was the first one?

-Shan Crixus.

-……

The name took Elje by surprise and it felt like a stab. She couldn’t believe that Shan stopped by this place. Elje gulped.

-But I didn’t make him a sword. There’s no need. In his hands, an excellent sword will become a cheap iron sword, and a cheap iron sword will become an excellent sword.

Elje couldn’t figure out what he was talking about. It seemed like he didn’t make a sword for Shan but he will make one for her. Elje nodded and pretended to understand.

The old man smiled and hummed, so unlike the expression he showed earlier. He put the stick back under the counter and said in an excited voice.

-It will take a while! Where can I contact you?

-Count Targayel.

-Targayel?

The old man halted.

-It’s Targayel……

He looked closely at Elje. Elje did not avoid his gaze. Somehow she had a strange conviction that he would not tell anyone about her. That’s why she was honest, and as expected the old man remained quiet.

Elje paid for the swords and returned home. It was only later that she learned that the old man was a famous blacksmith and a master in the Valoir Empire. Elje waited for her new swords with bated breath.

Almost a year later, the news came that the swords were finally done.

“Hello.”

The old weapons shop didn’t change at all and the old man still did not get up to greet guests. Elje walked towards the counter quickly.

“You’re here?”

Harvin sat down and waved to Elje. Elje quickly ran to the counter. Harvin chuckled as he looked at Elje’s face which was filled with excitement.

“It’s a masterpiece.”

Harvin took out a long bag from under the counter. Elje saw the bag made of bright brown leather and tilted her head. Harvin opened the bag and Elje’s eyes grew bigger.

“You’re a lady, so you have to be elegant when you carry this. I asked someone I know to make a pretty bag. Of course, I have a belt that you can wear on your waist.”

Inside the bag, there was a white silk cloth, and on top of it were the rapier and parrying dagger laying side by side. The sleek swords looked smooth and neat. Elje picked up the parrying dagger with trembling hands.

She wrapped her hands around the scabbard and pulled the dagger out with a click; she saw a blade with a blue tint. On top of the blade, there was a small print with Harvin’s name and the date of production.

Elje put down the parrying dagger and checked the rapier with a pounding heart. Looking at the thin and elongated rapier, Elje murmured with an ecstatic face.

“It’s so…… beautiful……”

Harvin looked proud as he looked at Elje who couldn’t help but be happy. He shrugged his shoulders and explained more and boasted about his skills when there was a loud noise outside the shop. The sound of horse hooves and people buzzing could be heard.

Elje and Harvin looked at the door at the same time. Harvin’s shop was located in the corner of an alley, so it was never noisy. Several men on horseback could be seen behind the display window. Strangely, Elje felt a chill down her spine.

Then there was a knock.

“……”

Harvin looked at Elje as she packed the bag. She already paid in advance, so she just needed to take the goods. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt like she had to run away.

Harvin quick-wittedly opened the door behind the counter. A knock was heard again and the voice Elje heard took her breath away.

“Master Harvin.”

The voice belonged to Shan Crixus.