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Chapter 112. Side Story 5
Mason looked at Sylvia with a troubled face.
“I can’t do it, Princess.”
“Then you’ll get hurt!”
They were only two years apart, and Sylvia looked much smaller, perhaps because of Mason’s tall height.
Sylvia’s black hair, tied high, shook in the air. This was because Sylvia couldn’t hide her excitement and moved her body greatly.
I interrupted the conversation as I scrambled closer to the two.
“What is going on?”
“…….”
“Sylvia, why are you making such a fuss this morning?”
Both Mason and Sylvia looked at me with their mouths shut for a moment. The guards, who were gathered in a circle without knowing what to do, stepped aside with courtesy.
Kwanach stood with a stiff face. It looked like he was under a great amount of pressure, but he was actually bewildered.
The children’s discipline was always in my charge. Since Sylvia was previously confined to her room crying loudly, Kwanach had lost confidence in her discipline.
Perhaps he was afraid to frighten the kids with his rough appearance.
In the end, the roles were naturally divided. If I scold them,  he’ll comfort them.
Sylvia knew that she could act like a baby to her father, but it wouldn’t work for me. She looked at me and said in a voice full of injustice.
“I heard that the son of Marquis Brooks is the best swordsman at his age…… I waited for the day he came to the palace. I’m curious how strong he is, so I’m going to challenge him.”
I frowned. Sylvia’s winning spirit and desire to win were at a level that no one could stop her.
“So, you dragged a precious guest who had just arrived yesterday to the training hall when it’s still early in the morning? What the….”
Mason shook his head and interrupted in a troubled voice.
“No, Your Majesty. The Princess politely asked for a duel last night, and I accepted her request.”
Sylvie clenched her lips and shouted.
“But he doesn’t do his best. This is Mason’s insult to me, Mother!”
“Sylvia.”
“If you were still a little girl I would let it slide, but I can’t forgive your impertinence. You can’t injure your peers.”
Usually, when the knights did the training, they adjusted their strength to match the young Princess. Sylvia had no complaints about it either. She knew she was still weak to deal with adults.
However, she felt like her pride was hurt when Mason, who was only two years younger than her, didn’t use all his strength.
‘Mason must have been in a dilemma.’
Rumors had circulated that the imperial Princess’s wordsmanship was strong, but Sylvia was still a small girl who was only eight years old. Tall Mason might feel like she was still a child.
Besides, Sylvia was an imperial Princess. Mason, though the only son of his family, had yet to inherit any titles.
The difference in status between the two was clear, and he would have been afraid to hurt the Princess if he fought his best. It was the Imperial Palace where he came along with his father, the Marquis, and he must have thought he shouldn’t cause an accident.
“You underestimate me.”
Sylvia couldn’t hide her anger and even her eyes turned red.
Mason, who was facing her, was restless, and hurriedly took out his handkerchief and handed it to Sylvia.
“It’s not like that, Princess. Never.”
Sylvia just shook off the handkerchief and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
Mason was an aristocratic child with a strong sense of affection and chivalry. The mindset that men should not treat ladies harshly seemed clear. Sylvia felt wronged about that.
“Then do it again. I won’t forgive you if you take it easy in the middle like you did before.”
“I was worried that the Princess might get hurt. If you felt that was rude.….”
“I won’t get hurt! Even if I get hurt, I’ll get treatment. And if i really get hurt, I won’t hold you accountable. Alright?”
Sylvia spoke in a huff, and Mason glanced sideways at me in a perplexed face.
I said, stepping back slightly.
“Mason, don’t worry and just fight her.”
“……What?”
“She’s thirsty for a serious confrontation. Please.”
“Ah….”
Mason nodded in dismay.
I turned around and looked at Kwanach. With Oslin, who was next to us, the three of us decided to step back and watch the match.
Oslin said restlessly.
“If the Princess gets hurt….”
Kwanach chimed in.
