The complex thoughts did not slow down my steps.

Contrary to the belief that my steps would slow, I found myself standing in the renowned training grounds of the Sword Spirit Manor.

From a distance, the sword marks that seemed like specks on the marble floor revealed their overwhelming presence as soon as I stepped onto the training grounds.

Anyone with a passion for the sword would find this sight quite complex and stirring.

If my biological father, now buried in the ground, were to see this training ground, inscribed with achievements far surpassing anything he had struggled to build, he would have felt an uncontrollable jealousy.

But since I am not such a father, I had no desire to envy the history of the Sword Spirit, which is the master of swordsmanship in the empire.

“It’s even more impressive up close.”

I nodded lightly, expressing exactly what I felt.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Aslin accepted my praise in a calm tone.

Though her tone was composed, the subtle tension in her shoulders suggested she was pleased to hear compliments about her family’s training grounds.

“Of course, having a master swordsman like you recognize the value of this training ground would certainly satisfy my ancestors in heaven.”

...Even though she only glanced at me, she seemed to understand my thoughts entirely, giving the reason for her satisfaction with my praise. It made me think I should manage my expressions better in the future when exchanging glances.

Still, the idea that her ancestors would be satisfied with just a compliment about a training ground was amusing.

I thought I had fully grasped her character from our numerous encounters on the battlefield, yet in this brief conversation, new aspects of her kept emerging, which was quite fascinating.

‘I need to get used to this.’

Even if it’s a sham marriage, I need to pay attention to these minor traits to avoid revealing my true identity to her.

With these thoughts in order, I headed to the center of the training grounds.

Aslin, who was already warming up lightly at the center, adjusted her stance as I approached.

“Catch.”

She threw something toward me at an angle that made it easy to catch.

Without hesitation, I caught it, and in my hand was an antique sword.

Even when she held her usual weapon, it was predictable, but now it was clear.

She did not intend to have a life-or-death duel with me here, but she was very serious about testing my skills.

‘She gave me a well-prepared sword.’

I examined the sword before drawing it.

Even though I learned hastily, I gained more knowledge than expected during that period. Not only did my sword-handling skills improve, but my eye for recognizing good swords also sharpened.

“How is it?”

Aslin asked for my thoughts on the sword, her expression one of satisfaction as she watched me inspect it.

The sword was excellent, even without needing to draw it.

Though it did not have the elaborate craftsmanship one might associate with a treasure sword on its sheath and handle, the balance I felt when I held it and the grip that felt perfect in my hand made it clear.

This sword was one of the finest I had ever held.

I couldn’t call it the best only because I had wielded a superior sword before.

It was the sword my father, the Sword Lord, always carried.

Its name was... Pale Lord. Just wielding it scattered cold air in all directions, it was an artifact-level weapon.

I had never been overly attached to weapons, but whenever I tried wielding it, I thought it was an exceptional sword.

‘We had no bond.’

It was a weapon meant only for my father, who was the head of the household, or my older brother, who was the heir. I was satisfied just to wield it briefly before putting it away.

“This is excellent. It might be the best sword I’ve ever held.”

Quickly brushing aside old thoughts, I praised the present sword in my hand.

Honestly, I half-meant it because finding a better sword than this one wouldn’t be easy, and I genuinely thought it was a great sword.

Before my words fell, Aslin’s expression relaxed as she watched me examine the sword with a slightly tense expression.

Though it was only the first day of our marriage, and it didn’t feel real at all, seeing Aslin’s face show expressions other than the stern and fierce ones I’d seen on the battlefield made me realize, if only for a moment, that I was indeed married to her.

“I’m glad. I made it in a hurry, but it’s a relief that you like it.”

Her words, full of relief, made me pause my thoughts once more.

I turned my gaze back to the sword and stared at it intently.

It was hard to believe that such a fine weapon, with not even the slightest flaw, was made in a hurry, so I turned my gaze with doubt.

“…This was made in a hurry?”

Even after examining it further, the only words that came out were questions filled with astonishment, as the sword in my hand was truly magnificent.

“When it was confirmed that you would become the consort here, I urged the best swordsmith of the Sword Spirit to make this.”

Aslin’s answer, which shed her relief and showed pride, made me realize a few things.

First, all the former emperor’s bloodlines, except for the current emperor, are fools who don’t know their place.

Second, the Sword Spirit’s power, being the most representative force supporting the current emperor, is immense. It’s impressive that they made such an incredible weapon for a consort who is merely a subject of marriage.

Third, my biological father, who made a foolish choice for an uncertain gain even after seeing such an obvious situation, is an idiot surpassing those mentioned earlier.

The more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t help but curse my father.

It’s a relief he’s dead. If he were alive, I would have stabbed a knife into his heart, even if it meant my own death.

“…What’s wrong?”

