Chapter 46

Savior.

Those three words surfaced in Ritren's mind.

Aristine's figure, standing against the light, was faintly outlined.

The spring sunshine seemed to extend from her back like wings.

The only one who could pull him up from the edge of the cliff.

Without realizing it, Ritren reached out his hand toward her.

He was startled by the soft and warm sensation that touched his palm.

Could his hand, hardened and filled with molten metal, dare to touch her?

But before Ritren could pull his hand away, Aristine firmly grabbed it.

As if determined not to let go.

Pulled by Aristine's touch, he stood up.

Her frail arms couldn't possibly lift him, yet he found himself rising, his knees unconsciously gaining strength.

"Here. Isn't this yours?"

Aristine extended a folded dagger to Ritren.

Ritren took the dagger absentmindedly.

The dagger that he had made, nearly cutting his own fingers.

"Good dagger."

Aristine smiled, a dazzling smile that blended with the golden spring sunshine.

Though it was a simple dagger, it fit perfectly in Aristine's small hands, much smaller than those of the Ailugo people.

And the cutting edge he had seen through the Emperor's Eye.

Aristine's eyes sparkled.

'Hurry up and become my employee!'

"Your Highness."

Mukali, approaching her, extended his hand to Aristine.

It was an offer of escort.

Mukali's face was quite stern, and Aristine, looking puzzled, placed her hand on his arm.

Mukali's single eye flashed as he surveyed the surroundings.

The men, who had been nervously watching the sudden appearance of the princess, finally came to their senses and knelt.

"We greet Your Highness."

Aristine looked down at them and spoke quietly.

"I hope you will reflect on who truly tarnishes the reputation of Catalaman."

Leaving those words, she turned and left without hesitation.

The men, left behind, blushed with shame.

They had been caught doing something dirty and cowardly by the most noble person.

'Because of that guy, to Your Highness...'

They thought, but they weren't so foolish as to cause another incident right after Aristine's warning.

The men glared at Ritren with hostile eyes.

But Ritren paid no attention to their gazes.

His olive-colored eyes followed only Aristine's retreating back.

Mukali, escorting Aristine, walked with a menacing aura.

"Sir Mukali?"

Aristine spoke to him, but there was no response.

He only quickened his steps.

Aristine followed silently, but then stopped and braced her legs.

But Mukali, who was much lighter, couldn't hold her ground and was dragged a few steps.

Seeing this, Mukali also stopped.

He seemed ready to speak, but stubbornly avoided looking at Aristine.

"Sir Mukali."

Calling out again, Mukali finally turned to look at Aristine.

It was a movement so rough it could have made a sound.

"With that small body...!"

Mukali shouted.

The Ailugo people were all taller than Aristine by a head.

The women were that much taller, and the men even more so.

Among them, the blacksmiths were especially large and sturdy.

Working in front of the scorching fire every day, melting iron, forging, and tempering, they couldn't help but be that way.

And yet, she had jumped into the midst of such burly men!

Moreover, they were armed with knives!

Among them, Aristine looked like a reed that would sway with the slightest breeze.

Mukali couldn't control his anger and trembled.

He had been trying hard to hold back what he wanted to say.

He didn't want to damage her prestige by scolding her in front of others.

But now that they were alone, there was no need to hold back.

"What were you thinking, getting yourself hurt!"

Mukali grabbed Aristine's shoulder tightly.

Her shoulder, thin as paper under his thick hand, made him even angrier and more frustrated.

Clenching his teeth, Mukali tried his best to release the tension in his hands.

But Aristine, looking unbothered, shrugged her shoulder.

"Anyone who sees me would know who I am. What could possibly happen to me?"

As she said, being of a different race, she couldn't be mistaken.

Her face was still on the news.

"People can go crazy and not see things clearly! Did those guys look harmless to you?"

"Well, that's true."

Nodding and agreeing calmly, Mukali felt like he was going crazy.

"Still."

Aristine said casually.

"It's fine because Sir Mukali is by my side."

Saying it as if it were a matter of fact, with a nonchalant expression.

"Isn't that right?"

Her violet eyes, like the morning sky, looked at him without a hint of doubt.

Without any effort, Mukali felt the tension in his hands dissipate.

"That's... true."

Aristine smiled, as if to say, "Then it's settled."

Mukali looked at her with a confused expression.

This isn't right.

But somehow, he felt good.

While Mukali was still puzzled, Aristine moved on.

"Let's go inside. We came without notice, so we should be polite."

She had rushed out when a loud noise came from somewhere.

Seeing the magnolia tree, Aristine ran, thinking it couldn't be, and her guess was right.

Just as she had seen through the Emperor's Eye, Ritren was being overpowered by the men.

The silver blade flashed coldly.

'I didn't expect it to be today.'

It was an incredible timing.

The doubt about whether it was right to directly intervene and change the future disappeared the moment he saw Ritren.

Ritren's face, eaten away by despair.

The hope that shone on his face when his fingers were saved unharmed.

Even if this incident becomes a trigger for a bad future, Aristine would not regret saving Ritren.

Thinking this, they arrived in front of the reception building of the forge.

Entering with Mukali, people's attention was drawn to them.

'Could it be, really...?'

Everyone looked at Aristine in disbelief and quickly bowed.

"Your Highness."

"We greet Your Highness."

Smiling in response to the greetings, the sound of hurried footsteps came from somewhere.

Bolton, the master of the Catalaman forge, had rushed out, surprised to hear that the princess had visited the forge.

