The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 55

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 55 25. You’ve Changed So Much (2)

“Phew, I feel alive again.”

Lumian, sitting on the sofa in his room, muttered to himself.

Even though it was a rural estate, it was incomparably more comfortable than the inn. Having finished unpacking and bathing, he felt his travel fatigue melting away as he smiled gently.

Perhaps because this was the place he had lived his entire life.

His memories here were much more vivid than at the Academy. So much so that he almost felt the illusion that he had always been Lumian Calard from the beginning.

‘Of course, that’s not true though…’

He smiled bitterly.

Actually, even now he wasn’t sure. Whether he was Lumian Calard or Ryan Fromhart.

The conclusion he had reached was that he was both Ryan and Lumian. In other words, both personalities coexisted, but honestly, this wasn’t a conclusion reached through deep contemplation.

He had simply needed justification to enjoy his youth at the Academy.

Or perhaps he had just roughly postponed a decision that was difficult to make.

‘But not anymore.’

Lumian nodded his head.

His thinking hadn’t changed. He still considered himself both Ryan Fromhart and Lumian Calard.

What he meant by ‘not anymore’ was that he wouldn’t be shaken by this issue any longer.

In other words, he would fulfill his duties as the young lord more properly.

‘The first step would be… showing my parents how I’ve changed.’

Whoosh, taking a deep breath, Lumian took out several items from his bag.

His father, Runo Calard, was a benevolent lord respected by the people of his estate. His mother, Emilia Calard, was also praised for caring for her subordinates with love.

However, they were very strict with him. They were people who believed such education would raise their son to be upright and strong.

‘Still, with this much, I shouldn’t disappoint them.’

Lumian grinned and called a servant to check his attire.

Soon it would be his first dinner with his parents.

He needed to present himself properly.

* * *

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes, Father.”

When his father, Runo Calard, spoke, Lumian answered in a low voice.

It was a voice full of strength. He smiled at his parents and began eating without breaking etiquette.

His parents stared at him intently for a long while.

Their expressions remained rigid without any change.

But their inner feelings were completely different.

The lord and lady glanced at each other and conversed only with lip movements.

‘Why is he acting like that?’

‘I don’t know either!’

His appearance was so different from six months ago.

They couldn’t help but be bewildered.

They had felt something strange when he first arrived home and greeted them.

His usual weak demeanor was nowhere to be found, and the sight of their son approaching with his chest proudly puffed out was utterly unfamiliar.

But now it was even more pronounced.

When he removed his outer garment, his revealed body looked sturdy enough to rival any soldier, and there was weight to his every action.

It was as if a caterpillar had become a butterfly.

Of course, this change was extremely welcome.

‘The boy… has grown from a child into a man before I knew it!’

Baron Calard’s eyes grew slightly warm.

He suddenly remembered last year.

The image of his son, who couldn’t adapt to the Academy and returned home with a constantly dark expression, was still vivid in his eyes.

To see that same boy now displaying such dignity as if he had become a proper knight – as a father, he couldn’t help but be delighted.

He felt like sneaking into his study and dancing.

‘How could he become so dependable!’

Lady Calard felt the same way.

She wanted to call a social gathering right now and spend three hours bragging about her son. Especially to Olivia, that woman who always bragged about her eldest son whenever they met.

She wanted to tell her how wonderfully her son had grown!

“Ahem.”

“Hmm.”

Of course, neither showed these feelings.

They simply continued their meal quietly with their usual expressionless faces.

After a moment, Baron Calard, having calmed his overwhelming emotions, asked Lumian a question.

“Lumian. How is life at the Academy?”

“Yes, Lumian. How was this semester? Tell us.”

Lady Calard also looked at Lumian with a curious expression.

Actually, this was the exact same question they had asked last year.

And at that time, Lumian had… answered by silently shedding tears like chicken droppings. The shock from that moment still remained in both their minds.

‘But now, wouldn’t he give a different answer than back then?’

‘He must have adapted by now. What kind of son is our son – one year should be enough!’

Their expressions remained unchanged.

However, the anticipation in their eyes was burning like fire.

Please, this time answer that you’re doing well!

May their beloved son be living a joyful and happy life in that unfamiliar, distant place without struggling!

This was their only wish.

Having hurt him by expecting much more than this last year, they had no intention of putting unreasonable pressure on him anymore.

But then.

“Um… Father, Mother.”

“Yes?”

“What is it?”

“Actually, there’s something I’d like to show you.”

Lumian spoke quietly and took something from his chest. Then he placed it on the table.

Both their eyes naturally moved in that direction.

Something that seemed to be made of glass or crystal, and two pieces of paper.

Baron Calard had a servant bring those items over.

“Gasp!”

He unconsciously made a loud sound.

“What on earth is it that makes you react like that?”

Lady Calard looked toward the baron with an expression that tried not to show it, but couldn’t contain her curiosity.

Unfortunately, she had poor eyesight, so despite the close distance, she couldn’t identify what the objects were.

Therefore, when the baron opened his mouth, her reaction was bound to be even more dramatic.

“Lumian… you placed first in the Academy’s swordsmanship division, twice in a row?”