Maybe my expression, lost in thought as I stared at the sword, was unusual.

Aslin’s voice, carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible worry, suddenly reached my ears.

For some reason, hearing that slight worry in her voice calmed my deeply troubled mind a little.

“I naturally focused on the sword upon hearing that it was made specifically for me.”

Words came out of my mouth easily, like they were greased, in response to Aslin’s worried question.

“…It seems you really like it.”

In response to my answer, Aslin showed even more relief than before.

Seeing her relax like that, a trivial hypothesis popped into my mind.

“Did you, by any chance, personally commission this sword?”

To verify my hypothesis, I asked Aslin directly.

“…!!”

I could see a more subtle trembling in her body than the worry she had shown in her voice earlier.

“It seems I was right.”

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“Seeing you not respond immediately and avoiding eye contact makes me sure of it.”

Aslin’s eyes squeezed shut at my confident words.

She seemed frustrated that her attempt to conceal the truth had been easily uncovered by a small physical gesture.

…Just as I had been surprised when she saw through my thoughts with just a glance earlier, she must be feeling something similar now.

So, I silently watched her until she had composed her emotions.

“Phew….”

Letting out a faint sigh, Aslin seemed to shake off the lingering thoughts that had been occupying her mind and turned to face me.

I met her gaze directly, the clean, sparkling green eyes of the Sword Demon unfaltering.

“Now that we have the place and the weapons ready, we can begin, right?”

Finally, she brought up the main topic she had wanted to discuss.

“Of course.”

As soon as those words left my mouth, I responded without hesitation and walked towards her, resuming the steps I had paused while examining the sword.

When I first set foot in the training grounds of the Sword Spirit Manor, I could feel the overwhelming aura emanating from the countless sword marks etched into the surface.

It might seem amusing to some that mere traces left a strong impression on me.

But that’s how it felt to me. The sword marks, left behind by the disciplined and diligent practice of swordsmen accidentally grazing the marble floor, spoke volumes about their perseverance and dedication.

Even the shallow but long sword marks hinted at the state of mind of the swordsmen of the Sword Spirit who had created them.

These marks conveyed the emotions and experiences of their creators, and their sheer number was overwhelming, enough to make anyone else feel intimidated.

If these marks could speak, they would say to newcomers, “Behold, stranger. These are the marks left by those who inherited the legacy of those who achieved everything with a single sword on this land.”

It felt as if these marks were speaking to me, exuding a unique presence.

However, the closer I got to the one who had brought me here, the more that presence faded.

Even the sword marks seemed to acknowledge that the woman at the end of my steps was the one destined to leave a more brilliant mark than any of them.

Though no one explained it to me, it just naturally felt that way.

“….”

Aslin stood there, silently watching me, fully prepared for our encounter.

‘…Annoyingly flawless.’

Her stance and demeanor showed no gaps, perfectly ready to face me.

In this position, even if I closed the distance in a single breath, she would be able to respond.

…The fact that I couldn’t make such explosive moves due to the slight damage to my core, which prevented me from channeling my aura properly, was no laughing matter.

‘Indeed, I can’t afford to be careless.’

With this thought in mind, I prepared to approach my sparring session with Aslin cautiously.

As I mentioned earlier, I had no intention or conditions to win, so I needed to swing my sword carefully and hold back.

This didn’t require any grand actions.

I just needed to spar appropriately, and when her aura-laden strikes came my way, I would narrowly evade or barely parry them, showing signs of strain due to my damaged core. This way, I could demonstrate my poor condition without explicitly stating it, thus appeasing her and conceding victory.

This would be the perfect ‘reception.’

I couldn’t help but smirk at the thought of this plan working out perfectly.

“Let’s only use our swordsmanship without activating our auras.”

Aslin’s words, spoken as she took a stance ready to rush at me, disrupted my plan right from the start.

“…I know you overexerted yourself at the end of the war, and your mana core is damaged. I don’t want to swing my sword in earnest against someone injured. How do I know? That’s a secret.”

Aslin quickly followed up with an explanation, likely having noticed the subtle change in my expression.

“I appreciate not using auras.”

Sching-!!

“But please don’t hold back when wielding the sword.”

As I unsheathed my sword, I deliberately issued a warning to make it seem like I was taking the spar seriously.

“Here I come!!”

I lunged forward, closing the distance with Aslin in a single step.

Aslin, having anticipated my move, turned her body and swung her sword to meet my advancing trajectory.

Clang-!!

As our swords clashed, releasing a melodic sound, I hadn’t wielded my sword seriously since the succession war ended with the 1st Princess’ victory and her ascent to the throne.

“Hah!”

“Hmph!!”

With our bodies moving so quickly that they were mere blurs to the ordinary eye, Aslin and I marked the beginning of our duel with swift, precise movements.