The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Wants to Break Off the Engagement

Chapter 31

Hilise, before he knew it, had become Alter's personal butler and was now running errands for him.

The tea he brought at every tea time, medicinal brews from expensive ingredients, simple grooming and clothing recommendations, book purchases, financial management, etc.

He was, in fact, almost peeking into every aspect of Alter's daily life, and could now respond perfectly at any time and place.

"I've brought the books you requested."

"Huh... There aren't as many as I thought?"

"Yes. There were very few places selling them. The prices were also quite expensive, and most of their conditions were not good."

Hilise answered quietly and placed the books on the table.

Since curses were taboo, most bookstores scarcely dealt in related literature.

Because of that, he had to search all over the capital, even enlisting the head butler's help to barely obtain them.

"If it's something like that... people might have looked at you strangely. It'd seem like you were up to something bad, wouldn't it?"

"If they knew your circumstances, most would understand."

"They would understand, but still avoid me. Who'd want to be around someone under a curse?"

Alter revealed a self-deprecating smile as he opened a book.

A curse is imbued with malice, and desires the suffering and ruin of its target.

Knowing just how dangerous that was, it led to untested prejudices taking root.

"... From what I know, cases where curses are contagious are extremely rare. The level of magic power must be that high, and a significant burden is placed on the caster as well. And if it really had spread, the members of the Grand Duke's family in the northern region would have been harmed first."

"You're right, but people don't care about that. They just think a curse could be contagious."

"Everyone believes what's visible first."

"Exactly. That's why I'm keeping it secret on purpose."

After looking over the book, Alter closed it again.

While society was calm for now, there would inevitably come a day when the rumor that he was cursed would spread.

In the end, he would not even be able to take his place in social gatherings, and the Illenat Duchy would surely suffer all sorts of malicious gossip.

"I think before long there'll be talk of breaking off the engagement. Don't you think so too?"

"How could I possibly think something like that?"

"Is there any reason not to? It's not even hard to call off an engagement."

"..."

Though Hilise agreed with his words, he could not break the silence.

The possibility of breaking off the engagement had not disappeared, but the atmosphere in the Duchy was unchanged.

Duke Illenat continued to simply watch over the two, and Brillie secretly took care of her fiancé.

Perhaps, by ignoring any problematic reasons, they intended to hold the wedding as planned.

"Ah, I'll go prepare the medicine."

"Then after I drink the medicine, should we go for a walk?"

"Yes. I'll get everything ready."

Offering a hasty excuse, Hilise slipped out into the hallway.

Normally, just as Alter said, a situation for disengagement should have formed.

But something was increasingly going awry, and now he could not even question it.

'If someone is physically weak and even cursed, breaking off the engagement is right. But why...'

Duke Illenat and Brillie must both know about Alter's curse.

If things continued like this, the secret would definitely be revealed, and society would inevitably be noisy with gossip.

They must be fully aware of the losses that would entail, so why weren't they intervening?

'Maybe their eyes are on something else...'

Duke Illenat probably had his eye on the Grand Duke of the North's wealth and military might.

He had built firm financial power with special products, and even been entrusted with the command of regular troops by the Emperor.

Of course, while not on par with the Emperor, among nobles he was surely a man of great authority.

'The youngest son has talent in magic power.'

Recently, the Great Mage had even visited the Duke's mansion.

That purpose had been to meet Alter, and there were even rumors he wanted to take him as a disciple.

If someone had the talent to be recognized by the Great Mage, of course Duke Illenat would be interested.

'Brillie too... maybe...'

Hilise hesitated for a moment, then took a step forward.

Alter lacked masculine charm, but he had a good appearance and a gentle nature.

Maybe Brillie, who was devoting herself to swordsmanship training, preferred someone with a disposition opposite to hers.

'As expected, I won't be able to have Brillie for myself...'

* * *

At last, Alter received delivery of the custom item he had ordered.

With only a single day left until Brillie's birthday, it had been finished just in the nick of time.

He had entrusted the work to a skilled blacksmith, but couldn't be entirely at ease until he'd checked the result.

'Was it made well?'

Alter unwrapped the cloth and carefully lifted the lid.

A slender dagger was placed inside the wooden box.

Its outward appearance was rather graceful, but too simple to be merely decorative.

'You really have to spend a lot of money to get something good.'

Alter grasped the dagger's hilt and gently unsheathed it.

A silver gleam flashed from the scabbard as the blade was revealed.

The blade was finely sharpened, and looked as if it would cut him at the slightest touch.

'The size is matched to Brillie...'

After inspecting the dagger from various angles, Alter set it back into the box.

Not only knights, but even soldiers usually kept a spare weapon ready.

In the midst of battle, there was always the risk of losing or damaging one's main weapon, so a backup weapon was necessary to cover such emergencies.

'Two swords would be a bit much. They'd just get in the way.'

Usually, knights wield swords, spears, or bows as their main weapon.

A spear is more unwieldy than a sword, and a bow requires a quiver and arrows as well.