“Yes, she has training, but she’s still a child. If she gets hurt…”
“Silvia wants that. Getting hurt from fighting. To be a real knight, you have to go through that process. Don’t you agree?”
“That’s true, but…….”
Kwanach seemed to agree but could not erase his worries.
“And those are not real swords. She won’t get hurt too much. Sylvia hates being overprotected because she’s an imperial Princess. You know that.”
Of course, my heart was pounding inside because I was worried that Sylvia might actually get hurt.
However, Sylvia didn’t want to look like a weak Princess who grew up preciously, but a knight who would not care about wounds. I wanted to do what the child wanted.
Soon, Sylvia and Mason confronted each other and posed. Sylvia, whose talent was quick and flexible gestures, moved first.
Her movements were very graceful and sharp, and she was an amateur of swordsmanship. Her black hair fluttered in the air.
“She has grown a lot.”
We talked about how the children had grown up too quickly, but it was different seeing it with my own eyes at this moment.
But Mason quickly caught on to the quick attack and stopped it. Sylvia bit her lips as if she was angry when her first offense was easily blocked by Mason.
Sylvia pushed away the sword that blocked hers and stepped back. Attack quickly by targeting gaps, and use flexibility to escape quickly again. That was Sylvia’s way.
Whenever there was the sound of clashing swords, I clenched my fist.
‘I need to be confident…….’
I couldn’t help being worried. I said, glancing at Kwanach.
“What do you think?”
“It’s too early to beat Mason.”
As for his daughter’s swordsmanship, Kwanach gave a pretty fair assessment.
During several such attacks, Sylvia’s strength was noticeably drained. At the same time, her movements naturally slowed down.
Letting Sylvia attack him first, it seemed that it was Mason’s strategy, and now he attacked.
Nevertheless, Sylvia’s fighting spirit was not lost. Rather, she was smiling. Perhaps she was having fun.
The match ended when Mason pushed Sylvia, who had lost all her strength. Sylvia staggered, missing the sword from her hand, and Mason’s blade pointed towards Sylvia’s neck.
The result was decided, and Mason took the sword back and stood in a disciplined posture.
Sylvia, who stood blankly for a moment and stared at Mason, took one step closer to him suddenly.
“Really… Great!”
With a bright smile and a joyful voice, Sylvia hugged Mason tightly.
“Oh….”
Oslin swallowed his breath. Kwanach flinched greatly and quickly moved towards Sylvia. Sylvia was chirping with excitement alone, while Mason froze with both hands in the air.
‘Oh, my…’
Sylvia had a habit of hugging the person next to her whenever she was excited. She couldn’t control her emotions, so her body seemed to move first.
‘Mason is going to faint.’
It was a very embarrassing situation for a noble young gentleman who had great manners being hugged by a girl.
“Thank you! You’re really strong. Until you go back to your home, let’s fight every day…..”
“Sylvia!”
It was Kwanach who pulled Mason out of this situation, who was as if he was about to collapse.
“No matter how excited you are, you can’t do this!”
“Ugh.”
Kwanach, who quickly approached the two, snatched Sylvia’s collar and removed her from Mason. She was like a kitten being lifted up with her feet dangling in the air.
Sylvia kicked her feet in the air, struggling. Kwanach dropped the child on the floor with a sigh, and stared fiercely at her.
“What kind of behavior is this?”
“What do you mean, I ! Mason, were you uncomfortable? I’m sorry if you were!”
Sylvia stared casually at Mason and opened her eyes wide.
Mason, who had faced Sylvia with sharp eyes during the match, couldn’t raise his head right now. He stammered shyly.
“That’s alright…….”
“Look, he says it’s okay! We fought as knights!”
Mason’s ears were red, glancing at Sylvia.
‘I don’t think he’s okay…….’
The boy spoke in a faltering voice.
“Yes, I’m alright.”
Sylvia looked up proudly at Kwanach and he held his forehead with his hand speechless. And Oslin and I sighed at the same time.