SWNOVELXO Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Beatrice swallowed the cold tea in one gulp.
“…My lady, cold tea is not good for your health. Moreover, it is against etiquette.”
‘It must seem unusual here.’
In the place she came from, drinking “cold tea” was taken for granted.
The world had become a battlefield due to the overflow of monsters.
There was no leisurely time to brew tea in the midst of war.
“It’s my choice. I’m heading to the battlefield. Can’t I even have this?”
“…I have heard the rumors.”
Heinrich’s expression stiffened.
“Why on earth would you make such a choice?”
“Does a servant have complaints about their employer’s decisions?”
Beatrice’s tone was overly calm.
It was as if someone was asking her why she ate a particular dish for breakfast.
“…My lady, the battlefield is no place for someone like you. You can’t even kill a bug…”
At that moment, a bug crawled across the grass, and she crushed it under her shoe, twisting it two or three times.
“Why?”
Heinrich stared blankly.
Beatrice took a sip of tea and stood up.
“Bring me a sword.”
“…Pardon?”
She yawned lazily and waved her hand.
“If I’m going to the battlefield, I’ll need a sword. Bring one.”
“…Understood. But, my lady, do you even know how to handle a sword…?”
“Since when,” Beatrice said coldly, “did you start questioning me? That’s not the answer you should be giving.”
“……”
The butler.
An employee hired by a noble family.
Though his rank was higher than that of maids and servants,
he was not in a position to question a noble’s decisions, as he had done now.
Acknowledging his mistake, Heinrich bowed deeply.
“I will follow your orders.”
* * *
She looked at her hands.
‘They’re so delicate. These are hands that have never done any hard work in their life.’
Beatrice began warming up.
It was a simple stretch to prevent her muscles from being startled.
This body had never held a sword before.
Moving too suddenly could cause strain.
‘…I’m curious about the skill level of this world.’
Of course, Beatrice was confident.
Born a woman?
A body with no connection to martial arts?
It didn’t matter.
She hadn’t been called the Sword Emperor for nothing.
Her only concern was about the level of difficulty.
Too easy would be boring, and too hard would be exhausting.
‘I wonder just how strong the warriors of this world are.’
As she mused, not much time passed before Heinrich appeared.
He carried a long sword in one hand.
“Here it is.”
Beatrice frowned.
It was a rapier.
A slender fencing sword.
“Can that thing even cut anything? It looks like it’ll snap if you tap it.”
Her voice was full of sarcasm.
Such a flimsy needle might cut tofu at best or perhaps serve as a toothpick.
Naturally, human bones were not tofu, and one could hardly stab someone with a toothpick.
“…But a thicker sword would be too heavy for you to handle, my lady.”
“That’s not for you to decide. Bring me a greatsword.”
“A gr-greatsword, you say…”
Beatrice drew a cross shape on the ground with her foot.
“A sword shaped like this.”
“I’m sorry, but that type of sword isn’t something I can procure immediately.”
Heinrich was blunt in his response.
He was the type to state what was impossible without hesitation.
“I am a noble. Am I not?”
“…You are. You are the eldest daughter of the great Cenci family.”
“And I am going to the battlefield.”
“…That is also true.”
“Then I should have this much authority.”
Beatrice spoke firmly to Heinrich.
“Have one made. With the best materials, by the finest artisan.”
* * *
In the office.
Francesco was signing documents.
As his vision was blurry, he used a magnifying glass, but when he heard movement, he glanced toward the door.
-Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
-Creak.
It was Heinrich.
Francesco set down the magnifying glass.
Clasping his hands, he immediately asked.
“What did she say?”
“…She ordered me to have a sword made.”
“A sword?”
“It was a rather peculiar design. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“Really?”
Francesco sounded incredulous.
“She really said she’s going to the battlefield?”
“…It seems so.”
“Hah.”
Francesco let out a hollow sigh.
“…Beatrice’s stubbornness has always been well-known.”
“That is true. She has never once compromised her will.”
“That might be the problem.”
“Pardon?”
“…I’ve been too indulgent with her.”
He muttered something incomprehensible.
“With all due respect, it is absolutely unthinkable to send the young lady to the battlefield.”
“I know. It’s an absurd act. Politically, there’s no benefit to gain. Beatrice’s best use is to leverage her appearance to secure a favorable marriage.”
