Chapter 43
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: An Unwavering Ally
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Joseph, as always, was looking at Charlotte first.
With a gaze so profoundly serene it didn't match the weather at all.
"What changes if you wait?"
At Charlotte's question, which hid none of her displeasure, Joseph shrugged lightly.
"An unwavering ally who'll never disappear. You can't convince someone of that with words alone. I just have to show you. Prove that you have one. Over time, I'll make you believe it by showing you myself."
Charlotte stared blankly at Joseph, who was spouting an unusually long-winded explanation.
What was that supposed to mean?
An unwavering ally who'll never disappear.
Something she'd never once possessed, so alien she couldn't even imagine what it looked like. What on earth was it?
"You?"
"Me."
"You... for me...?"
"Me, for you."
Charlotte gazed into Joseph's intensely serious dark eyes, then burst out laughing without realizing it.
She'd wondered why he was suddenly bringing up such topics.
But that was it—just wanting to say that conclusion.
Joseph must have figured it out because he was Joseph. The deep cracks in her heart.
Because he'd grown up never once acknowledged by the emperor for reasons that weren't his fault.
'If he'd just told me to believe him right now, I would've called him out on it.'
Show me in the future. Wait and see.
Joseph was still a child, and she had no idea when that resolve might waver, but for now, his words pleased her. And warmed her.
"I'll be by your side. Always. No matter if you believe me or not."
"I believe you. I'll believe."
"So don't go around acting defeated."
For no reason, her chest ached sharply, and somewhere inside, it tickled faintly.
Somehow, the words wouldn't come out, so Charlotte just nodded and made a silent vow to herself.
'Let's really make all this work out.'
It hadn't started because she wanted Joseph to repay her or anything, but she truly hoped things would go well for him.
She half-expected him to keep his word, but half-doubted it too.
Children didn't know much about the future and often spoke carelessly.
Still, just hearing him say it made her feel refreshingly lighter somehow.
She had some confidence in her own way.
Convincing Camilla wouldn't be easy at all.
But she already had one promise secured from Camilla.
If she won the Shadow Blade Day tournament, any wish would be granted.
And the Camilla from the book she'd read never went back on her word.
Clinging to something so flimsy was laughable, but she had to try everything she could.
Shwaaa—
Lost in their separate thoughts, Charlotte and Joseph sat leaning against the tree trunk long after the downpour eased.
Shadow Blade Day drew steadily closer.
Three days before the tournament, Charlotte finished her early morning meditation and reviewed the plot notes she'd jotted down in hanja one more time.
It was time to prepare specifically for the tournament.
Of course, the event's details were kept strictly confidential, so no one knew, but there were sections where the protagonist Joseph vaguely recalled and mentioned the tournament.
The Shadow Blade Day tournament featured elements she'd never even heard of.
Monsters.
'Knowing the prelims in advance when no one else does would be cheating. But learning common knowledge everyone else knows isn't.'
After much deliberation, she decided to act on the plan she'd only mulled over in her mind and left her room, heading to the study she'd scouted beforehand.
Just as she neared the study, a long, slender shadow fell across Charlotte's path.
"Miss, it seems you've taken a wrong turn... Shall I guide you?"
"Huh?"
Looking up, she saw a man with thin glasses smiling with a kindly face.
'Ah, it's Reit, Father's secretary.'
Reit was a capable secretary. He did his duty without issue, even after Isaac inherited the house.
Like anyone, he wasn't someone who favored Charlotte in the story. Still, she admired those who faithfully performed their roles.
Charlotte waved cheerfully at Reit with a bright smile.
"Hello."
"...Hello?"
"Greetings feel nice, don't they?"
Reit looked at Charlotte with a peculiar gaze.
"I've heard the rumors, but... you've really changed a lot."
"Yeah?"
"...Well, never mind. More importantly, this is just the study out here. Where were you headed? Let me show you the way out."
