Chapter 29

The moment she awakened as a D-rank, her stats neatly rearranged themselves before my eyes.

Those must be the D-rank stats optimized perfectly for Sennia’s body.

“The winner of this swordsmanship tournament is Lady Sennia de Pourlang!”

A knight’s booming voice nailed down my victory, and cheers poured in like a tidal wave.

Swordsmanship Tournament Awards Ceremony.

In the now-quiet tournament hall, Shin Jae-heon gazed down at me with a stern expression.

The throne enveloping him was dazzling in its splendor.

Stern.

But the hunter chat scrolling by in the corner of my vision was anything but.

Meanwhile, the rest of the hunter team was pure healing vibes. If this were Korea, they’d have already smacked Shin Jae-heon upside the head!

“Sennia de Pourlang…”

That’s when Shin Jae-heon finally spoke.

I could see him lounging languidly on the throne, looking down at me with intrigued eyes.

“I was greatly impressed by the skill you displayed just now.”

At those words, he really did seem like an emperor.

Interest soon flickered in his gaze as he looked down at me. Honestly, that felt more familiar than the stern face. It was the expression Shin Jae-heon always gave me.

Of course, the posture was different.

Shin Jae-heon was the type to slump like a sloth unless he was fighting, but leaning against one arm of the throne with his legs casually crossed… it was… incredibly…

The casual “you” slipped out before I knew it. Shin Jae-heon didn’t budge from his pose and replied via chat.

His flex about S-rank core muscles left me speechless.

Was I supposed to live my D-rank life feeling this pathetic?

As I forced a benevolent smile, Shin Jae-heon spoke up.

“One who has the skill deserves treatment befitting it. Now…”

He leaned toward me, propping his chin as he looked down.

“Lady Sennia de Pourlang, is there anything you desire from me?”

Ah, at least signal when you’re joking! I nearly lost my composure for a second.

“The era of House Pourlang has dawned.”

“To show such skill before Your Majesty…”

“But that thrust earlier—was it not far from House Pourlang’s swordsmanship style?”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. A quick glance showed people alternating looks between House Pourlang and me.

And the Pourlang folks looked absolutely thrilled. Everyone except Kikal de Pourlang.

Viscount couple especially so.

Instead of airing the family’s dirty laundry, I’d kept quiet and won the tournament. They must think the Pourlang name had soared.

But enjoy that joy while it lasts!

Bye now, bye!

“Your Majesty, if it wouldn’t be improper,”

The hall fell silent as I spoke.

I lifted my gaze and glanced at Shin Jae-heon.

Then I sneaked a peek at Yian ssi, seated a bit farther away.

‘Ever thought about becoming a holy knight?’

His words came to mind. But my choice was…

“I desire a new name.”

I wasn’t talking about changing “Sennia.”

It was a rejection of the Pourlang name.

In other words, I wanted a new house.

Which also declared I’d serve as an imperial knight, not a holy one.

Sorry, Yian ssi! I thought it over!

No holy orders ban on alcohol!

I couldn’t handle that!

“A new name…”

Shin Jae-heon tilted his head slightly.

His fingertips began tapping the throne’s armrest: tap, tap.

The new house had been promised as first prize when I left the Pourlang estate, but I stated it firmly to seal it.

Behold my presence!

“Yes. I, Sennia de Pourlang, wish not to be heir to House Pourlang, but mistress of a new house.”

One side of the hall erupted in noise. Especially the Pourlang section.

No need to look—their faces were predictable. The viscount couple probably matched Kikal’s expression by now.

“Abandoning the heir position?”

“What is this…”

Murmurs reached my ears too. D-rank must’ve boosted my hearing.

“A new house?”

“No new houses have been established in over twenty years, have they?”

When I left the Pourlang estate demanding a new house, Shin Jae-heon coolly said OK, like buying a loaf of bread at the mart.

Of course, I added a must-have condition. It had to be cream-filled!!!

…No, wait:

He agreed so coolly I didn’t worry, but apparently it wasn’t that simple?

Yian ssi provided the answer.

With the church and imperial family on bad terms, why would they approve?

Plus, a new house meant more people loyal to the emperor, right?

I nodded, getting the gist.

But that was none of my business—I chatted with the pope and emperor just fine.

“Hmm…”

Shin Jae-heon narrowed his eyes, pretending to ponder. I caught the familiar smile tugging at his lips.

The one he wore when we messed around.

But a tyrant’s smile carried different implications.

The murmurs died instantly.

“Very well. Your performance delighted my eyes, so a reward is in order.”

He finally flashed a broad grin.

“Considering this is the imperial family’s first swordsmanship tournament, your exceptional skill, and how you’ve blazed a new path distinct from traditional styles…”

New path—probably referring to the afterimage skill.