It was quite common for the royal family to visit the Catalaman forge.

But to visit without prior notice?

While he was worried if something had happened, he was also somewhat encouraged.

Wasn't Aristine, the princess, the person everyone in Ailugo most wanted to meet?

"Welcome to Catalaman, Princess Aristine."

Bolton greeted Aristine respectfully.

"It's an honor to meet you. I wish you had informed us of your visit so we could have prepared."

His tone was genuinely regretful, not a backhanded criticism of the unannounced visit.

After all, the forge was always open to guests.

"Please come inside."

Bolton led Aristine to the reception room.

Aristine looked around with interest at the swords, shields, and various weapons displayed inside.

'Truly Ailugo.'

While there were some decorative items, weapons overwhelmingly dominated.

Each one was a masterpiece, easily recognizable even to Aristine, who knew little about weapons.

'The reputation of Catalaman is not exaggerated, then.'

The land of fire and iron, Ailugo.

As the name suggests, blacksmiths, who handled fire and iron, were naturally treated with the highest respect.

Blacksmiths, who passed on their skills through apprenticeship rather than bloodlines, did not form noble families.

Instead, the forges played the role of noble families.

The royal warrant-bearing forges, the best in the land, were led by masters who held positions equivalent to the heads of noble families.

Catalaman was the forge that had maintained the top position for a hundred years.

In other words, Bolton, despite his appearance, was like the head of a prestigious noble family, a duke or a marquis.

"......Therefore, the only place capable of producing the best items suitable for Your Highness is this Catalaman forge."

Bolton said with pride and confidence.

After a few exchanges over refreshments in the reception room, he briefly introduced the Catalaman forge.

In essence, he was saying that no place was better than the Catalaman forge.

Aristine nodded.

"Indeed, I have heard of the reputation of the Catalaman forge even when I was in Silvanus."

"Is that so? I heard that Silvanus prefers swords of a different style."

It was a rather sharp question.

By saying "prefers," he was essentially asking if they were ignoring the Ailugo style.

"Someone with a discerning eye would not fail to recognize quality."

Aristine deftly deflected the question with a smile.

It was a way of praising both herself, who had discernment, and Catalaman, which produced quality items.

'Hmm?'

Bolton's eyes sparkled.

'So, the impression I had of you at the welcome banquet was not a coincidence.'

He smiled contentedly.

'Of course, if you're someone who has won the heart of our Prince Tarcan, you must be capable and wise!'

Tarcan, a distinguished general with numerous achievements, was naturally popular among blacksmiths.

The blacksmiths supported Tarcan like the warriors did.

This was also a background that allowed Tarcan, who had no maternal relatives, to maintain a balance in the succession struggle.

'And for you to come to our Catalaman!'

It was a clear sign of her wisdom and discernment.

"Anyone would think you're smitten with Her Highness."

"General Mukali."

Bolton smiled at Mukali.

"Would you like to see your sword? I'm satisfied to see you still using it well."

Bolton proudly looked at the sword Mukali wore.

The large sword was Bolton's work.

"It's fine. I check its condition every morning and evening."

"If only everyone treated their swords like you, General."

Bolton smiled wryly.

"Oh, by the way, I have a gift for you."

"A gift?"

"Upon hearing of your great achievements in the last... battle."

Bolton glanced at Aristine.

Aristine, understanding that he was referring to the war with Silvanus, nodded to indicate it was fine.

"Since the two countries have reconciled, the past is just a process leading to harmony."

"Indeed, a wise statement."

Bolton was impressed by Aristine's words.

"Anyway, such heroic tales are a source of inspiration for a blacksmith like me."

"Heroic tales, indeed. I'm flattered."

Mukali frowned but his chest swelled with pride.

He didn't mind being praised in front of Aristine.

'I need to show that I'm better than that Durante guy!'

He subtly kept that in mind.

"Based on the story of your victory, I have created something special for you."

At those words, Mukali's single eye sparkled.

A gift made by the best blacksmith, just for him!

As a warrior, he couldn't help but be excited.

At Bolton's gesture, a servant brought a small box.

Compared to Mukali's large build, the box was incredibly small.

It only made him more curious about what was inside.

Aristine also looked at the box with curiosity.

And then.

When he saw the contents of the box, Mukali's face stiffened.

A gold and malachite eye patch lay on a black velvet background.

"General, please try it on."

Bolton said expectantly.

There was no hint of mockery in his tone or expression.

He was genuinely giving a gift to Mukali.

But Mukali was confused whether the story Bolton had heard was a heroic tale or a story of Silvanus warriors mocking his appearance.

It was probably the latter, and he had made this eye patch out of pity.

Words failed him.

His chest felt constricted.

"Here, it's a strapless design, so you just insert it into the eye socket. A strap would ruin the look. I designed it to not obscure your charisma."

Bolton inserted the eye patch into Mukali's left eye socket.

It fit perfectly, as if made to measure.

The combination of the luxurious malachite and pure gold was overwhelming.

Bolton, satisfied, nodded and asked Aristine.

"How does it look, Your Highness? Isn't it much clearer? Of course, you were handsome to begin with."

Mukali flinched.

He wanted to grab Bolton's collar and tell him to stop.

No, he just wanted to disappear.

He could feel Aristine's eyes carefully examining his face.

It was obvious.

Covering that hideous, grotesque scar with such a beautiful eye patch would surely make him look better.

But.

Forget being a husband, I just want to make money.