I’ll Use a Reverse-Edged Sword

At the unbelievable scene that unfolded in an instant, everyone’s jaws dropped in shock,
but no exclamations escaped from those open mouths.
Was that why?
Andrew’s screams of pain spread even more desperately and horribly.
How much time had passed?
Only after I moved again and sheathed the reverse-edged sword did the commotion begin.

“Andreeeew!!!! My son!!!!”
As expected, Lady Cordelia’s reaction speed was faster than the others.
She was running madly towards the center of the training ground like a bull that had lost its mind.

Splat
Even though she fell down ridiculously, she quickly got up again and ran to Andrew.
‘The fact that there’s someone who worries and grieves so sincerely like that is, after all, enviable’

“Andrew!! Are you alright, my son! Let me see, let me see”
“Aaargh! My legs… Mother, my legs… Aaargh!”
Lady Cordelia kept shedding tears while touching Andrew’s legs, who couldn’t stop screaming.

“Oh my, my son… his legs… how much pain must he be in with his legs broken like this… Doctor! Where is the doctor! Wasn’t there a doctor present for the official duel? Doctor!!”
Lady Cordelia shouted loudly for a doctor, and hearing her voice, father also quickly looked around for a doctor.

“Doctor… where is the doctor!”
Father’s voice carried much more resonant power than Lady Cordelia’s.
At this, Adrian, who was sitting next to him, finally closed his gaping mouth and reported to father.

“There… there is no doctor, Father”
“What do you mean there’s no doctor? It’s been days since I ordered the preparation for the official duel, are you saying you couldn’t find a single doctor to be present?”
Even in the face of father’s interrogation, Adrian could only speak with his head bowed low and his voice shrinking.

“That… the doctor who was scheduled to be present had an urgent matter come up…”
“What nonsense is this! Jake! Send the fastest man to find the closest doctor in our territory!”
Knight Commander Jake quickly left the training ground with several knights at father’s order.

The doctor who was scheduled to be present had an urgent matter come up.
It was an obvious thing even without seeing it.
Andrew and Adrian hadn’t even imagined a scenario where I would win in today’s duel.
When the only person who would get hurt in the duel was me alone, what need was there for a doctor?

My gaze fell on Adrian, who was bowing his head and sweating profusely.
Perhaps he felt my gaze?
Adrian’s eyes, as he raised his head, began to glare at me.
As I calmly met his gaze, after a moment, I moved my steps towards Raymond.

“E-Eden… you, how did this happen?”
“What do you mean?”
“That impossible swordsmanship, what is it? Just a few days ago, you couldn’t even block one of my wooden swords”
“I was hiding my strength.”
“Liar! Do you know how many years we’ve been training in swordsmanship together?”
“Ahem… well, I have a secret. I’ll tell you later when I get the chance.”
Despite my clumsy evasion, Raymond didn’t ask further and just hugged me tightly.

“Who cares! You’re awesome, man! You won, and in just one exchange!”
“Ugh, gross, get off me”
Even as I pushed Raymond away, I couldn’t hide my quite happy feelings.
Seeing him sincerely rejoice over my affairs as if they were his own, I felt the envy I had felt towards Andrew being somewhat offset.

“Eden.”
A heavy and rough voice.
It was father, who had approached where Raymond and I were rejoicing.
Seeing father’s face, I remembered that there was still something I hadn’t finished.

“Father”
“You managed to defeat Andrew, impressively”
“Thank you.”
“This seems to confirm that you’ve been hiding your skills all this time, doesn’t it? We have things to discuss, don’t we? Right now, to my office-”
“Father.”
I stopped father again as he was turning his back to take me away.
“…?”
“With this, it’s been proven that even if I go to the academy wielding this sword, I won’t bring shame to the family name. Isn’t that right?”
“Well… that can be said. So, let’s move to a different place and have a detailed discussion.”
“No. I must leave for the Wydro family immediately. I have already arranged a first meeting with the Wydro daughter who will become my fiancée.”
“Al-Already like that… Well, your handling of affairs is swift. Then after you return from the Wydro family-”
“Please transfer the ownership of this sword to me completely. I want to receive a definite answer here and now.”

