Love and the Blade
The Holy Empire's imperial mana cultivation method had clear, unavoidable limits. This was due to an unspoken taboo: officers of common blood must never be allowed to attain the status and power that could threaten the established nobility's vested interests.
It allowed for easy mana sensitivity.
It also facilitated the smooth absorption and emission of mana.
However, it made it impossible to rise beyond the Expert High-tier rank.
The Holy Empire had reserved the realm of the Sword Master as an exclusive privilege for pure-blooded nobles. A Sword Master, often hailed as a grand master of the blade, wielded such overwhelming power that they could decide the outcome of a local war in a single stroke. Thus, the empire chose control and restriction over merit.
"..."
Snow-capped mountains, covered in eternal drifts, looked down upon a frozen lake.
Kailen sat cross-legged on the icy ground, focusing entirely on his mana cultivation.
He cast aside the obsolete imperial cultivation method.
Instead, he began to forge new pathways for a different mana cultivation technique.
Closing his eyes, he repeatedly inhaled and exhaled the freezing air.
It was cold.
The biting chill of the frozen lake rushed into him.
Ordinarily, this would result in severe frostbite.
He might even freeze to death.
Yet, exhaling a plume of white mist, he willingly embraced the sub-zero temperature.
Send the mana, drawn in alongside the freezing air into the lungs, straight into the mana pathways.
He must not fear the cold.
He had to embrace the freezing chill.
He had to adapt.
He had to cultivate an affinity for the frost.
Guide the frozen air and mana through the pathways and down to the core. Once the frozen mana reaches the core, circulate it throughout the body to minimize any physical heat that might disrupt the cultivation.
The frozen mana that settled in his core began to circulate without generating any heat, acting like a superconductor. Because the freezing cold had stripped the mana of its natural resistance, he could now compress it within his core to tens of times its usual critical limit.
It was an astonishingly vast reservoir of mana.
Yet, it remained as pure and docile as a domesticated lamb.
Send the frozen air and mana concentrated in the core up to the heart. Purge the old embers of mana accumulated from the imperial cultivation method, and shape the frozen mana into new embers to fill the void in the heart. If I do that...
Four embers.
That was the number that proved his status as an Expert High-tier.
But Kailen was not satisfied with the existing embers; he attempted to form a new one. The pure mana flowing from his core moved exactly as he willed, gentle and cooperative, shaping itself into another ember.
A fifth.
And then, a sixth.
Perhaps because he had finally shattered the shackles of the obsolete imperial method that had suppressed his potential for so long, the vast mana expanded like a raging torrent bursting through a broken dam. It rapidly began to regenerate his battered, worn-out mana pathways.
"It's done."
The liberation felt all the more profound because the terrible confinement had lasted so long.
He opened his eyes.
Exhaling a pale blue breath, he rose to his feet.
He wanted to feel the unique Sword Qi produced by the Edelgard family's cultivation method. Slowly drawing the White Night Sword, he let the pure white blade hang low.
Ssssshh—!
A piercingly cold, blue Sword Qi erupted from the tip of the blade. It shimmered with a brilliant jade hue, as if boasting of the Jormungandr's mana it had absorbed.
That wasn't all.
With every swing of the blade, pure white particles scattered through the air.
The freezing Sword Qi was instantly cooling the moisture in the air, carving visible trails of frost in its wake.
I might not be able to perfectly replicate Leonora's ultimate technique—which is essentially her unique skill—but since I've inherited the Edelgard family's cultivation method, shouldn't I be able to manifest at least a fraction of it?
He vividly remembered Leonora's majestic figure as she froze a raging, sulfurous hellscape in an instant.
Her lovely silver hair fluttering in the wind.
Her resolute crimson eyes, devoid of even a shred of hesitation.
And her features, as breathtakingly beautiful as a snow flower blooming amidst the ice.
Let's try to recreate it.
The frozen world that Leonora unleashed.
He thrust forward with the White Night Sword, now enveloped in the Jormungandr's mana.
CRAAAAAACK—!!!
A freezing vortex erupted from the blade, sweeping across the frozen lake and hurtling directly toward the Edelgard family's villa. Kailen could only watch in despair as the icy tempest surged forward like an arrow released from a bow.
"..."
"..."
When he finally arrived at the scene of utter devastation,
He was greeted by the sight of Leonora and the elderly knight.
Sword Master.
Or Grand Master of the Blade.
The absolute pinnacle of swordsmanship.