Francesco, speaking of his child as if discussing a tool, showed no hint of guilt.
Heinrich, without batting an eye, replied.
“Then why did you issue such an order?”
“…I wanted to break her stubbornness. I’ve spoiled her too much, and she’s come to think that everything in the world will go her way if she insists enough. Let her face the consequences just this once.”
“This is a bad time. If she truly ends up on the battlefield…”
“Enough. Once spoken, words cannot be taken back. I will send Beatrice to the battlefield.”
“Master!”
“You may consider it settled. I will hear no further objections.”
Francesco was adamant.
Heinrich thought to himself.
The truly stubborn one here wasn’t the young lady Beatrice, but the lord standing before him.
* * *
“…In any case, this war is nothing more than a show. Even if Beatrice goes to the battlefield, she won’t face any real danger.”
A meaningless war.
Heinrich suppressed the sigh rising in his throat.
How could the head of a noble house be so blind?
From Heinrich’s perspective, this war was a desperate struggle, one that could determine the fate of the nation.
Yet, as a servant, he couldn’t openly contradict his lord.
Instead, he offered another argument.
“Even seasoned veterans can die from a stray arrow on the battlefield. There’s no guarantee the young lady would remain unharmed.”
“She needs to experience that level of risk to understand. ‘Ah, I’ve truly lived a sheltered life, and going to the battlefield was a foolish decision. I should listen to my father.’”
“…Master! If anything were to go wrong, the consequences would be irreversible.”
“You are overly loyal, to the point that it sometimes feels impertinent.”
“……”
“I’ve said it already. Beatrice will go to the battlefield.”
“Must it be this way?”
“There’s no other choice. And even if she survives and comes back unchanged, I’ll kill her.”
“…What?”
Heinrich’s eyes widened in shock at Francesco’s chilling declaration.
“What… what do you mean by that?”
“This is her last chance. If she experiences the battlefield and still doesn’t change her ways, then she’ll never change. If she refuses to marry, I’ll kill her. Otherwise, she’ll become a burden. I’ve already staked my position as head of the family on her deployment to the battlefield.”
“You’ve been too hasty.”
“Just looking at that detestable face of hers makes it impossible to control my anger.”
“……”
‘From the start, the master intended to abandon the young lady.’
Only then did Heinrich realize.
Francesco’s seemingly foolish decision was, in fact, anything but foolish.
He had approached the situation rationally.
He found Beatrice bothersome.
And he was using a justified method to remove her.
A meaningless war?
Such a thing didn’t exist in this world.
For the first time, Heinrich felt repulsed by the lord he had served his entire life.
Even so, he couldn’t show it. As a servant, he swallowed his revulsion.
“Your face shows you don’t want her to die.”
-Francesco sneered.
“You’re a good servant, but you’re too sentimental. That will cause you to lose sight of the greater good.”
Heinrich said nothing.
He only clenched his fists, trembling in frustration.
This was his limit.
No matter the situation, he couldn’t defy Francesco.
He was a commoner.
Francesco was a noble.
An insurmountable, absolute divide.
“If you truly wish to prevent her death, there is a choice.”
“…Is there a way?”
“Yes. If Beatrice willingly agrees to a marriage, I won’t send her to the battlefield. Then, naturally, I’d have no reason to kill her.”
Heinrich closed his eyes.
He knew.
No matter the circumstances, his lady would never change her mind.
Just like Francesco standing before him.
“…Understood. But first, I have one question.”
“Go ahead. Speak freely.”
“If the young lady insists on going to the battlefield, how far will you support her?”
“I’ll meet all her demands.”
Francesco murmured under his breath.
“Even a condemned prisoner enjoys a final meal before their execution.”
“Is that truly all there is to it?”
Heinrich barely restrained himself.
He stopped himself from glaring at his lord with contempt.
“More than that, you never know. She might get lucky and achieve something remarkable. If she earns recognition on the battlefield, it could elevate the family’s status. Considering that possibility, I’ll provide maximum support.”
‘Then.’
Heinrich closed his eyes briefly.
Moments later, he opened them and stared directly at Francesco.
He had made his decision.
“Master.”
Heinrich knelt before the lord.
“…If I fail to convince her.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“Allow me, Heinrich…”
He spoke clearly.
“To accompany the young lady to the battlefield.”