There was an episode like this in the original novel.
The female lead, Neshia, trying to buy a coming-of-age gift for her eldest brother.
When she tried to purchase a new sword, Meldor casually blurted out some information.
“A new sword? Don’t bother. That sword was the treasured blade he received when he placed second in the hunting competition at sixteen. From His Majesty the Emperor himself, no less.”
The autumn hunting competition was held once every three years, so it wouldn’t be happening this year. Which meant the competition Meldor referred to had to be the emperor’s summer hunting tournament.
As soon as I recalled that, I decided I would participate in Meldor’s place this year.
“Make an impression on Zeppelin and grab the sword while I’m at it.”
Killing two birds with one stone. Or rather, catching crayfish while digging a trench, and finding a coin while sweeping the yard.
How efficient is that?
Smiling in satisfaction, I placed the sword back into its case and took it from the attendants.
The two adult male attendants looked slightly startled when I easily lifted something they could barely carry together. I paid them no mind and, holding the case carefully, bowed again to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, I am truly grateful for such a precious gift. Your generosity humbles me.”
The Emperor, clearly pleased with my behavior, turned to the other dukes.
“With this, the hunting competition is concluded. Tonight’s banquet shall be most enjoyable.”
At his words, the royal attendants bustled into action, preparing to return. Some led the horses back over to us.
I took Alexander’s reins and deliberately called out to Zeppelin, who had been waiting at a slight distance.
“Sir Vincend.”
At my call, Zeppelin quickly strode over.
I handed him the case. He looked momentarily surprised at the unexpected weight, but accepted it without trouble.
“Please carry this with care.”
“Yes, Lady Belladi.”
Just then, Sion asked,
“Belladi, are you sure you’re okay receiving that sword? I mean…”
His eyes were filled with layered meaning.
I nodded in response.
“There’s no reason not to accept a sword bestowed by His Majesty.”
Then, turning to Zeppelin, I added,
“I also genuinely like it.”
Zeppelin’s shoulders flinched slightly at that.
I gave him a wide grin before sending him off and mounting Alexander. As I did, Mostin, already on his horse, approached quickly.
“Belladi! You really like that sword? Then I can get my hopes up, right?”
“If you want to make a fuss, I won’t stop you.”
Since I didn’t deny it, Mostin beamed, poking my arm with his finger.
“Just the fact that you have a sword is a good sign, no? Ah, I didn’t win second place, but I’m in a great mood!”
“Right? Belladi, I’m going to look forward to it too!”
Sion also climbed onto his horse, smiling.
Their reactions made me feel a bit bittersweet and guilty.
‘These two worked so hard to convince me.’
As you know, I was born with a talent for the sword.
There’s no way my two closest friends didn’t know. Sion and Mostin had always been the ones who regretted most that I kept my distance from swords.
Especially Mostin, who had been studying swordsmanship, used to nag me constantly.
“Belladi, if you ever picked up a sword, you’d go down in history as a legendary knight!”
And I always shook my head firmly.
“Then even worse. I’d make my little brother feel inferior as his older sister.”
“Ughhh! Someone talk some sense into this ridiculous genius!”
I naturally recalled Mostin’s frustration and laughed quietly to myself.
Mostin, riding beside me, tilted his head.
“Why are you laughing?”
Sion, next to him, smiled without asking.
“I’ll laugh too. Today was fun.”
“That’s true. Then I shall laugh as well! Hahaha!”
I looked at Sion’s cheerful face.
At that time, when I was with Mostin, Sion had once grabbed my hand with a pained expression and said:
“Belladi, you don’t have to hold back so much for your brother’s sake.”
That line had really stung back then…
Because it felt like he was saying all the efforts I made just to be loved by my family were ultimately meaningless.
‘And it hurt more because it was true.’
Even after that, the two of them continued trying to persuade me to learn swordsmanship until right before my mother fell ill.
Given all that, it was no wonder they were happy about me receiving the emperor’s sword.
‘To meet their expectations, I must make Zeppelin mine soon.’
Smiling slyly as I considered when to pull in the bait I’d scattered today, I rode on.
The day after the hunting competition.
I was summoned to my father’s study.
“Father, I was told you wanted to see me.”
He was sitting behind a large wooden desk, handling documents.
As always, I stood silently in front of him until he finished and spoke, just like a subordinate waiting for orders.
