Chapter 9: A Royal Tutor and a Sword Saint’s Legacy

So, a child born of a half-elf and a dark elf would be a pure-blood elf…

Serina, who hadn’t been well-versed in such matters, felt a surge of newfound knowledge.

“What a lovely child Vivian is. Mr. Lynne’s wife must be…”

“My wife’s name is Tiya,” Lynne gently interjected, offering a correction.

“My apologies,” Serina said, bowing slightly. “Madam Tiya must be quite beautiful, I presume?”

A wave of pride washed over Lynne’s face as he spoke of his childhood friend.

“Indeed! To me, Tiya is the most beautiful woman in the entire world. Once we arrive at the royal capital, I’ll arrange for you to meet her, and then you’ll see that my words are no exaggeration.”

‘After all, I still need your status as a princess to gain entry into the Crystal Song Corridor.’

Unaware of Lynne’s ulterior motive, Serina’s face brightened with an expectant expression.

Having heard from Lynne that his wife was also adept at swordplay, Serina eagerly anticipated meeting Madam Tiya, hoping she might even receive some valuable pointers.

“Oh, Serina,” Lynne began, his gaze falling upon his sweet daughter, Vivian, who was curled up asleep on his chest. A sudden idea sparked in his mind.

“Since we’ll be traveling to the royal capital with plenty of time to spare, would you consider becoming Vivian’s tutor?”

“Tutor…?” Serina blinked, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Me?”

Lynne nodded. “While Vivian is still quite young, as the old adage goes, ‘education begins in the cradle.'”

“She currently spends her waking hours either eating or playing, and once she’s tired, she simply goes back to sleep.”

Lynne gazed at his daughter’s adorable, innocent sleeping face, letting out a helpless sigh “Every time Vivian pouts, my heart melts. With her mother away, I truly don’t know what to do with her.

At this rate, she’ll be utterly spoiled! I can’t allow her to live such an overly indulgent life.”

Serina observed the hint of melancholy that graced Lynne’s well-defined features; had it not been for his final remark, she might have actually believed him.

‘All that talk was just a roundabout way of saying he didn’t want his daughter to be too comfortable,’ Serina mused, deciding against calling him out.

“But Vivian is only four years old; there’s surely no need to rush, is there?” Serina gently urged, mindful of Lynne’s status as her savior.

“Four years old is precisely the age to get a head start!”

“Oh? Is it truly so competitive these days?”

Serina herself was still considered a mere child among elves, and she recalled her own four-year-old self as being utterly carefree.

Thus, she concluded that Lynne simply wished to find some activity for his daughter to occupy her time.

‘It’s a good thing my father wasn’t Mr. Lynne when I was growing up,’ she thought. ‘To deny a child play at such a tender age would be truly cruel.’

Noticing Serina’s subtly condemning gaze, Lynne realized she had misunderstood and felt compelled to clarify.

“I believe you’ve misunderstood,” Lynne said, clearing his throat. “I merely wish for you to teach Vivian about world history… I’m not so cruel as to make a four-year-old begin sword training.

What kind of look is that? Do I seem like the type of person who is cruel, strict, harbors unrealistic expectations for children, and then grows disappointed if they fall short?”

“Of course not, Mr. Lynne… I would never think such a thing,” Serina replied, subtly retracting her scrutinizing gaze.

“World history, you say… Do four-year-olds truly need to learn about such things already?”

Serina tilted her head, a bewildered expression on her face.

“Absolutely, it’s essential,” Lynne asserted, shaking his head with an air of profound seriousness.

“Children at this age are brimming with curiosity, and only by understanding the inherent dangers of this world can Vivian be prevented from engaging in reckless behaviors.

I’d wager your next question will be, ‘Why me? Surely, Mr. Lynne, you could do it yourself, couldn’t you?'”

Serina fell silent.

“Ah, well,” Lynne said, waving a hand dismissively, a troubled look on his face. “Truth be told, I’d rather not bother you, but Vivian simply refuses to listen to my stories.

