I’m The Only Granddaughter Of The Strongest Duke [Novel] Chapter 47

chapter 47

But that wasn’t what mattered right now.

I quietly retracted the thought that the dragon subjugation itself didn’t matter right now as I remembered the Dragon who had spoken to me.
Excalibur had said that the Dragon’s flame was fading, meaning he was likely in a critical state.
If so, was he going to die in a surprise attack by the "Heroes" while he was vulnerable? What would happen if he died and only the real Evil Dragon remained?

They were a bunch of cowards who didn't even have the guts to share a fate with their own blades. To think they’d take advantage of a weakened Dragon to strike him down. My heart felt heavy at the thought of the Dragon, who had spoken so kindly and shown me Mom’s portrait, being "subjugated."

And for some reason, a suffocating feeling weighed heavily on my chest.
At any rate, the subjugation was a secondary issue for now. The most pressing matter was the commission itself. My father’s life depended on it. If we could refuse the Emperor’s request, Dad would live; if not, he would die.
I swallowed hard and waited for Grandfather to continue.

“The captain of the subjugation team performed a great feat at the border where the barrier was breached, so the Emperor decided to grant him a reward.”

“…No way.”

“He requested your sword as his prize, Eve.”

“…My sword?”

I’d never even met those heroes! How did they even know about Excalibur?
I had almost run into them once, but thanks to my quick reflexes, flipping the shop sign from "Open" to "Closed" and hiding, I thought I had avoided a direct encounter. How on earth did they find out?

“It seems rumors that you possess an Ego Sword have spread through the shadows. He told His Majesty that an Ego Sword is necessary to slay the dragon.”

“…How did the rumors spread so fast?”

I’d been at the mansion for less than a month, and it hadn't even been a month since I left the countryside. Aside from the day Dad took me out, I’d stayed inside the duchy walls all the time, so consequently I hadn't met a soul.

[The Ferdinand estate is vast.]

Huh?

[The Guardian’s mansion is huge, isn’t it? Do not assume everyone working here will keep your secrets. Moreover, weren't several people fired recently? Those maids might have sold your story for a pittance. Noble gossip always fetches a high price.]

Excalibur spoke indifferently, as if he had expected this all along. He thrummed with a vibration and continued.

[Neal Royce should have been prepared for this the moment he gifted an Ego Sword to an eight-year-old. Throughout history, half the continent has bled whenever an Ego Sword appeared, as people fought to become its master. From now on, there will be countless people targeting me…]

‘But you’re mine? Even if they take you, they won’t be able to use you properly.’

[Some will think they only need to kill you to take me. That is why you must get stronger. It is also why the Guardian was so hurried in assigning you a swordsmanship instructor.]

Only then did I realize why Grandfather had been in such a rush to start my lessons.

“What did the Ego Sword say to you?”

Ah, right. Grandfather couldn’t hear Excalibur.

“Since I was wondering how the rumors spread so quickly, he told me that someone in the mansion might have sold the information.”

“Hmm, that sounds plausible. I suspected as much.”

“And he said that every time an Ego Sword appears, half the continent is covered in blood as people try to become its…"

“Your sword talks too much, Eve. It might be best to leave him outside for a moment.”

Grandfather cut me off.

[Talks too much?! This girl needs a sense of urgency! You threaten to throw me away at the drop of a hat, or talk about giving me to someone else! But this kid lacks a proper sense of danger, and I have to warn her!]

“Hehe, okay. Gosh, you’re noisy. I’ll put you outside.”

I jumped up and set the Ego Sword outside the door. I wasn’t worried about anyone stealing him. An Ego Sword doesn't choose its master for nothing. My blade, Excalibur, would not allow anyone else to touch him unless I personally handed him over.

In other words, no one but me could even lift him. I left Excalibur outside the door without a second thought and returned to my seat.

[Hey! You brat!]

I could see Excalibur flashing indignantly through the crack in the door, but I ignored him.

“In any case, since His Majesty cannot simply snatch your sword away, he thought of the commission for the subjugation team’s swords as an alternative. His Majesty also expressed his reluctance, but it seems Neal will have to forge those blades. I understand how you feel, but…”

“It’s alright, Father-in-law,” Dad laughed heartily. “I can whip those up in no time and then get back to playing with Eve!”

Dad laughed, but I couldn’t even muster a smile.

If you make those, you won’t be able to play with me anymore. Because you’ll be dead.

The truth was, the iron ore Dad used for smithing was a type only he could handle. Other smiths avoided it because the refining process was incredibly difficult and the quality was poor if done incorrectly. However, with Neal Royce’s unique refining method, that ore transformed into a material capable of creating the finest swords in the world.

But there was a fatal drawback: the refining process absorbed the life force of the smith. One or two blades are fine.

That much was truly okay. The absorbed vitality would replenish quickly with a bit of rest. The problem arose when making numerous swords in rapid succession.

If that happened, there would be no time for the life force to recover. The smith would be pushed to the brink and worked to exhaustion until it would eventually led to death by overwork. I absolutely refuse to let Dad die like that. I hadn't suffered this much just to see that happen.

“Grandfather!”

Grandfather’s gaze had been fixed on me the whole time, so I didn't need to shout, but I raised my voice on purpose.

“Yes, Eve. I am truly sorry to disappoint you….”

“No, Grandfather. It’s not that. If we give them a ‘chance’ to have the Ego Sword, would Dad still have to make those other ones?”

“…A chance?”

“Yes. A ‘chance’ to become the master of the Ego Sword, literally.”

“Eve, surely you don't mean—!”

“Mhm. I’m going to meet that Hero mister and give him a shot at Excalibur.”

“But that’s the sword your father worked on for seven years to give to you….”

“The Hero said he wanted an 'Ego Sword.' If we give him a different sword made by Dad instead, the Emperor won't be able to fulfill the Hero's wish anyway. Right, Grandfather?”

“Well, that is true.”

“But what if, through the Emperor’s mediation, the Hero is given a chance to be chosen by the Ego Sword?”

The Ego Sword is a blade that already has a master. Judging by the conversation, that Hero bastard must have known it had a master and still demanded it. If so, we need to show him exactly what it means for a sword to have a master.

“Then the Emperor can save face because he at least made the effort, even if the Hero isn't chosen? The Hero gets to feel good because he got a chance? And I’ll be happy because Dad doesn't have to make the swords. See, Grandfather? Isn't it a good idea?”