Chapter 35 – Anna (2)
From the time Anna Kroychev was born, she was a snow princess.
His father, Nikolai Kroychev, was also the owner of the snowy field from the time he was born.
“Daughter. Be aware. We are the swords of the empire and the guardians of the north.”
However, Kroychev was not always the owner of the snowfield.
They were once invaders.
“Remember, long ago, when the empire was a kingdom, we were the masters of the north, but not the masters of the snowfields.”
The kingdom became an empire, gradually increasing its power, and Kroychev moved northward.
Their land, which was only a little cold, reached the extreme frozen ground, where the land freezes even in summer.
“We have the blood of the ancestors of the Empire.”
Friedrich in the West Mage Tower, Chepes in the East and South. And Kroychev in the North.
Three great families, each establishing an independent position within the Empire in one form or another.
Nikolai stroked little Anna’s hair.
“Unlike us, Chepes and Friedrich were brought in from outside.”
Anna nodded, though she couldn’t understand everything her father was saying.
It is true that the empire was able to unify the continent only because of those two families, but Kroychev was the Kroychev of Arcadia from the time the country was first established.
“This is a time of peace.”
Nikolai Kroychev lamented.
At the age of 150, he could see the turmoil that had occurred across the continent just a hundred years ago.
“Hundreds of years have passed since we were invaders. We became the legitimate rulers and guardians of this snowfield, and we had to protect this place from monsters coming from beyond the snowfield.”
But.
While stroking his young daughter, the old swordsman continued.
“Now there is nothing left to do. I dried most of the demons and monsters.”
It was a truly peaceful time.
“By the way, daughter. Keep in mind. Even if it is an era of peace, our swords must not rust.”
It had to be the sharpest forged sword of all time.
During the history of the Millennium Empire, they always went to battle in the name of the Sword Saints.
At least to those who wielded the sword, Kroychev’s thousand years were the same as the Empire’s thousand years.
“I won’t tell you not to lose.”
Nikolai had a deliberately stern face.
He was a little girl who knew nothing.
Even though he couldn’t forget the wife he had taken in a long time ago, he was a latecomer from a relationship without love, from a new wife he had taken in for the succession only after he was over 150 years old.
The ruthless owner of the north cared for such a daughter.
“It is a peaceful era.”
I don’t want to burden my beloved daughter.
I thought it would be fine if I wasn’t a genius. Even if the swordsman’s talent, which had been passed down through Kroychev’s legitimate heir, didn’t pass on to his daughter, it would be okay—-, Nikolai thought.
Jung Then, wouldn’t it be better for Nikolai to keep his position until he brings in a son-in-law to see his grandson?
However.
The daughter had a talent.
More brilliant than Nikolai himself.
So, her daughter had to wield the sword.
That was the fate of Kroychev, the swordsman passed down from generation to generation.
“But you must not lose as much as when holding the sword.”
It was his pride as a swordsman.
“It’s okay to lose. But at least when competing with swords, you shouldn’t be pushed back by that skill.”
A thousand years of Kroychev is like a thousand years of imperial swordsmanship.
“It’s okay if you’re not smarter than Friedrich’s Sandnim. I won’t scold you for losing to Chepesch’s crow.”
“However, your sword must not be inferior to theirs. We are the Empire itself, but Cepes and Friedrich bow down to it.”
“When our swords are broken, the Empire will be in disarray.”
The snowfield is cold.
And to become the owner of such a snowfield, you must be strong above all else.
It is like iron smelting. Instead of a hot furnace, the extreme cold smelted the owner of the snowfield.
“Take a good look.”
The Empire called him the Sword Saint.
Sword Saint Nikolai Kroychev raised his sword.
Beyond the snowfield
As if this was the last time, as if all the monsters in the snowfield had gathered, they laughed fiercely at the swarming black shadows,
“You are the next Sword Saint.”
ㅡ.
A sword that reflects the moonlight and shines. Scattered meat pieces. Black magic. Scream of the monster.
The little girl captured it all clearly with her own two eyes.
The blood, the moonlight, and the dark, black magic, all ignored and only.
Knife.
It was a fate that flowed from blood to blood.
“Yes, Father.”
Girl.
Anna Kroychev became the princess of the snowfield like that.