True, it wasn’t Pourlang’s original swordsmanship.

“At the victory banquet soon to come, I shall bestow the title of countess upon Lady Sennia.”

The moment the words left his mouth, a man in pristine white robes next to him jumped forward.

Not from Yian ssi’s side, so not church.

Who was this guy?

The man, with the imperial crest boldly emblazoned on his chest, prostrated himself before Shin Jae-heon.

“Your Majesty, granting such a major title as countess so suddenly—it’s still—”

“Ceremony Officer?”

Shin Jae-heon cut him off.

Ah, the ceremony officer.

Sennia’s knowledge informed me he oversaw imperial rites and even had a hand in new title bestowals.

“…”

Cut off, the officer choked like something was lodged in his throat.

Crushed by S-rank pressure, no doubt.

“Then you,”

Shin Jae-heon said slowly,

“will entertain my eyes?”

The officer just trembled. He finally managed,

“Y-Yes, but new titles require church approval. The church’s stance is still…”

“I’ll handle that.”

Shin Jae-heon waved him off—dismissed.

The poor non-awakened ceremony officer retreated.

No wonder he feels like a real emperor.

Seizing the confused moment, I looked up at Shin Jae-heon.

Sennia’s knowledge warned against meeting the emperor’s eyes, but a quick glance wouldn’t hurt if I wasn’t caught.

His chilling gaze met mine and softened instantly.

The playful Shin Jae-heon I knew.

Of course, only for a moment—his face hardened again as he spoke.

“With that, the swordsmanship tournament concludes.”

He rose from his seat.

I caught sight of his long black lashes casting a cool shadow.

Oh…

Acting tough, huh, you punk.

After the Swordsmanship Tournament.

Sneers spread among the nobles.

“Wasn’t she bedridden for ages?”

“Even a talented lady is still just a child.”

The nobles figured a mere viscount’s daughter didn’t grasp church-imperial dynamics and made an absurd request.

“The church would never permit a new noble house.”

That was the general consensus. None dared voice it before the emperor, of course.

But that didn’t mean the words didn’t reach Shin Jae-heon’s ears.

“Those loose tongues sure love to wag.”

He gestured to the knight relaying the gossip—dismissed.

His thoughts turned to Shin Yuri.

She’d be in the dressing room by now.

Since she’d stormed out of House Pourlang so dramatically, no maids followed, so he’d sent imperial ones.

Might as well procure servants for her future countess house too.

Hiring elsewhere risked noble spies.

“Stinks of rot, reeks of rot.”

He muttered.

As a frontline gate dealer, he hated meddling in politics—emperor didn’t suit him.

But sometimes it was convenient.

Like now.

Click.

Lost in thought, Shin Jae-heon reached the dressing room and chuckled softly.

Shin Yuri’s voice came from inside.

“Ah, thanks for the help.”

Unlike her polite tone, the hunter chat showed her complaints.

Shin Jae-heon snorted a laugh.

When they first entered the RP dungeon, he’d only thought about killing the hunter association scum.

Especially upon hearing Shin Yuri had possessed a terminally ill lady.

But realizing they couldn’t leave until cleared shifted his mindset.

First to catch his eye was Shin Yuri’s new look.

Her, who always sliced through chaos unflinchingly with her sword, bound by RP dungeon constraints.

He panicked at first too.

But realizing he had the power to protect her changed things.

Click.

Then the dressing room door opened.

Through the gap, he saw her in a pure white dress.

Not as ornate or long as noble ladies’ gowns.

A light, knee-length, active dress.

Silver accents here and there added a touch of formality.

“…!”

The startled maids bowed to Shin Jae-heon. He waved them all away.

Instantly, just the two of them in the hall.

“How’s it look?”

Shin Yuri spun before him with a twirl.

The usual department store shopping move.

“…”

Shin Jae-heon raised an eyebrow.

Familiar face, familiar person—why did his heart feel so strangely new?

Her black hair lifted slightly with the spin, then settled on her shoulders.

Through it, her confident dark brown eyes—pure her—looked up at him.

Ah.

Shin Jae-heon couldn’t tear his gaze from those eyes.

Oddly, he fixated on how they mirrored him like a looking glass.

That look—only seen at imperial banquets.

A new side of her.

He wished for a spell to freeze time right then.

The banquet ends, and she’ll head to her new territory. New title and all.

Far away again.

I hate that.

The thought hit him abruptly; he furrowed his brow.

“Boiled squid? You thinking it too?”

Shin Yuri’s words snapped him back. He replied on reflex.

“Nah, sesame oil and salt for me.”

“Ugh.”