I’m The Only Granddaughter Of The Strongest Duke [Novel] Chapter 45

Chapter 45

“Looks like I’ve got another voice in my head besides you now. Since I’ve found
a replacement, maybe I should just sell you off, huh? as you’re always so
rude to your master.”
I brought my face inches away from Excalibur’s blade as I threatened him. In
response, the mysterious voice burst into laughter.

{glow: -Hahaha… The Holy Sword has certainly fallen on hard times, now he’s completely under
the thumb of an eight-year-old child. Then again, you are of Astrit’s bloodline;
it is only natural that he cannot win against you.}

[That is not it!]

I calmly tapped Excalibur’s hilt with the back of my hand.

“Your master asked a question, didn't she?”

[Ugh…]

Excalibur gave up on bickering with the mysterious voice and let out a long
sigh. Finally, he offered the answer I had been dying to hear.

[…He is a dragon, isn't he?]

“…Huh?”

[You are the successor to the House of Dragon Guardians, yet you cannot even
recognize a dragon's voice? My lord.]

Excalibur chided me. I stood there with a dazed expression, looking back and
forth between the sword and the empty air where the voice was coming from.

“…A real dragon?”

{glow: -It is not the child’s fault. She has done nothing wrong. It is simply that as
the Evil Dragon’s power grows, the bond between me and the Guardians has
weakened… }

“Wait, wait, waaaait!”

I shouted at the top of my lungs, and both the Dragon and Excalibur fell silent
for a moment. Taking advantage of the quiet, I widened my eyes and asked again.

“Are you really the Dragon? The one who protects the Empire? The one who cast
the protection magic over the land? And… are you the same dragon who placed a
curse on the Empire?”

-The former is correct; the latter is not.

“But those are both stories about the same dragon…?”

{glow: -That is mere speculation by humans. I have never once cursed this Empire and I
could never.}

Suddenly, a tiny flicker of blue light appeared in the air. The blue light
fluttered like a butterfly before landing softly on the palm of my hand.

{glow: -The contract I forged with your Guardians is an eternal oath of protection. I
swore to guard this Empire until my very last breath. You surely know that a
dragon cannot break its oath.}

The Dragon's voice no longer echoed from the void; it vibrated like ripples of
water coming from within that tiny blue flame.

{glow: -My protection magic remains valid until the moment my life ends. Thus, the Evil
Dragon, who has long desired to devour this Empire…}

“…There are two dragons?”

{glow: -Yes. The Evil Dragon can infiltrate the hearts of humans and manipulate their
minds. By controlling and dominating them, he swayed their thoughts and spread
the false claim that I was the one who cursed them.}

{glow: -Therefore, the former is me, and the latter is not. You spoke of the same
dragon, yet you spoke of both truth and lies at once.}

Then, the Dragon’s voice began to grow faint. Simultaneously, the blue light
flickering in my hand started to dim, looking like a flame losing its strength
and guttering out.

-Child of Astrit.

“Ye-yes?”

-You must tell no one that you have met me. Child of Astrit, do not even tell your grandfather for the time being, the Guardian. The fact that we have spoken is a secret between only you and me.

“Okay… I won’t tell anyone. Just Excalibur and me. But…”

-I wish to speak more, but unfortunately, I lack the strength to continue…

I thought the Dragon said something else after that, but his power must have
waned too much. His voice became so small I couldn't make it out. I stared
blankly at my palm, where the blue light had vanished without a trace, and then
looked at Excalibur.

“Excalibur, what on earth is going on? Why did the Dragon talk to me?”

[I do not know why he spoke to you. I am your sword, not a dragon. But there is
one thing I know for certain.]
Excalibur replied.

“What’s that?”

[The Dragon’s flame is fading.]

Excalibur’s voice dropped to a low, somber tone.

[His life is as precarious as a candle in the wind.]

“Syeobold Ferdinand greets the Sun of the Empire.”

Syeobold bowed his head politely in greeting.

“You may rise,” the Emperor commanded.

Following the order, Syeobold lifted his head and looked at the ruler of the
Empire. The Emperor looked a bit older than before, but his aura remained as
fierce as it had been in his youth, his eyes shining with an undiminished
intensity.

“Syeobold, my old friend. What brings you here so suddenly? Especially after
returning all of my letters.”

Syeobold lowered his head slightly.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. However, I have something to discuss regarding
those very letters.”

“Speak,” the Emperor nodded.

Syeobold hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

“I have not made it public yet, but I have recently brought my granddaughter to
the mansion. She is currently undergoing training as my successor.”

“Oh, is that so? I’ve actually been quite curious about her. I heard she
possesses a magnificent masterpiece.”

“Yes, it seems word travels fast. Her biological father is Neal Royce, once the
exclusive weapon master of the Ferdinand family, the very man you commissioned
for the steel swords.”

“Indeed, I suspected as much. The love story between Astrit Ferdinand and a
commoner smith was quite famous, after all.”

At one point, the love story of Astrit Ferdinand and a commoner smith had
been the talk of the town. Within the mansion, despite Syeobold’s fierce
opposition, the romance between Astrit and Neal was an open secret.

However, someone deeply infatuated with their cross-class romance had written a
book about it and leaked it to high society. Consequently, while the Ferdinand
family's prestige took a hit, the story of Neal and Astrit’s love became famous
throughout the entire Calixte Empire.

Syeobold’s face stiffened slightly at the unpleasant memory, but he quickly
composed himself to finish what he had to say.

“He is now a member of the Ferdinand family. Even if the Dragon who protects the
Empire has become an 'Evil Dragon,' Ferdinand remains the family of the Dragon’s
Guardians.”

“Hmm…”

“Therefore, Your Majesty, I ask that you rescind the order for Neal Royce to
forge the swords for the dragon subjugation. Ferdinand cannot participate in
this hunt in any capacity.”

After a moment of contemplation, the Emperor spoke.

“Syeobold, I am sorry to say this to you, but I cannot do that.”

“…Why?”

“You surely know that this subjugation team consists not only of knights from
the Imperial Palace but also commoner mercenaries and heroes.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

“The man serving as the captain of that team is a man named Joseph. He is the
Hero of Calixte, who recently returned from the border after slaying a thousand
monsters where the protection magic had failed.”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“It has everything to do with it. I asked him what reward he desired. I gave my
word as Emperor that I would grant any wish.”

The Emperor gestured toward Syeobold with a lingering smile.

“Do you know what he asked for first?”

“What did he ask for?”

“He said he heard an Ego Sword had appeared in the Empire. He asked me to obtain
that sword for him, claiming it was necessary to slay the legendary dragon.”