“What?”

“And also… you won joint first place in the swordsmanship competition for Academy first and second years?”

“What did you say? Is that true, Lumian?”

The two could no longer maintain their expressionless faces.

Though they believed their son needed strict education and were particularly stingy with praise and expressions, now was an exception.

To place first consecutively at the Royal Knight Academy where talented individuals from across the kingdom gathered!

And on top of that, to win the swordsmanship competition!

Could this be real?

‘Could this swordsmanship competition trophy and grade report be forged?’

Baron Calard looked at his son with suspicious eyes.

Honestly, he couldn’t believe it. No matter how much one’s own child looks most precious in one’s eyes, he wasn’t someone who lacked a sense of reality.

However, the moment he made eye contact with Lumian, he cleanly abandoned his suspicions.

Anyone would have reacted the same way.

The face his son was showing right now, and his attitude, was definitely not that of someone telling lies.

“It’s true, Mother.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. You can send someone to the Academy to check. It’s true. Really… I became the top student at the Academy.”

“…”

Silence flowed for a moment.

It wasn’t the unpleasant quiet like that of a funeral hall.

Rather, it was similar to when one’s heart swells up so much that words won’t come out while watching a grown son get married. Both looked at Lumian Calard with tears welling up in their reddened eyes.

“This much… would you say I’ve done my duty as the eldest son?”

Lumian said with an awkward smile.

Teardrops finally fell from both their eyes.

* * *

“Come to think of it, I haven’t told you the reason I called you yet.”

“That’s right.”

Baron Calard and Lady Calard quickly regained their composure.

Unlike the original Lumian, both possessed strong mental fortitude.

Being happy was one thing, but they had things to say.

Lumian knew this well, so he nodded with a nonchalant expression.

“What kind of matter is it? Is it perhaps something bad…”

“No. If it were something like that, I would have written it in the letter.”

“It’s good news. However, I wanted to surprise you a little…”

Saying that made him even more curious. Lumian tilted his head.

Good news. What could there be in this rural estate that would make him happy?

‘Did they discover a gold mine in the rear mountain? No, it doesn’t feel like that.’

No matter how much he thought about it, nothing came to mind.

Finding his appearance amusing, the two looked at each other and smiled.

“Haha, just moments ago I thought he had grown up completely. But he’s still young after all.”

“Indeed. I thought he would understand immediately after saying this much…”

“Can’t you tell me now? I’m extremely curious…”

“Hmm, alright. I don’t know whether you truly haven’t caught on, or you’re pretending not to understand… I’ll tell you now.”

Having said this much, Baron Calard put on airs.

Lumian unconsciously straightened his upper body.

He had an intuition that something completely different from before, a major event in his life, was approaching.

And this was true.

From Baron Calard’s mouth began to flow talk about a ‘marriage proposal.’

“A marriage proposal has come from Baron Carayan’s house. Nack Carayan, that gentleman wants to marry his daughter to you.”

“…”

“Haha, you rascal. You’re finally making a dumbfounded expression. This father thought you had become a different person in one semester.”

“Hohoho. Indeed.”

Lady Calard covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.

However, Lumian couldn’t hear that sound at all.

It was because he had received quite a big shock.

‘Marriage? Me?’

It didn’t feel real.

No, beyond not feeling real, he had never thought about this at all.

Of course, a few days ago Morghen had mentioned it in passing…

‘Me getting married when I haven’t even kissed anyone yet!’

He had only thought this briefly and just let it slide.

Therefore, the current him couldn’t cope with his father’s bombshell statement at all.

He could only stand there with his mouth agape and a blank expression.

“Ahem. Well, I haven’t given a definite answer yet… but I’m thinking positively about it. Carayan is a traditional family that has ruled over vast estates for generations, and Baron Nack Carayan is known to have excellent character…”

“Is that all? The eldest daughter is also rumored to be beautiful and wise.”

“That’s right. I think she’s a match with no shortcomings for you.”

The explanation about the marriage partner continued.

But Lumian was letting it go in one ear and out the other.

Though the marriage partner was important, first how he himself thought about marriage was more important.

In the dizzying situation, he barely held onto his sanity and began seriously continuing worries he had never had before.

‘First… I’m not negative about marriage. No, rather I really want to do it!’

It was sincere. He wanted to get married.

What would be the greatest wish of a eunuch who couldn’t carry on his bloodline?

Sex. And descendants.

Things he could absolutely never do or have.

The institution that could let him grasp both of these simultaneously was ‘marriage,’ so there was no way Lumian would refuse it.

‘But… I didn’t plan to do it this early…’

Anguish appeared on Lumian’s face.

It wasn’t like he planned to go around touching this woman and that woman like his lustful younger brother Morghen.

But without even properly debuting in society, without any fluttering, tingling, or sweetness.

Getting married blindly according to his parents’ will wasn’t exactly welcome either.

‘Of course, if she’s pretty, that’s a different story…’

That was right. Actually, that was the most important thing.

If his spouse was to his taste.

If she was a woman whose face, figure, and personality were all close to his ideal, he could gladly give up Academy youth romance. He could immediately come down to the estate and start married life.