At my firm and resolute request, father seemed quite flustered.
I noticed that all the family members around were focusing on the conversation between father and me.
Although the family members couldn’t know the exact details of the kind of deal between father and me, they seemed to have caught the nuance.

Father, who values honor and trust.
It was a one-sided move.
Father heaved a deep sigh and then spoke to me as if resigned.

“Sigh, Eden… I’ve lived without knowing you too well. Smart, no… you have quite a calculating side. Yes, that sword is now entirely yours.”
After finishing his words, father took a few steps and then stopped to ask me.

“But, was there a need to go that far? Andrew is… isn’t he your brother?”
“As I clearly told Andrew earlier, if I had been holding a sword with a proper edge, a much worse situation could have easily occurred. Andrew should live the rest of his life grateful to me. For that one move where he swung his real sword as if to cut off my forearm, I will not reproach Andrew at all.”
“Ahem… I… I really seem to have not known much about you. Travel safely to the Wydro family”

With those final words, father turned around and left the training ground.
‘I did it. Whew… I got my hands on the reverse-edged sword. Now my story truly begins.’
Inwardly rejoicing, I also left the training ground with Raymond.
I could clearly feel the gazes of Adrian and Lady Cordelia glaring at me from behind as if they wanted to kill me, but I wasn’t afraid at all.
Now I was no longer the previous Eden who was despised and bullied by them.

It took about three hours by carriage to finally arrive at the Wydro family’s estate.
The Wydro family’s house that I first encountered was…
truly magnificent beyond imagination.
Can this even be called just a house…
Why hadn’t I known until now that such a magnificent building existed within the territory our family manages?

“Isn’t this… a castle of another noble family?”
“It’s not a castle, young master. This is indeed the Wydro family’s residence.”
The coachman, whom I had hired for the day with generous pay, corrected my doubt in a resolute tone without hesitation.
Probably, all those visiting the Wydro family for the first time must have asked the same question.

“Then… I…”
As the coachman hurriedly tried to leave, I called him back and handed him a few more silver coins.
“Have a drink at a nearby tavern and wait. It shouldn’t take too long. I’ll need you for the return journey as well.”

The coachman looked at the silver coins in his hand but still showed signs of discomfort.
Clearly,
I thought I had paid enough for the round trip fare,
but it seemed to fall short of his expectations.
This too, was probably not a matter of money but a matter of my reputation.

Eden, the illegitimate child of the Castillo family
How far had the malicious rumors about my pathetic reputation spread?
Even though it wasn’t something that particularly bothered me, thinking about the content of my reputation suddenly made Alice’s face come to mind again.

Ah.
Even now, after recalling memories of my past life, or rather my original life, albeit partially,
I still haven’t been able to completely let go of my feelings for Alice.
It seems that along with being created as a concept-driven character, that damned obsession with romance had become an inseparable fate companion with me.

As various thoughts filled my head, I was able to reach the main gate of the Wydro family.
The main gate of the Wydro family had a standing guard force that seemed excessive for a merchant family.
Or is it because they’re a merchant family that they’re more thorough with security?
In any case, fortunately, they seemed to know my face
and guided me inside without requiring any explanation.

It was an endlessly wide and splendid path.
Anyone would see it as a noble’s castle.
After walking for a while, I finally reached what appeared to be the reception area.

Maids (the fabric used for their clothing was clearly several times more expensive than what the maids in our family wear) brought out some light refreshments,
and I enjoyed the refreshments while waiting for someone from the Wydro family to come out.
If possible, hoping that Wydro himself would come out and discuss financial and contractual matters with me…

But my wish couldn’t be so easily fulfilled.
After quite some time, the person who came out to the reception area was a beautiful young lady wearing a fluttering silk dress.
From the moment our eyes met, she didn’t avoid my gaze for even a moment, and walked proudly towards me with her back straight, her heels clicking.
And then she spoke to me first.

“Just by how you came here on your own, I can tell how rude a person you are.”
…But I came here with an appointment?
Who exactly is the rude person in this situation?