Charlotte nodded with a smile.
"I was heading to the study, actually. The paths are confusing, but thanks for confirming."
"...Pardon?"
"Have a great day!"
Charlotte raised her not-so-long arm high, waving enthusiastically before trotting toward the study. Reit simply turned around.
'...She said she was going to the study. And thanked me... Wished me a good day...'
Reit had been reporting new info on Charlotte to Jerome whenever he learned it, but it was always secondhand, filtered through his judgment before passing it on.
Facing her directly now, though, the change hit him viscerally.
'Is it my imagination, or does she seem more polite and cute somehow?'
Reit tilted his head, then slowly walked off in his original direction.
Creeeak.
The bookshelf in the farthest corner of the first floor of the ducal residence—a dim, northern wall that got little light—was a vast space.
"...Wow."
For her, even Mount Hua Sect's tiny library had felt like a treasure trove...
This one seemed at least ten times larger.
'It's like several rooms thrown together.'
The musty scent of aging paper from the three walls lined with books was so familiar it brought an unwitting smile to her face.
To Dohwa, bookshelves were as familiar as training grounds.
At Mount Hua Sect, she'd often taken charge of organizing the library. Allowed to read manuals as a reward for her chores, she'd borrow plenty and devour them through the night while sorting.
'Wherever you go, the smell of books never changes.'
Tucked in the darkest corner to shield from light, the study required lamps even in broad daylight for Charlotte to search.
Practical Martial Arts
Theory and Practice of the Way
Cavalry Tactics
Phalanx: On Spear Formations
...
Charlotte ran her hand over the thick volumes on the shelves, then paused.
Monster Guide: All the Monsters You're Curious About
This was the book she wanted.
Confirming no footsteps approached, she pulled it out and flipped straight to the index without hesitation.
Her finger trailed down, stopping at the eighth entry from the top.
[Slime]
'Knowing the prelims alone in advance is cheating, but common knowledge isn't.'
With that self-justification, Charlotte quickly flipped through the pages.
That morning, Betty came to Charlotte with an excited face, right as she'd returned from the library.
"Miss!"
"Yes?"
"The Minor House Lord is looking for you."
"Father?"
'What's this about?'
Charlotte instinctively glanced at the shelves.
Jerome, ever the moody type, had lately taken a liking to buying her things and watching her reactions.
After redecorating her room recently, he'd brought more items to line up there.
Rabbit dolls, fancy dollhouses noble kids might like, hair ribbons, and such.
All things he'd bought without asking her tastes, assuming what a nine-year-old noble girl would love.
Even the original Charlotte would've found them a bit outdated for her age, and the current one did too.
It showed how little he really knew about her.
Honestly, deep down, she found his actions ridiculous and absurd.
But inevitably, the moment she received those gifts, she felt genuinely pleased.
Enough that words like "I don't need this" never escaped her lips.
As Charlotte eyed Betty curiously, the woman—who'd rushed in so eagerly—hesitated before mumbling.
"Well... today, he's going to buy you a sword."
"...A sword?"
"Yes, uh... since you don't have a real one for the tournament, he said he'd get you one..."
Charlotte's ears perked up.
Until now, her only weapons had been wooden swords for training with Joseph. A real sword was essential, of course.
"Really? For real? That's awesome!"
Seeing Charlotte flush with excitement even to her cheeks, Betty wore a strange expression between sad and glad.
'...Looks like the miss has given up entirely.'
No matter how she thought about it, Betty found House Setia too cruel.
Shadow Blade Day came at different ages for everyone, but sending a tiny nine-year-old girl into such a tournament was too much.
Even if they didn't expect great results, it was excessive.
Watching Charlotte train so diligently lately hurt more than when she'd denied and hated all things sword-related.
"Hurry, get me ready quick! What should I wear?"
Urged by Charlotte's beaming face, Betty gave a helpless, faint smile and fetched clothes to dress her.