Lumian was that kind of man.

‘But with families discussing this, I can’t exactly see my spouse beforehand…’

Pause.

Lumian’s body suddenly stiffened as he continued his thoughts.

His father’s words that he hadn’t properly heard because he was continuing his worries.

They vaguely came to mind.

Lumian asked with an urgent expression.

“Uh, Father!”

“Yes.”

“Um, sorry but… where did you say the marriage partner was from?”

“Haha. You were absent-minded, so you didn’t hear properly. The eldest daughter of Baron Carayan’s house, Lili Carayan. As I said earlier, she’s very wise and…”

“I’m sorry, Father.”

Lumian cut off his father’s words.

Since Lumian had been confident yet consistently polite, Baron Calard made a surprised expression.

However, Lumian didn’t care. It was more accurate to say he didn’t have time to care.

He urgently emphasized once more with a resolute face.

“I cannot marry her.”

* * *

‘Absolutely not.’

Lumian, who had returned to his room, shook his head and slumped onto the sofa.

He was against this marriage. Even an engagement was absolutely impossible.

It hadn’t even been a day since he had resolved to become a fine child who wouldn’t shame others, but it couldn’t be helped. He squeezed his eyes shut and thought.

‘Against someone who’s such an ugly woman that rumors spread to neighboring estates…’

Even if he heard ‘How shallow, judging people only by appearance!’ he had nothing to say, but it couldn’t be helped. Lumian was indeed shallow.

Moreover, he had actually seen her, Lili Carayan’s childhood appearance, not just heard rumors.

Six years ago, the shock he felt then remained to this day, so there was no need to say more.

‘I see. No wonder a more powerful side brought up the marriage proposal first…’

It seemed that all the surrounding estates knew about her appearance.

Lumian let out a sigh.

“Huu.”

It was a pitiful situation.

He couldn’t even imagine how great Baron Carayan’s worries must be, or how difficult it must be for his eldest daughter.

But it was also something he could never compromise on.

If his heart had been inclined toward the other side, he might have considered it, but if he had enjoyed everything there was to enjoy and reached enlightenment, he might have considered it.

“No. Absolutely not.”

Lumian muttered quietly and clenched his fist tightly.

Intense fighting spirit emanated from his body.

His attitude showed he would carry out his will even if it meant having a confrontation with his parents. Far from being a filial son, he looked like someone who had no excuse even if called unfilial.

But then, someone knocked on his door.

Knock knock knock-

“Young Master, the Lord has something to convey to you.”

“…What is it.”

“Next week, Baron Carayan will be coming with his daughter, so, so please don’t make any mistakes… basic information about the Baron’s daughter… to deliver…”

The servant couldn’t finish what he was trying to say.

Because Lumian’s gaze was so terrifying. He wondered if this was really the Young Master he knew.

He barely managed to deliver the envelope before quickly disappearing from the Young Master’s sight.

Lumian sighed once again.

“Huu, coming in person? This is driving me crazy.”

Lumian sat down and opened the envelope with a complaint.

No matter how much he disliked the current situation, he couldn’t just throw away what his father had given him.

He frowned deeply as he read the text on the first page.

Surprisingly, the first page wasn’t information about the Baron’s daughter.

It was a letter written in his father’s own handwriting.

[My beloved son.

Seeing you rebel against me for the first time, seeing you shout roughly, seeing you glare at me… I pondered for a long time about where things went wrong.

Of course, marriage, or rather engagement, is a burdensome matter.

However, considering that it’s a process you must go through as the Young Master who will inherit the estate, your intense reaction just now was…

(Omitted)

…And so, while reflecting alone on what happened earlier, I realized that I had made a truly great mistake. Now I intend to correct it.]

‘What? Father made a mistake?’

He couldn’t understand what it meant.

Fortunately, the letter wasn’t over yet. Lumian continued reading the letter.

[Baron Carayan’s eldest daughter has changed beyond recognition in the past 6 years. Really. She has literally changed beyond recognition.]

“…?”

[Setting aside all the calculating matters like family power and wealth, let me tell you. The current Lili Calaran is an incredible beauty. Unlike before.]

“…!”

[So rest assured. The person who will be your spouse is by no means ugly. Rather, she’s a stunning beauty that would make all men’s eyes light up with envy…

I was slightly displeased by the brief misunderstanding, but on the other hand, I also felt proud. Today’s incident must be proof that you’ve grown into a proper man, not a child.

As a fellow man, I understand completely.

I’ll end here, and I hope we can face each other with smiles again tomorrow.

P.S. – I’m enclosing a portrait of the Baron’s daughter, so I hope this clears up the misunderstanding.]

After reading the entire letter, Lumian hurriedly looked at the back. He couldn’t control his pounding heart.

And the moment he finally saw the Baron’s daughter’s portrait.

“She’s changed… a lot.”

He couldn’t help but mutter to himself without realizing it.

After sitting there holding the portrait as if nailed in place for a long time, Lumian slowly stood up from his seat.

Opening the window and feeling the night breeze, he thought calmly.

‘For now, shall I meet her?’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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