Chapter 95 : The Ball (3)

Seila couldn’t believe it at all.

It wasn’t just because of her emotions; in fact, if someone were to say that a person near her had better swordsmanship than someone who succeeded in dragon hunting, anyone would doubt it.

No, looking at how she believed in my abilities without hesitation, I can’t say that her emotions weren’t involved at all.

Seila followed me and Ayla to the training room.

She crouched in the corner of the training room and made a grumpy face. It seems she thought I was completely lying.

Well, technically, I was lying.

In my past life, I was stronger than Ayla, and by the time I was hunting dragons, I was probably at a level where it would be hard to find a stronger swordsman than me in this world.

At the same time, though, Ayla is stronger than I am now, so I can’t completely call it a lie.

Of course, to explain that would mean revealing my past, and I have no intention of doing that.

Flap.

And right next to me, a girl was leisurely spreading a mat.

It was Daisy.

In the restaurant, she had just been laughing as the Empress, Shadow, and Ayla teased me, but here, she was diligently doing her part.

What’s more, Daisy surprisingly seemed to really like Seila, so she was following her around, carefully looking after her.

Like a grandmother, she was granting Seila’s wishes one after another. Hmm, I didn’t expect this to work so well.

I had been worried that Seila might become too spoiled, but seeing her brighten up and gain confidence in her actions, I think it will be okay for a while if things continue like this.

Ayla, however, stared at the two of them, who were casually creating a picnic-like atmosphere, and then quickly turned her head to glare at me.

I lightly bowed my head towards Ayla.

I have nothing to feel guilty about.

After all, Ayla was the one who teased me first this morning.

Now, when the situation turned around, Ayla seemed flustered in many ways, as her face remained slightly red after entering the training room.

Ayla, who had been forced to marry someone she didn’t want to because of the Baron, and since then, had minimized contact with others, still had her pride.

No matter what, she wouldn’t want to disappoint her much younger adopted daughter.

“Ayla.”

I called Ayla.

“Luna.”

Ayla lifted her chin and looked at me.

Hmm, now that I think about it, it seems like her pride was hurt more by losing to me than by disappointing her adopted daughter.

Is it the feeling of being beaten by a puppy?

I raised my sword and gave a light salute, and Ayla moved in the same way.

“Oh.”

And seeing this, Seila, who had almost forgotten her grumpy face, let out a sound of excitement.

It was the sword fight she had admired since childhood.

This was probably the first time she had seen it in person.

Now, how will Ayla respond?

Will she attack my weakness, which Ayla herself created? Since Ayla has been paying attention to Seila’s training, I don’t think she will do that in front of Seila.

And even though Ayla and I aren’t exactly on the best of terms right now, I can at least say that Ayla doesn’t dislike Seila.

She wouldn’t want to show a disgraceful fight in front of a child.

Ayla’s and my gaze briefly turned to Seila.

Seila quickly fixed her expression and made her grumpy face again, but she couldn’t completely erase the curiosity in her eyes.

Ayla and I looked at each other again.

And without either of us saying anything, we both lunged forward.

Both of us were holding wooden swords, but with these, we could still cause harm.

While our limbs wouldn’t be severed like with metal swords, we could still break bones inside, and if we hit the head, it could be a deadly blow.

So, this kind of training might seem very dangerous to someone who’s never seen it before.

At the same time, it’s also very exciting.

Children often come to sword training halls because they’ve seen such movements and were captivated by them.

Swish!

Though the swords weren’t made of steel, the two firm swords clashing wasn’t all that different from real swordplay.

After all, if they weren’t trained, they wouldn’t be sparring at all.

“…!”

Ayla’s stamina is better than mine.

She definitely has more strength.

When two people have similar skills but a difference in physique, it becomes nearly impossible for the weaker one to win.

With such a physical difference between Ayla and me, I was bound to be pushed back.

“Ah, Luna!?”

Seila called my name.

It was clear she was cheering for me.

From Seila’s perspective, she’d want me to win against Ayla.

She often wants to tease me, but the difference between an adult and a child is so large that she’s never been able to beat me.

But unfortunately…

‘Ugh!’

That’s not easy.

Even though I told Seila I was fighting to lose, I didn’t actually fight to lose.