It was a cold sight for a father and daughter—but one we were both used to.
Once he finished checking the last document, he looked up at me.
“You did well yesterday.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“What do you intend to do with the reward you received from His Majesty?”
“Since it was a treasure once offered by our ancestor, I plan to keep it safely as a family heirloom.”
Though of course, I planned to use it personally.
After all, the Spirit Sword was one of the toughest blades in existence. Letting it collect dust as a display would be a waste of a weapon.
“Good, that’s wise.”
Not knowing my true intentions, Father nodded calmly. Thankfully, he didn’t suggest giving it to Meldor.
I abandoned the countermeasure I had mentally prepared just in case he said something ridiculous like that.
‘He may be indifferent toward me, but at least he’s not the type to force me to give everything to my younger brother.’
Unlike Mother, that is.
But then again, Father loved Mother so much that he tended to be swept along by her words.
Which meant that, in the end, he had also played a part in making my life miserable.
‘Still, that mother is no longer here.’
So… it should be easier to use Father now.
Hiding my inner thoughts, I gave a gentle smile.
Father studied me for a moment, then spoke.
“I’d like to give you a personal reward as well. Is there anything you want?”
‘I knew he’d say that.’
While Father was indifferent to me, he always asked what I wanted when I achieved something. It’s just that all the chances to succeed had previously been handed exclusively to Meldor.
I had anticipated this, so I answered without hesitation.
“I don’t need a reward, Father. The Spirit Sword alone is more than enough. However… I’d like to try taming Alexander.”
He looked slightly surprised.
“Not a dress or jewelry… but Alexander? That horse belongs to your brother.”
“I’m not asking to keep him. It’s just that… Mother chose that horse specifically for Meldor, and it feels like a waste to leave him confined to the stables. Don’t you agree?”
My words flowed smoothly, just as I’d practiced.
“Meldor still struggles to ride Alexander. He needs further training—but having someone else do it would look bad. But I’m his sister, after all.”
Father quietly listened.
Knowing his personality, he would’ve interrupted if something bothered him. Since he hadn’t, it meant he found my reasoning at least interesting.
“If I take care of it, it saves face, and Meldor will be able to ride Alexander more easily.”
As soon as I finished, he asked,
“You think you can tame Alexander alone?”
‘Good.’
Just as I’d expected, I showed a slightly regretful expression and shook my head.
“I don’t think I can train him perfectly on my own…”
Perfectly? Please. I could handle Alexander effortlessly.
But I couldn’t waste this opportunity.
“…I’ll need the assistance of an experienced knight.”
“Hmm… Do you have someone in mind?”
Everything was going as planned. I smiled inwardly and replied,
“Sir Zeppelin Vincend.”
At that, Father’s fingers, which had been tapping the desk, stopped.
“Zeppelin… Vincend?”
“Yes, Father.”
“…Why him in particular?”
“As you know, I’m unfamiliar with most of the family’s knights. But Sir Vincend served me diligently during the hunting competition, so I deemed him trustworthy.”
“There were two others who assisted you.”
“But from what I saw yesterday, they found Alexander a bit too difficult to handle.”
Father seemed lost in thought again. His fingers began tapping the desk once more.
The silence lasted longer than usual, so I quietly waited for his decision.
‘He must be surprised that I chose Sir Vincend of all people.’
But it wasn’t a bad suggestion.
In the original novel, after Mother passed away, Zeppelin started working inside the estate instead of outside.
Following her funeral, Father brought Zeppelin, the head of the Watchers, into the mansion to restore order during the chaotic period.
That’s when Zeppelin started growing fond of the eldest son.
‘Given this context, assigning him to help tame a horse seems harmless enough.’
Taming a horse wasn’t a particularly difficult or dangerous task. They had only left Alexander alone so long because Meldor insisted he could do it himself.
Finally, Father opened his mouth.
“Very well.”
Just as I had calculated, he gave his approval.
“I’ll assign Sir Vincend to assist you. See to it that Alexander is properly trained.”
A strange sense of satisfaction surged through me at how perfectly everything was falling into place.
“Don’t worry, Father. I’ll make Alexander a loyal and gentle horse.”
And Zeppelin, too.
Of course, I had absolutely no intention of handing them over to Meldor once they were tamed.
Without revealing a single ounce of sincerity to Father, I smiled with perfect grace.
