episode_0292

The day after igniting Ethan’s desire, which included my own form of support.

Even though about three hours had passed since the end of the duel with Harold, Ethan still couldn’t leave the training ground and continued to wield his sword. Once again, I found myself admiring the determination of a man in my heart.

‘In many ways, he’s truly amazing.’

Although today’s duel ended in Ethan’s complete defeat, his determination during the duel seemed fundamentally different.

Even when Harold parried his sword, Ethan quickly picked it up, adjusted his stance, and, in situations where he would usually drop the sword, he firmly held onto it and swung it repeatedly. His appearance seemed to be filled with a fervent desire bordering on madness.

Perhaps moved by this passionate atmosphere, Harold also endured Ethan’s attacks for at least two hours longer than usual during today’s duel.

As a swordsman himself, Harold probably knew that training intensively on days filled with enthusiasm like today would be more effective.

…I felt a bit sorry for Harold, who didn’t realize that his enthusiasm was actually driven by lust.

– Swish! Swish! Swish!

“Haah, haah, haah….”

And even after such a duel, Ethan’s sword continued to swing without rest. Despite having dueled for a time closer to dinner, Ethan extended his personal training time.

Dinner time had already passed, but it didn’t matter. I had told the chef to leave Ethan’s meal to me today.

Ethan repeated almost identical movements that seemed to be correcting mistakes made during the duel at first. However, I had a rough idea of what he was doing since a while ago.

Currently, Ethan was reducing the ‘time’ it took to swing his sword in consecutive movements. More precisely, he was practicing changing his stance with faster and shorter movements.

‘When he first started that movement, it took about 10 seconds.’

A spectacle of consecutive movements showcasing every possible movement with a sword. The overall speed of these consecutive movements had been shortened to almost 9 seconds.

I wasn’t trying to keep up with the speed of each movement but merely familiarizing myself with the starting and ending movements. It was almost impossible to keep up with Ethan, who swung his sword almost six times per second.

One might question the significance of changing a 0.20-second movement to a speed of 0.18 seconds, but as these shortened movements accumulated, the overall movement also became faster.

According to the ‘Luminor Academy’ setting, even reducing the speed by 0.1 second in consecutive movements could be a decisive factor in determining victory. I didn’t know if it had such a significant impact in actual swordsmanship. How would I know?

“Haah! Haaaah!!”

“….”

Watching Ethan swing his sword so vigorously, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

If I were in a situation similar to Ethan’s, and if I had received an offer from my father to surrender myself if I won in a duel against him, would I be able to put in as much effort as Ethan?

…I don’t know. If faced with the same situation, I would certainly make an effort in my own way, but I probably wouldn’t be able to go as far as he did.

In fact, now that I think about it, there was really no reason for Ethan to be fixated on me.

When I was young, did I learn the manners of a nobleman because I lost weight due to my anger? It may have taken some time, but it was a behavior that anyone, not just me, could correct.

Was it because I believed in Edan and helped find my mother’s heirloom when I was young? I may not know the value of Tanasia’s heirloom in Edan’s mind, but Edan has already saved my life almost three times, so it was more appropriate for me to consider myself indebted to Edan.

Just because I have a pretty face and a large chest? That’s the most nonsensical thing. There must be countless women in this world with pretty faces and large chests, so there was no reason for someone like me, with an annoying personality, to go to such lengths.

Moreover, I wasn’t even a nobleman until Seraphine started using magic. If I lower my eyes to the level of a commoner, there must be one or two women in Blackwood Territory with a body like Release. Just the other day, the woman I met in the Witch’s Forest, Lara, had a similar body type to mine, excluding height. …When it comes to faces, personal preferences come into play, so I may look prettier to Edan’s eyes, but still.

Anyway, even though there was no need to make such efforts, seeing him go to such lengths to win me over… honestly, it didn’t seem to matter much whether Edan won or lost against Harold in their competition.

I was already a little moved by the fact that Edan was taking our relationship seriously and making an effort.

“I’ve never really thought about marriage in this world, but….”

Lately, I’ve been thinking that it wouldn’t matter if the other party was Edan. Knowing that it’s not actually possible, I quickly shook my head and gave up, but…

As free as I am from social status issues, whether as a princess or a commoner, unless it’s a knight who is indifferent to status like Edan, a relationship between Edan and me couldn’t happen in various ways. Especially, Edan, the illegitimate son of the Blackwood Ducal family, couldn’t waste his marriage on a commoner maid.

