Limon fell into a brief silence.
It wasn’t just because of Li Qingwei, who spoke of her own cunning as if it were a point of pride.
After all, she was the Black Dragon Princess.
To the Black Dragon Clan, whose members were experts in intrigue and conspiracy, and whose trade was assassination and sabotage, being devious was something to boast about rather than be ashamed of.
The reason Limon was at a loss for words, however, was the smile on her face.
She argued as if it were only natural that since the elders had tried to sell her out, she could cast them aside as well.
Her face, which had seemed so youthful and innocent, now wore a strangely seductive and erotic smile.
‘This girl is…’
Noble like a thousand-year flower in full bloom.
Dazzling like a phoenix spreading its wings.
The moment Limon saw that smile — more beautiful because it was as chilling as the first snowflake catching the light of the setting sun — he felt it instinctively.
No, he was finally certain of a truth he had vaguely sensed since the moment they met.
‘She has the capacity of a woman who could topple nations.’
The term “ruinous beauty” was coined long ago to describe peerless beauties who enchanted kings and emperors, leading to the downfall of nations.
But Limon didn’t judge her purely based on her looks.
He was assessing her danger.
Just as a peerless beauty could shake a country, she was a vessel capable of overturning the world on her own.
‘I knew she was no ordinary vessel from the moment I heard she’d essentially sold off half the Black Dragon Clan to maintain world peace, but still…’
Was it only possible because she was the Princess of the Seven Dragons Society?
Was it nothing special?
That was nonsense.
Does everyone travel around the world just because they can?
Does everyone pull the trigger of war just because they can?
Does everyone donate their entire fortune just because they can?
While these things are possible, there is a massive difference between the possibility and the actual action.
The fact that none of the previous Princesses of the Seven Dragons Society had achieved what Li Qingwei did was proof of that.
That was the difference in capacity.
It was the power of a “great vessel” that placed no limits on its own potential and embraced whatever it thought possible.
And in Limon’s experience, those with such large vessels never lived peaceful lives.
‘If she were born in an era of chaos, she would have unified the world.
In an era of peace, she could easily bring a prosperous nation to ruin.’
It was different from the vessel of a hero.
It was different from the vessel of a king.
Whether through beauty, charm, strategy, military genius, or scholarship, regardless of the direction, she would exert an influence capable of upending a country.
Thus, it was the vessel of a toppling beauty.
It was a talent that could be a blessing or a curse depending on how it was used.
That was why Limon felt uneasy.
‘But why is she using all that incredible capacity just to keep an eye on the Constellations?’
He was certain.
If Li Qingwei hadn’t been busy plotting world peace, she could have easily suppressed the other princesses and gained control of the Seven Dragons Society.
Yet, she was pouring that immense talent into obtaining just one person: Limon.
It was a staggering waste of talent.
‘Why does she trust me this much?’
Li Qingwei had even found the weaknesses of the clan elders.
Yet, she hadn’t tried to find any weakness in Limon, the one she should have been most suspicious of.
Instead, she had handed over the remaining clan assets and actively supported Limon’s goal of devouring the Seven Dragons Society whole.
He couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking.
“More importantly, how much did you see?”
“Huh? See what?”
“The purpose of the Constellations.”
Limon wore a strange expression at Li Qingwei’s question.
It came at such an exquisite timing, as if she had read his mind.
Despite his unease, Limon answered honestly.
“I wouldn’t say I saw everything.”
If he could have captured and interrogated them, things might have been different.
But given how deep the resentment was and how quickly they had fled, Limon regretted not having the chance to torture the snake.
He couldn’t even be sure if the snake targeting him was its own will or the collective will of the Constellations.
“But I am certain of at least two things.”
“And what would those be?”
“One is that if things continue this way, the Players will surely prosper.”
“And the other?”
“That the prosperity of Players doesn’t necessarily lead to the prosperity of mankind.”
Limon recalled the image of Park Hyun-gun, whose body was taken and whose soul was consumed by the snake.
If that was the price of contracting with a Constellation…
If all Players were destined for such an end once the time was ripe…
No matter how much wealth and glory the Players enjoyed while developing the world, there would be no place for humanity there.
Only Constellations wearing human skins and livestock in human form raised to be their vessels would remain.
“I’m glad.”
“About what?”
“It seems you also feel the need to change the world, Sword Lord.”
“I’ve been prepared for that for a long time.”
“But you weren’t as certain as you are now, were you?”
Perhaps because she had hit the mark, Limon remained silent for a moment before reluctantly speaking again.
“I haven’t decided to fight the Constellations yet. I don’t have the confidence to win for sure ‘now’.”
Limon wasn’t a fool blinded by pride.
Even the snake, which wasn’t a Monarch-class, had displayed power surpassing Lee Cheon-gi.
What if a Monarch-class Constellation stepped in?
What if he had to face thousands or tens of thousands of other Constellations all at once?
He didn’t plan on losing easily, but he couldn’t guarantee victory.
Especially in this Iron Age, where the world revolved around Players, making it difficult to find allies to fight against the Constellations.
“That’s enough for now.”
Li Qingwei wasn’t disappointed by his answer.
Instead, she just smiled.
“If you decide to fight, Sword Lord, then increasing the odds of victory is my job as your supposed fiancée.”
Whether by blackmailing the elders or handing over the Seven Dragons Society, she said with a bright smile that her role was to support Limon.
Limon watched her for a moment with a strange expression, then finally chuckled and nodded.
“Well, since you’ve gone that far, I suppose I can drop the ‘supposed’ from ‘supposed fiancée’.”
“If possible, I’d prefer if you dropped the ‘fiancée’ too and let me call you ‘my darling husband’.”