*
“Princess, have you been to the other side of the snowfield again?”
“Huh. Why?”
“Your Highness told me not to waste time. Now there are no demons beyond that.”
“Still, in case you don’t know.”
“I don’t know if Your Highness gets angry, I.”
The princess of the snowy field has grown without realizing it.
He grew taller, and his arms and legs became longer. His skills were also greatly improved, and there was no one who could compete with swordsmanship except Nikolai, the swordsman of the time.
“Come to think of it, are you preparing well for going to the academy? You don’t even know a single central word.”
“What? Academy?”
“… Didn’t you know?”
“… Father!”
When she asked for her father, this was the first time she had heard of it, Nikolai replied calmly.
“We can’t stay stuck in the North forever. You will not be able to leave the snowfield after you inherit my position, so use this opportunity to visit.”
“Why did you keep that a secret from me!”
“I thought I was going to keep it a secret until the day before the entrance exam. Did Sasha tell you? That guy is too.”
“Father!”
“Noisy. If I had told you right away, would you have obeyed?”
When she said that, she had nothing to say to Anna either. As usual, she searches beyond the snowfield every day, looking for villages of demons or hidden, well, rare dragons.
It was all because of Tzepesch’s family name, Nikolai pointed at his forehead.
At some point, when I bought a newspaper from the central government and looked at it, it seemed that she respected the young head of Chepesu more than her own father.
Every time I saw a post about him doing something while traveling all over the continent, the frequency of going to the snowy field would increase.
“I-I don’t even know a single central word!”
“Hmm. Are you good at reading and writing though?”
“Still!”
“Knowing that, I called someone to act as my teacher. It’s only been a week, but I’m sure you’ve already listened to it. I’ll do the bare minimum and have Sasha translate it, so there’s no problem.”
“No… !”
Anna knew very well that the people of the snowy field had such an indecisive temperament that once they had made a decision, they would not go back.
She said she didn’t like it and tried to run her way, but in the end, she only drained her stamina and trudged back to her room.
“Sasha! If you knew, you should have told me!”
“Crying. Of course I thought you knew!”
Anyway.
Even if I’m not good at speaking, and Sasha is with me, it’s okay, but not being able to listen at all is a very uncomfortable problem.
If it’s a really difficult word or phrase, Sasha will interpret it, but it’s just basic listening.
*
“… Princess?”
“What.”
“What the hell is that tone… ?”
“Sensei says this is enough, isn’t it?”
To Sasha’s disdainful attitude, it was Anna who answered with a skillful northern tone instead of a clumsy central one.
“That…”
Sasha, who couldn’t bear to answer properly, went to the Grand Duke and asked,
“What. Does not matter. It’s equality, no matter what you say, isn’t it nominal? It’s okay because there’s no one to say anything about just talking half-heartedly.”
Rather, she was Nikolai who said that if she kept her mouth shut and acted in authority, she would have charisma, so it wasn’t bad.
“Well, the Duke of Chepes is entering the school this time…”
“Why is he?”
The north and the center were far, but too far.
While the entrance of Chepeshu siblings was heating up in the inland areas including the capital city, there was not even a back alley rumor in the center and the north where there were no sources to speak of.
At least, Sasha’s mother had connections with the social circle in the center, so belatedly, only yesterday, Sasha was able to get her information.
“Even the first princess, Her Highness Iris…”
“Wasn’t the princess also originally scheduled to enroll in three years?”
Of course, she had no way for the northern part to know that there was a petition from the Seongguk asking her to finish her studies, which she had been putting off so quickly, since the princess pulled out her holy sword and became a hero.
“… Hmm. I can’t help it. Don’t trust only you.”
“Majesty… ?!”
“What. Those two would be fine. Chepesch isn’t a bit rude, but he’s generous.”
Sasha cried and could only nod her head to eat mustard.
In the first place, with only one day left until admission, there was no other way.
It seemed that she might hate the grand duke who laughed a little.
“By the way, Chepesura.”
“Do you have any problem… ?”
“No. Her daughter would be happy to know.”
Ah…
Sasha nodded her head…
“Ever since I was little, I told you not to get close to Cepes and Friedrich…”
What was contained in the grand duke’s complicated words was the sadness of his father, who had his daughter taken away by another man…