Even if I were to lower my pride and enter a position like a concubine, I wouldn’t be able to have the kind of marriage life I wanted due to various pressures between my main family and my in-laws. It was best for me and Edan to meet briefly in a playful relationship before parting ways before it came to that.

“Well, for now.”

For now, it should be okay to act more according to my desires.

At least 2 and a half years. It seemed okay to live in a pleasant dream until graduation from the academy.

***

And so, the next day.

In the usual training ground, Edan and Harold faced each other with their swords for hours today.

As a suspect, it was a fierce exchange that involved using the limit of swinging the sword several times in a second, just following with their eyes.

Such a fierce exchange, repeated over several hours, was the swordsmanship of Edan and Harold, who were divided. Truly the kind of duel that made one’s heart race just by watching.

Not only me, but even the priests and butlers who were watching the duel were focused on the two men’s swordsmanship, holding their breath.

It was the usual combat style, but the speed of the sword was different, and the exchanges were different from usual.

Perhaps everyone present was quietly noticing in their hearts. Maybe, today, Edan might actually be able to defeat Harold in a true battle of swordsmanship.

The two of them had already exchanged blows more than a dozen times in just one day. Both Edan and Harold were exhausted to the point of exhaustion.

And among those two, Harold was probably the more exhausted one. In a sparring match where their skills were evenly matched, the one who usually consumed more stamina was typically the ‘winning side’.

Throughout the battles so far, Harold had narrowly defeated Edan by a ‘hair’s breadth’ every time. No matter how skilled a sword master he was, there was a limit to his stamina when it came to serious sparring.

‘…Just one more round.’

Even if there were dozens or hundreds of losses before, just winning one round was enough.

It was a condition where winning just one round was sufficient, rather than a true victory as a swordsman. At this moment, that alone was enough.

As the clash of their swords began to paint a different picture than usual, a few more minutes passed.

In the moments just before the final spar ended, it was Edan who first struck Harold’s neck with his blade.

“Haa, haa, haa.”

“Huuh, huuh.”

“…Father.”

“Yes, Edan.”

“…Did I really win a round against you, Father?”

“……”

“……”

“Yes, Edan. I have to admit it.”

-Thud.

Upon hearing Harold’s response, Edan laid down his sword on the ground and collapsed right there.

Harold, too, unable to move hastily due to fatigue, stood still and quietly caught his breath.

“Even though you’re my son, to give a round to an expert. I might have to consider laying down the title of Sword Master.”

However, seeing the faint smile on Harold’s face, it seemed that his current defeat wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

Even though the sparring had been dragged out as a battle of stamina, for a moment, Edan had bested Harold. Naturally, there was reason to be happy.

Crossing a wall for the first time is difficult, but it becomes relatively easier the second time. Perhaps, based on today’s experience, Edan would grow even more.

There was no parent who would dislike seeing their child’s sincere achievement. At least, under the assumption that the parent is fulfilling their role properly.

“If you were to give up the title of Sword Master, there probably wouldn’t be anyone in the empire who would be called a Sword Master.”

“Still, a win is a win. Help me walk, Dieter. I’m so tired that I don’t think I can walk on my own two feet.”

“Understood, Master.”

Watching Harold leave with the butler supporting him on his shoulder, there were various strange thoughts that came to mind.

Seeing Harold, who always appeared in the game with unreasonable stamina and combat power, exhausted and on the verge of collapse was truly a sight to behold.

Of course, Edan, who had brought down the monster-like Harold, was lying on the ground in a state where he couldn’t even lift a finger.

“Thank you, Edan-nim.”

“…Thank you, Lillis.”

“You were truly amazing. I wouldn’t hesitate to give you everything I have, even if it’s all for you.”

“Haha….”

“Should I support you as well? Or would you prefer me to carry you like a princess, since it seems like you can’t even lift a finger…?”

“I can get up on my own if I rest for a bit, so you don’t have to go that far.”

Edan looked up at the sky with a smile, his expression so refreshing and relieved that it made one’s heart flutter just by looking at it.