~Chapter 7~

“If you lie to me one more time, I won’t open this door even if you come again.”

At my words, the man fell silent. He looked at me, hesitated, then finally sighed.

“My name is Carmine. I’m Lady Aurelian’s grandson.”

“Aure… what? Don’t know her.”

Wow, even his name sounded expensive.

My ear almost felt ticklish from how fancy it was; I rubbed my ear rim with a finger. Carmine lowered his voice even more.

“The lady who rules Fostin is named Aurelian.”

“Oh! Grandma the Lord!”

“Grandma?”

At my nickname, Carmine’s neat eyebrows twitched hard. I smiled brightly.

“I’ve had tea days with Grandma for years. She said being called ‘Lord’ made her itchy and told me to just call her Grandma.”

“…I see.”

Oh-ho, look at him.

‘Is he jealous because I called her Grandma right in front of the actual grandson?’

I squinted like a cat and grinned; Carmine’s shoulder flinched. He turned his head away, as if denying his feelings, and spoke in a businesslike tone.

“Actually, that sword can only be used by the head of my family. After my grandmother divorced and left, the sword disappeared as well.”

Clear and tidy.

“Ah. So you came to retrieve it.”

“I’ll reward you generously.”

“Well, I get the situation, but…”

A sword only the family head can have—no wonder he called me a thief at first.

So he thought Grandma hid the sword when she divorced, and I then stole it from her.

‘But Grandma isn’t like that.’

From my time with her, I can swear: even with a blade at her throat, she wouldn’t do anything unjust.

And Louis? He was literally lying in a field when I found him. He said it himself—he ran away because all the would-be masters were boring.

‘So all this trouble is because you ran away.’

If only he’d left a long, angry note before running off… oh right, no hands.

Anyway, Carmine was at my door, and I had to prove I didn’t choose this sword—it chose me.

There was an easy way to prove it.

I raised both hands in a surrender pose and shrugged.

“Even if I wanted to give you the sword—”

—No! I won’t leave! I’ll stay by your side until your black hair turns white!

Uh, you don’t even have hair. Cute line, though.

Thinking I was abandoning him, Louis floated up and slapped himself onto my arm like a clingy baby. Every eye around us went round.

‘Oh. I thought flying swords were common here. Maybe it’s just Louis.’

“…So you really are its master.”

Even Carmine looked thrown off.

Only then did I realize he’d thought I was faking the whole “talking to the sword” thing.

‘Tch. Doesn’t trust people, huh? Must’ve been tricked a lot.’

I wanted to snark at him, but Louis was clinging and wailing in my arms, too loud to let me talk.

—And they just decided I was a family treasure. They didn’t actually cherish me! If he’s my real master, tell him to say my true name!

Oh boy.

Half out of pity, I asked Carmine,

“Louis says you should speak his true name?”

“The sword’s true name?”

A shadow crossed Carmine’s handsome face. Crumpled like that, he looked like a tragic hero from a painting.

He murmured, troubled.

“Louis…”

Oh, correct.

No, I’m not handing you a “You Passed” necklace for your face. I mean your answer was acceptable.

“You do know his name.”

I said to Louis. Of course, Louis threw a fit.

—What “know”? He only said Louis! And you were the one who called me Louis first!

Ah. Right. I did.

But that’s not my fault.

“A normal person couldn’t say your full name with a straight face. It’s way too embarrassing.”

—Master, are you really spilling raw truth today? What happened to “I’m the cutest in the world”?

White lies. Because you’re noisy. Sorry.

I hugged Louis tight, grabbed the doorknob, and said,

“Anyway, since the sword says no, I can’t hand him over. Please go back.”

“Miss.”

Carmine slid his leg into the doorway so I couldn’t close it.

“The value and symbolism of that sword are far greater than you think. I can’t leave quietly.”

“But the sword has will. I can’t ignore his opinion.”

“‘Kid’? It’s a weapon. A sword. Don’t treat it like a person. What matters here is your will.”

“Don’t call me ‘Miss.’ Call me Riena, Mr. Carmine. Oh my.”

As we talked, I realized something new.

“Riena and Carmine… our names match quite nicely.”

Riena is red, Carmine is red.

‘Our names are meant to be!’

Delighted by my shocking, wonderful discovery, I beamed. Carmine wrinkled his handsome forehead.

“…I would prefer not to use force against a delicate woman.”

Um, wow. So being tied to me is that unpleasant to you?

I cupped my cheek with my palm and sighed.

“I don’t think I look that bad. Sure, you look not-of-this-world handsome, but still.”

“Bold. And that’s not the issue. From my position, I must obtain the sword—even by less than noble means.”

“Thank you; I hear that a lot. In that case, I still have to respect Louis’s will. So my answer is no.”

Honestly, he didn’t look like he’d leave even if I said scram.

—Master…

I patted the teary sword. Watching us with a strange expression, Carmine asked,

“Even if I were… the highest person in the world, your answer wouldn’t change?”

What is this guy saying.

I shrugged.

“Of course I won’t change my mind.”

“In that case…”

He opened his mouth to continue—but I lifted my hand and pressed a finger to his lips.

“Shh. Quiet, my little kitten.”

Carmine’s face twisted all out of shape. Whatever. I had just completed a bucket-list item, so I was a tiny bit giddy.

‘Doesn’t matter how you get there—reaching Seoul is what counts.’

Half-complete felt like 98% complete to me. Smiling, I said,

“Choose your next words carefully.”

“What words?”

“Weren’t you about to propose a contract marriage?”

“…Why do you keep saying strange things?”

“Because married couples share property. That’s the only legal way for you to own this sword with me.”

“Ah.”

His eyes flew wide. So he hadn’t thought of that until now. You’re welcome.

Then he spoke straightaway.

“In that case, Miss Riena, please marry me.”

I winked.

‘This man could never be a scammer. He folds too easily.’

Worrying about him aside, it felt good. Having a gorgeous man propose to you doesn’t feel bad.

‘Even the ex-crown prince never proposed. Getting one from someone else is… nice.’

It would’ve been better with a huge bouquet, and even better with a prince-charming line or two.

“What a soulless proposal. At least bow with some elegance.”

“…Like this?”

Carmine stepped back and gave a small, graceful bow. I smiled sweetly.

And answered:

“I refuse.”

Then I slammed the door.

…A roar exploded right after, from just outside.

I covered my ears and muttered,

“Ugh. Handsome man, but the voice is rough.”

Louis answered for me.

—It was his subordinate yelling. The man himself is just standing there.

“Eh? Louis, you can see that?”

—I am a magic sword with power. Seeing through this shabby wall is nothing.

I patted his hilt like petting a puppy’s head and shrugged.

“Well, I got the proposal I dreamed of. I’ll stay home quietly today.”

Louis spoke in a tone that sounded like a dog wagging its tail.

—You’re taking the day off? Are you finally going to play with me, Master?!

“O…oh…”

How did this noisy sword reach that conclusion?

‘Maybe I should’ve discussed how to detach him from that handsome man instead.’

Even with that snarky thought, the clingy sword was cute. I chuckled, hugged Louis, and went back inside.

✦ ✦ ✦

We were played. Completely.

‘What spell did she put on me?’

Carmine raked a hand through his golden hair, irritated. A girl’s face floated in his mind.

A round face, curly red hair, light brown eyes under a cute straw hat.

But to Carmine, that face looked like Satan straight out of hell.

‘This is the first time I’ve ever been toyed with this badly.’