Moreover, a princess’s understanding of world history is bound to be far more reliable than my own, so I’m relying on you… just tell them as simple bedtime stories, nothing too formal.”

“Hmm…” Serina murmured, her brow furrowed. Though she didn’t voice a refusal, Lynne could discern that she was likely scrambling for an excuse to politely decline the troublesome request.

Lynne recognized that expression all too well; it was the same look he’d often seen on fresh interns in the workplace, caught between wanting to refuse an unreasonable request from a seasoned veteran and the awkwardness of doing so.

There was a time when Lynne himself had grappled with such dilemmas, before he, too, became one of those ‘seasoned veterans.’

Yet, compared to those ‘veterans’ who merely delegated tasks without offering anything in return, Lynne considered himself quite magnanimous.

“Don’t you desire to learn swordsmanship? I can instruct you.”

To truly sway a sword fanatic, the most effective tactic was to dangle something they passionately desired as bait.

Just as expected, the moment Lynne presented his terms of exchange, the uncertainty vanished from Serina’s face.

Her emerald eyes shimmered with a joyful gleam. “R-really?”

Seeing the young princess successfully take the bait, Lynne seized the opportune moment to stoke the flames further.

‘As long as the rewards are generous enough, no task is truly impossible.’ Lynne mused.

‘Anyone who has played games understands that when faced with an unskippable quest they’d rather avoid, a sufficiently tempting reward will compel them to grudgingly complete it.’

At this very moment, Lynne was employing precisely that strategy, meticulously manipulating the situation with generous incentives and targeted appeals.

“Of course. While it may not be some exceptionally formidable sword art, I can guarantee it’s far superior to anything you’ve learned within the royal household.”

Noting the burgeoning interest on Serina’s face, Lynne pressed on. “You’re aware, aren’t you, that beyond the Lineage Path, there also exists the inheritance of Sacred Names?”

“Do you know which Sacred Name my Holy Armament (TL Note: A powerful, enchanted weapon or armor) was passed down from?”

Lynne asked, patting the hilt of the dark, longsword at his waist, his voice dropping to a low, resonant tone.

“I… I don’t know…” Serina stammered, her gaze involuntarily captivated by the obsidian longsword sheathed at Lynne’s hip.

“The Sacred Name of the Sword Lineage—the Sword Saint.”

No sooner had Lynne’s words settled than Serina gasped in astonishment. “Mr. Lynne… are you the Sword Saint?”

“Of course not,” Lynne chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m merely the Sword Saint’s final disciple; this was passed down to me by his esteemed self.”

Witnessing Lynne’s hasty clarification, Serina exhaled a long breath, as if a great weight had been lifted.

‘Simply possessing a Holy Armament was already astonishing enough,’ Serina thought. ‘But if he were also a Sacred Name Bearer, I doubt I could maintain my composure around him.’

‘According to Trasil’s lore, Sacred Name Bearers are akin to hidden classes; the formation of their Sacred Names is exceedingly stringent and dependent on fortuitous opportunities, thus making them incredibly rare.’

‘And in this particular timeline, the Sword Saint is still alive,’ Lynne reasoned, ‘so I’m not technically lying.’

Moreover, the Sword Saint’s reputation carried immense weight, and for Serina, who was utterly consumed by the pursuit of swordsmanship, this revelation was an undeniable, decisive blow.

“I accept!” Serina declared, her previous hesitation replaced by resolute determination. “So, even if it’s merely the Sword Saint’s introductory techniques, please… please teach them to me!”

“Then…”

“I will diligently instruct Vivian!”

Lynne watched his target successfully take the bait, and a smile played on his lips. “The deal is struck.”

Having secured a royal tutor for his daughter, Lynne felt a profound sense of satisfaction, and he gently patted Vivian’s cheek.

“Vivian, wake up now; it’s time for your lessons~”

Deep in her sweet slumber, Vivian felt as though she heard a demon’s soft, insidious whisper.