* * *
Klen, the only one who should be on my side here, had just spoken the words ‘if I collapse.’
However, this was not a subtle command for me to lose.
Klen was suggesting that he should escape from here, as this spar would cause trouble in various ways once it was over.
“Do so.”
He disappeared toward the far side with a composed gait.
Even if I win, if I collapse, it creates a good excuse to skip training.
‘I’ll probably be able to maintain the pretense that I have a chronic illness,’ I thought.
“Is Adrian fine as you are?”
Fabian Hyung-nim, who had been looking at Klen’s retreating back, shifted his gaze to me.
Since I didn’t come here to train, my attire was certainly not ideal for wielding a sword.
The vest I wore underneath constrained my body, and my outer coat had numerous buttons dangling.
The cravat wrapped around my neck was also stifling.
“I’m fine.”
I offered a slight smile.
‘Of course, it’s uncomfortable.’
But it wouldn’t affect the outcome of the match, and it’s also too much of a bother to change.
“If you don’t want to get it dirty, I suggest you change.”
Neser chimed in with his words, as if doing me a favor.
His tone was leisurely, suggesting he would gladly wait if I chose to change now.
Unlike me, he was in the knights’ uniform.
Was he trying to preemptively prevent the excuse of ‘I lost because of my clothes’?
But I shook my head.
“No, I’m fine.”
‘Because there will be no chance of it getting dirty.’
Matching the moment Klen returned after changing his clothes, Neser and I stood in the center of the drill ground.
Since this was a spar, not a duel, we naturally couldn’t use sharp-edged swords, nor should we even possess them just in case. I, too, handed Levatein over to Klen.
The training of the surrounding knights had stopped.
This was not because of an order from Fabian Hyung-nim, but because the attention was so focused that training could no longer continue.
An ordinary spar wouldn’t attract this much notice.
I had completely become a spectacle.
‘Hoo…’
While some were watching with interest to see how this spar would turn out, there were also derisive looks from those who usually disliked me.
I look forward to how those eyes will change after the spar is over.
“The one who falls to the ground first loses. Now, the two of you, salute.”
Neser was Fabian Hyung-nim’s knight, and I was Klen’s wife, so neither of the two could interfere in this spar.
The knight who stood in the center instead of them was as pale as paper.
Clang—
We approached the center and lightly clashed the blades of our swords.
Since this was a practice-like spar, not a formal one, the greeting was brief.
Then, we moved a few steps away to wait for the signal.
“The signal to begin is when the sword points to the sky.”
He drew his sword and pointed the tip down to the ground.
We were the ones fighting, but the man holding the sword was visibly trembling.
Then, he swallowed dryly,
Swoosh—
And vigorously raised the sword upward.
“……”
Neser did not move immediately.
He was clearly confident that he would win, acting completely at ease.
I could have rushed him and defeated him instantly, but he might not accept the defeat.
He might even claim foul play, arguing that he was caught off guard by a cowardly move, despite being the one who was careless.
‘Nothing is more annoying than that.’
Thump—
I raised my sword and immediately closed the distance to stand right in front of him.
And as a price for the arrogance of offering me an opportunity to attack first, I swung my sword with all my might.
Whack!
“Ugh?!”
The waist that the sword struck staggered greatly.
Since the blade was dulled, it wouldn’t cut unless a special technique and force were deliberately applied.
Moreover, I was kind enough to slightly twist the blade before the impact, reducing the damage.
In spite of that, Neser, who staggered heavily, widened his eyes in disbelief that he had been struck.
The sword he had brought forward to block my attack futilely slashed through the air.
‘He did intend to block it?’
His reaction speed was so slow that I thought he was just letting me hit him.
The sound of people gasping for breath echoed around.
Some people stood motionless, as if time had stopped in that spot.
But my attack ended there.
Just as he had done, I stood still right in front of him, challenging him to attack me.
I wanted to add a provocative expression, but I stopped myself just in time.
It would be a problem if a careless action of mine caused a rift between the two brothers.
This, after all, had to be a fair and honorable spar, full of chivalry.
‘At least I must be like that.’
My current action was merely returning the opportunity, as I had received the chance to strike first.
‘How thoughtful of me.’
I was quite proud of myself.
“Kugh.”
But Neser, who was unaware of my kind intentions, seemed to have his pride hurt.
He immediately turned his body and attacked.
As expected of the knight Fabian Hyung-nim trusted the most, his stance was stable, his speed was fast, and his judgment in exploiting openings was quite good.
‘But it’s completely obvious to me.’
The only problem was that the person he was fighting happened to be me.
Swoosh—
I easily read the trajectory of his sword and quickly stepped aside before it could reach me.
The powerful strike once again merely cut through the air.
An opening is always created when an attack fails.
I swung my sword into the gap left by his broken stance.
Whack!
This time, I attacked his shoulder.
He staggered and retreated a few steps, but he didn’t collapse disgracefully.
Instead, as if to turn the crisis into an opportunity, he spread his feet to regain his balance and attempted a counterattack.
“Hah!”
Clang—!
The two swords clashed for the first time, producing a sharp sound.
This was enjoyable. Had I ever swung a sword like this since that time I relieved stress thanks to Klen?
Clang, clang!
As the sharp metallic sounds continued to ring out, I couldn’t stop the corners of my lips from rising.
My body, which had stiffened due to the long period without training, was finally beginning to loosen up.
In contrast, Neser’s expression was completely hardened, and he was frowning deeply.
‘Damn it.’
His lips moved without uttering a sound.
Had he not considered the possibility of being pushed back like this at all?
His eyes suggested he couldn’t believe this reality.
In addition, his lips were so tightly bitten, presumably out of frustration at not having landed a single proper attack, that they looked as if they might bleed.
It would be nice to enjoy this a little longer.
‘Hmm.’
A sense of exhilaration spread through my body, urging me to push harder.
It screamed for me to use all my strength this time and utterly crush this arrogant fellow.
Unfortunately, the time to end it was approaching.
If I kept swinging my sword for too long, I wouldn’t be able to convey the impression of being frail, even if I collapsed in the end.
I stomped my foot hard on the ground.
“…!”
Sensing something unusual in that action, Neser immediately raised his sword.
This reaction was quite good.
However, it was now time to show him that even that was useless.
* * *