If I had intentionally done so, Ayla would have noticed immediately, and tonight would have been a lot more exhausting.

Ayla was, in her way, annoyed at me.

So, from Seila’s perspective, this match would look like a true battle between two swordsmen.

In reality, though, this duel couldn’t prove that either of us had hunted a dragon.

Neither I, nor Ayla, are strong enough to be called the best swordsman on the continent.

Oh.

However, the glimmer in Seila’s eyes, which she shot a quick glance at, was shining.

The doubt she had towards Ayla was gradually disappearing.

Thud!

“Luna.”

When the two of us were facing off with our swords clashing, Ayla whispered very softly.

“What on earth are you thinking?”

“Because you once tried to teach Lady Seila.”

“……So, does that mean you’re trying to create an opportunity for that?”

“That’s correct.”

Pak!

As I forcefully pushed Ayla away with my sword, she stumbled back a few steps before leaping forward again with all her strength.

Tak! The swords collided, and my palm tingled slightly.

“A maid is overstepping her bounds.”

Even as she said that, Ayla looked a little confused.

“I’m sorry, Lady Ayla.”

I apologized honestly.

“But if Lady Seila is to learn swordsmanship, she should learn from the best in this mansion.”

“The best…?”

I stepped back.

This time, I was the one who lunged forward, but Ayla, unlike me, received my attack more calmly.

“The Shadow knows nothing about swordsmanship. The Empress knows the basics, but her main role is politics.”

Both of them, if they ever needed sword skills, would simply hire someone skilled with the sword.

“There’s also Helena. And the other maids you brought with you.”

Ayla’s words made sense.

Each of them was practically a human weapon. And the knights that the Empress brought along were the same.

But the Empress’s knights weren’t part of our group, so they were irrelevant. And the maids’ true strength was a secret. I had no intention of revealing it yet. They were hidden cards.

“I see.”

Ayla seemed to realize my thoughts and shook her head in disbelief.

We pushed each other away again with force.

This time, when we clashed again, my arm hurt. I was reaching my limit.

“I understand. Well, my opinion that it doesn’t have to be me hasn’t changed.”

Ayla whispered.

“If you dislike it, there’s no helping it.”

“If I refuse now, won’t Seila hate me even more?”

“You probably said that knowing I couldn’t refuse. And you also want me to get closer to Seila.”

Ayla let out a small sigh.

“Well, fine.”

She took a step back and then charged at me with all her might.

I could dodge, but even if I avoided it a few more times, the result would be the same.

Right now, Ayla had the advantage in both stamina and endurance.

Ayla had made that clear to me night after night, and my body knew it best.

Tak!

I tried to endure somehow, but—Ayla’s strike was strong.

My sword flew from my hands, soaring high before falling with a thud to the ground.

“I accept your proposal. After all, I had tried to do this before too. Of course.”

Ayla extended her hand to me as she spoke.

“You will also have to teach Seila ‘properly.’”

As I took Ayla’s hand and stood up, she deliberately glanced at Seila.

“Since I, the master, am stepping in for the honor of the Count’s family—”

“Ohhh!”

Clap, clap, clap.

But Ayla’s words, meant to tease Seila, were cut off by Seila’s genuine cheer.

Ayla looked at Seila with a slightly flustered expression.

Seila clapped her hands, then hopped toward us like an excited rabbit.

“That was amazing! Both of you!”

“Amazing…?”

Ayla murmured in bewilderment.

“This is that thing, right? Where no matter how bad-tempered or sharp someone is, they become serious in front of swordsmanship! Chivalry!”

Ah.

Ayla looked down at her hand.

The hand that had just helped me up.

We awkwardly let go.

“Indeed, everyone becomes serious in front of swordsmanship!”

Hmm. Well.

The swordsmanship we learned wasn’t really like that.

But Ayla and I exchanged glances and silently agreed to just let it be.

“Well, fine.”

Ayla deliberately spoke in a haughty voice.

“Seila. I will train you thoroughly. Even if you say you hate it midway, I will give it my all. This is the path of martial arts.”

“Of course, ma’am.”

Seila looked up at Ayla with a determined expression—well, at least she tried.

“I will do my best! And surpass you!”

Saying something that sounded like it came straight out of a fairy tale.

Ayla’s lips twitched slightly.