“Oh, really? Why don’t you just get the marriage certificate stamped while you’re at it?”
Limon asked, dumbfounded.
Li Qingwei accepted his words with a grin.
“I would be grateful if you did.”
“Forget it. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Limon looked at her as if she were a thief trying to take the goods without paying.
He shook his head.
He felt that if he even jokingly said, “Alright, let’s do it,” he would be caught and forced to put his thumbprint on a marriage certificate.
She was a fiancée he couldn’t let his guard down around.
Though, that made her all the more reliable.
‘Hmm, I think I can at least trust her with the wedding preparations.’
If it were anyone else, he would be uneasy.
Given the nature of the Black Dragon Clan, the elders weren’t the type to follow obediently just because their weaknesses were discovered.
But since Li Qingwei was the one holding those weaknesses, he surprisingly wasn’t worried at all.
There was no way she, who had even made Limon surrender, couldn’t handle a few elders.
If anything, he should feel sorry for them.
“So, what should I do?”
Limon asked leisurely.
If she had no plan, it would be one thing, but if she had everything prepared, he figured he could just lend a small hand.
That was, until he heard her answer.
“You don’t have to do anything.”
“…What?”
“Um, to be precise, I’d like you to do absolutely nothing.”
Limon stared at her blankly.
He looked at the sky, at the ground, and then back at her.
Realizing he hadn’t misheard, he asked skeptically, “So, while you’re persuading the elders, you just want me to play around?”
“As expected of your brilliant insight.”
“Rather than empty praise that only a three-year-old or a senile old man would enjoy, I’d like to hear the reason why I shouldn’t step in.”
Limon was a Sword Master — an absolute being no one could approach, a strategic human weapon whose very existence was a threat.
To those who knew his power well, like the elders of the Seven Dragons Society, a single word from him would carry immense weight.
Li Qingwei’s answer was simple.
“It’s because you probably have no interest in schemes or plots, Sword Lord.”
“Is your premise already that we’re using a scheme?!”
“That is the way of our Black Dragon Clan.”
The goal of persuading the elders was to get the marriage recognized.
By gaining their support and then the support of the rest of the clan, she would take the first step toward securing control of the Seven Dragons Society.
Limon stepping in wasn’t a good choice.
Threats through force might be effective in the short term, but they would lead to greater resentment.
Was it okay to blackmail them with their weaknesses, then?
Surprisingly, yes!
In fact, it was something to be admired.
To the Black Dragon Clan, which prided itself on intrigue and cunning, clever blackmail was considered a legitimate strategy.
Conversely, it was considered shameful to have one’s weakness caught.
‘These Black Dragon Clan people…’
Limon marveled once again at the nature of the Seven Dragons Society, which went beyond common sense.
Li Qingwei spoke calmly.
“I won’t stop you if you insist, but you hate flaunting your power when it’s not necessary, don’t you, Sword Lord?”
“…Do you know me too well?”
“I am your bride, after all.”
“Put ‘fiancée’ in front of that. ‘Fiancée’.”
Even as he bickered with the grinning Li Qingwei, Limon didn’t deny her point.
He never hesitated to use his sword when necessary, but he wouldn’t draw it if he didn’t have to.
Considering his own principles, this was clearly the latter.
He had only offered to help as the groom, but if she could handle it alone, he truly didn’t want to show off his power.
Moreover, Limon could guess the part she hadn’t explained.
‘Is this about the power dynamic?’
Right now, Limon was essentially entering the family as a matrilocal son-in-law.
But he had already taken the shares of the Leviathan Hotel as a dowry, and now he was going to lead the marriage negotiations?
To an outsider, it might look like Limon was forcing this marriage by threatening her.
In that regard, it was surprisingly important for Li Qingwei to lead the persuasion.
It would be proof that she supported the marriage herself.
“Above all, I already made a promise to you, Sword Lord.”
“Huh? What promise?”
Limon, who had been nodding along as he understood the situation, looked puzzled.
Li Qingwei smiled.
“I said that if you just married me, I would make it so you could live a life of leisure without doing a single thing.”
“…Were you being serious?”
“Of course I was.”
Since the condition of the marriage was that he wouldn’t have to work, she argued that asking for help before the ceremony would be a breach of contract.
Limon’s expression turned complex.
“I appreciate the consideration, but if I do as you say, I’ll just be a gigolo living off the wealth of my wife.”
“Is that not allowed?”
“Are you really planning to turn me into a gigolo?!”
“You are our secret weapon to keep the Constellations in check. One doesn’t use a trump card recklessly, right?”
“That’s not wrong, but…”
Limon’s expression grew subtle.
Strategically, it was right to keep him — a literal human weapon — ready for use at any time.
But was it okay for him to live as a gigolo after marrying a girl much younger than himself?
To the uneasy Limon, Li Qingwei spoke casually.
“Besides, you’re currently under suspicion of treason in this country. Isn’t it better for you to refrain from public activity?”
“Ah, you don’t need to worry about that.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s scheduled to be resolved soon.”
‘…???’
A question mark appeared over Li Qingwei’s head.
Limon hadn’t just been framed; he had taken the President hostage and broadcasted the spectacular scene live.
Even she, who excelled in schemes and plots, thought this was something that couldn’t possibly be smoothed over.
Yet he said it would be resolved.
It was a puzzling statement.
But her doubt didn’t last long.
“Um… so that means you’ll be able to engage in public activities freely, Sword Lord?”
“At least no one will be coming to arrest me.”
It was a vague, baseless answer.
Nevertheless, Li Qingwei didn’t press further.
As if believing that if Limon said so, it would be done, she thought for a moment and then smiled.
“Then there might be things I’ll need your help with after all.”