The Duke's Reluctant Bride

Chapter 67: The Hand That Holds the Sword

Clara's rapier is pretty, I can already see the vision of how she looks with that sword.

For a moment, Clara paused and looked up at Adeline, who smiled patiently without pressing her.

Adeline's brows lifted slightly. "May I see it?" she asked gently.

Clara nodded and carefully removed the rapier from her belt before holding it out toward her.

It was a slender one-handed sword housed within a polished black scabbard lined with silver. Its swept hilt curved elegantly around the grip, forming a protective cage for the wielder's hand. The handle was ivory-white, while a sapphire gemstone rested at the pommel, glimmering faintly beneath the sunlight.

Adeline accepted the weapon carefully before drawing the blade from its scabbard. A soft hiss of steel followed as the rapier slid free. Sunlight raced along the polished blade.

"Ohh... This is a fine blade," she murmured, studying it for a moment as its weight settled perfectly in her hand. "And perfectly well balanced."

Her gaze then found the intricate pattern etched along the fuller, and her expression slowly shifted. Recognition flickered across her eyes.

This pattern... Could it be?

She slowly turned toward Clara.

"Clara," she asked quietly, "where did you get this rapier?"

For a moment, Clara avoided the question entirely. Instead, a playful grin spread across her face.

"No reason," she answered innocently. "Hehe."

Adeline immediately matched her tone, placing a hand dramatically against her chest. "Ah yes, of course. Surely a paladin simply handed you their weapon because you were cute."

Clara giggled before finally relenting.

"It was my mother's," she admitted softly. "She was a paladin. How did you know it was from a paladin, Aunt Adeline?"

Adeline froze for the briefest moment before her expression softened into something gentler.

"Interesting..." she said quietly, her gaze drifting back toward the blade. "When I was younger, I used to hear stories about them."

Her fingers traced along the rapier's fuller.

"People spoke of white-cloaked warriors appearing whenever disaster struck. Like figures pulled from legend."

She paused over the ancient pattern etched into the steel.

"The reason I recognized this sword as a paladin's weapon is because of this marking."

Clara leaned closer, curiosity shining in her eyes. "I see..."

Adeline continued, "These patterns resonate with the wielder's oath. When awakened, they channel a burning light through the blade itself. And when that light ignites..." A faint smile crossed her lips. "Most corrupted monsters don't survive long enough to regret it. A single strike is enough to reduce them to ash."

Clara's eyes widened slightly. "Does a power like that... have a name?"

"Hm..." Adeline brought a finger to her chin. "If I remember correctly, it was called Ludicium Luminis."

She gave a small shrug. "Though most people simply called it Smite. They also said the closer one's will aligned with the oath, the stronger the smite became."

Clara stared at the rapier with renewed wonder. "So this sword can really do that?"

"It could," Adeline corrected gently as she carefully handed the rapier back to her. "Here, let me see you wield it. Though its true power will remain dormant unless the oath acknowledges you, you can still use it as a normal blade."