The ultimate goal that every swordsman aspired to reach.
A summit scaled only by a select few geniuses blessed by the heavens.
Kailen von Valtenstein had reached the realm of the Sword Master.
The jade-colored Sword Qi shimmering like flames around his blade was proof that he had stepped into the realm of superhumans. Leonora and Ericsen could not hide their sheer astonishment as they stared at the aura radiating from Kailen's sword.
But that was not all.
Frozen Blossoms of the Whole Sky.
A freezing tempest capable of instantly locking all of creation in ice.
It was the unique, ultimate technique Leonora had developed upon reaching the rank of Sword Master.
Having achieved an unprecedented rate of growth, Kailen had even managed to manifest the exclusive technique reserved solely for Leonora. Had the Judge of the Frozen Lands and her elderly knight not witnessed the freezing storm that had spectacularly demolished the Edelgard villa with their own eyes, they would never have believed it.
"You must take Sir Valtenstein as a son-in-law of the Edelgard family."
"..."
Immediately after returning to the office,
The loyal old knight made his proposal in a grave tone.
A son-in-law.
Bringing him into the family through marriage.
It was the only way to fully integrate a defector from the Holy Empire into the Edelgard household.
"Sir Valtenstein unleashed your signature technique, Frozen Blossoms of the Whole Sky, a mere three days after inheriting the Edelgard family's cultivation method. Though his mastery is still unrefined... once he fully matures his mana, he will be able to execute it flawlessly."
"I understand your feelings, Ericsen. But even without binding him as a son-in-law, my vice captain will continue to serve the Edelgard family faithfully as a commander of the Frozen Lands' guard."
"My Lady, did you not witness that unprecedented display alongside me? Sir Valtenstein is a genius who surpasses many of the continent's Sword Masters. For the revival and prosperity of the Edelgard family and the Frozen Lands, you must bring him in as your husband."
"..."
A profound, unwavering conviction rang out in the old man's impassioned voice.
He knew it was a bold impertinence.
How could he press a pure young lady to marry?
Even as a loyal vassal who had served the previous head of the family, he had no right to force a marriage upon her.
Yet, Ericsen stood his ground so firmly that it seemed he might resort to extreme measures to make his point. It was the fierce loyalty of a vassal who had dedicated half his life to the Edelgard family and the Frozen Lands.
"It is difficult to make such a decision on the spot. Give me some time."
She needed time to carefully consider this.
Leaving Ericsen behind in her office, Leonora made her way to her bedroom.
Flop.
She threw herself onto the bed.
She lay sprawled out, her lovely silver hair cascading wildly across the sheets.
"Taking Kailen... as my husband..."
It was a scenario she had never once imagined.
Kailen, as her husband.
She pulled her sleep mask down over her eyes.
She was wearing mint-colored pajamas for psychological comfort.
Clutched in her arms was a fluffy pillow, which she hugged like a security blanket whenever she slept.
Dressed so casually, Leonora rolled around on the bed, hugging her pillow tightly. Soon, a bright red blush crept up her slender face as she began to recall the various sides of Kailen she had seen.
"He's handsome, and he's highly skilled in etiquette..."
He was, after all, a man whom the aesthetic-obsessed heroine of a romance fantasy novel had chosen as her advisor. Having been raised as a noble of the Holy Empire, he was naturally well-versed in refined manners and sophisticated knowledge.
"He has the absolute trust of Rosalyn and the knights of his detachment... and even the knights of Nilfheim rely on him."
Striking valor had a way of unconsciously captivating warriors. Having achieved countless feats, Kailen was hailed as a war hero and commanded deep respect from the knights of the Frozen Lands.
"Even when his hands were charred black from gripping his sword in a hopeless situation, he fought through bitter struggles with his detachment to protect hundreds of civilians."
He had risked his life to save hundreds of souls.
It was the true mark of a hero.
"Ugh...! How could I not fall for him? He charms me at every turn!"
The silver-haired beauty buried her face in her soft pillow, squeezing it mercilessly as she mumbled in embarrassment. Every time she recalled another detail about Kailen, her heart hammered wildly against her ribs.
Yes.
Deep down, she had already fallen for him.
There was absolutely no reason not to.
He had shown her nothing but reasons to love him.
Still clutching her pillow, Leonora kicked her blankets and let out a series of muffled squeals. It was the sight of a young lady hopelessly in love for the very first time—a side of her she could never let anyone else see.