Considering portability and the presence of magic power, a sword is the most reasonable, and most would fight with just one.

A dagger, then, was the most practical, especially in sudden or surprise situations, while not hindering movement.

'It can be used for throwing too... and close up, the attack should get through.'

Alter had requested the dagger be made with practicality in mind.

Approaching the matter from a noble's point of view, he could have sought something more ornate and eye-catching.

But Brillie was an honest knight who cared little for extravagance.

So he kept the design simple and neat, putting the greatest care into the blade itself.

'Still, something's missing. It feels a bit bland to just give it as is.'

After quietly gazing at the dagger for a while, Alter made up his mind with a sigh.

The blade had been forged from top-grade iron ore, increasing its affinity with magic power.

In other words, by imbuing it with magic power, he could engrave it with a unique property.

'For a gift, it should be a little bit special.'

Alter drew magic power from within and began to release it gradually.

With low-density magic power, he could not infuse any special property.
But since his magic power had been certified by the Great Mage, it was strong enough for this purpose.

'This much should be fine. It's not like I'm actually casting a spell...'

Imbuing the dagger with magic power, Alter let out a deep breath.

A faint chill seeped from the blade and then dissipated.

Now, whenever magic power responded to it, a freezing property would manifest, further enhancing the dagger's power.

'Is it too flashy for a gift? Well, there's nothing bad about it.'

He slid the dagger back into its sheath, then set the set into the wooden box.

He wrapped it up in the cloth again and restored it to its original form.

Now, at an appropriate time, all he had to do was go and present the dagger to Brillie.

'Even if she doesn't like the gift, I hope she'll at least find it useful.'

Given Brillie's skill and protagonist's fate, there should be nothing to worry about.

But with the variable of himself added, the future could change, even if just a little.

Above all, having already experienced the effect of unexpected variables, he could not help but remain wary.

'Hm... Will she use it even after the engagement is broken? I really don't know about that.'

* * *

Despite it being her birthday, Brillie's daily routine was unchanging.

She armed herself lightly, gathered her sword, and left the mansion to head to the Knights Headquarters.

As a child, she had attended birthday parties without much thought, but now she realized even those were meaningless.

If she was never going to inherit a title anyway, perhaps building only the minimum necessary connections and living a peaceful life was for the best.

'Birthdays don't matter anyway. What matters is reaching my goal.'

Brillie, riding in the carriage, reflected on her past.

The night before her nineteenth birthday, she left the mansion.

She'd taken plenty of money, and without hesitation, set course for the northeast's front lines.

Concealing her identity, she joined the subjugation of monsters and immediately found herself crossing swords with the enemy.

'I prepared so much... but it ended so fast.'

At that time, Brillie fought against a Dullahan unit.

As she was there as a mercenary, there was no one to help her, and everything felt unfamiliar.

But she slaughtered the Dullahan horde in one strike, and the creature known as a Death Knight quickly fell as well.

Thanks to that, the surrounding attention focused on her, and her identity was soon revealed.

'I fought so much with Father back then. I even thought about leaving the mansion for good...'

Arriving at the mansion, Brillie got down from the carriage as soon as it stopped.

Her work for the day was done, and only a modest celebration awaited.

The dinner would be rather lavish, and extravagant gifts would fill her room.

'Becoming a Sword Saint within a year... hmm...'

Brillie entered the mansion, still deep in thought.

She was still acting as a knight for now, but the wedding could not be postponed much longer.

She would have to make a decision in some form soon.

'Whether I become a Sword Saint and do as I wish, or just spend one night and put an end to it.'

The first was the best option, but realistically it needed much more time and effort.

The second meant being reckless and leaving it up to fate.

One night together wasn't likely to result in a child anyway.

'I can just keep training after the wedding, right? I can think about children later...'

"Uh... did you already get off work?"

Alter, encountering Brillie, addressed her with some awkwardness.

Brillie stared blankly at Alter for a moment, then noticed what he was holding in his hand.

"Yes. I'm home now. But, what's that?"

"Ah, it's a birthday gift. Today's your birthday, isn't it?"

"You came because of that? Well, come in first."

Brillie immediately opened the door and welcomed her fiancé inside.

Alter hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward.

"You could've just told me. You really didn't need to go to this trouble..."

"Still, as your fiancé, I couldn't just do nothing, could I?"

Alter set the box he was carrying on the table and slowly looked around.

Brillie seemed to be examining his gift, then approached the table.

"Can I open it now?"

"Yes, go ahead."

Brillie, full of expectation, unwrapped the box's cloth.

Until now, all her so-called birthday gifts had been luxury goods suitable for a noble lady.

But maybe Alter would bring something a little different.

"This... is a dagger."

"Well... I prepared it for you to use as a backup weapon... I hope you like it."

Though confident in his gift, Alter unconsciously checked Brillie's reaction.

She might not like its appearance, or might think it inconvenient for actual combat.

Maybe he should have prepared a standard longsword instead of a dagger.

"I really like it. It's not ornamental... the blade's well-sharpened too. How did you even think to get me something like this?"