Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.\n Hizen looked at Leasis with his arms folded. He had not been curious about her before, as he had no need to. So it was the first time he could properly evaluate her body.\n
When he paid attention to her, he noticed she had some physical advantages to wield a sword. She was taller than most men, had smooth muscles, a light body, and big hands to hold a long sword. It was quite useful.\n
However, her posture holding a real sword was very awkward. If she had dreamed of becoming a knight, she would have done some basic training. Hizen asked meticulously.\n
"What kind of training have you been doing?"\n
"I did gymnastics with Neren-nim, ran around the mansion, and fight with a wooden sword…"\n
Hizen's eyes became a little dark when she said 'with Neren-nim'. His voice was also lower than before when he asked the next question.\n
"Was there a gymnastics or swordsmanship teacher at the mansion of the Duke of Armada?"\n
"No. I only trained with Neren-nim. We always trained together."\n
Hizen's expression strangely distorded at the words 'we' and 'together', even though she said them without any particular meaning. He already knew that the two had a close relationship. But why was he so conscious? Why?\n
'It's all because of the macarons.'\n
Hizen, who came to a quick conclusion, struggled to keep his calm. He quietly put his hand on her shoulders. Leasis was surprised by the unannounced action. Hizen turned her body 45 degrees in a composed manner.\n
"Think you're learning self-defense and listen carefully."\n
"Look straight ahead. It's the basic stand-by position. Think of it as a position where your fist can land on your opponent's body at any time.”\n
"So will it land? Spread your legs shoulder width apart."\n
She listened carefully and he corrected her posture. Hizen, who looked at her hands, made a strange expression. They certainly were not a swordsman's hands. However, he could see the calluses positioned equally on both of her hands, just like on his own. Rough skin, bumpy calluses, damaged fingertips. He was sure that she had suffered to death with old dirty work.\n
Hizen looked at them closely. He was staring at her unconsciously without realizing it.\n
As he stopped moving, Leasis asked.\n
"…Ambidextrous. With which hand are you the most comfortable?"\n
Oh. He were amazed by her ambidexterity. Leasis, who found the cause of his silence, replied bravely.\n
"The left hand. But if necessary, I can use my right hand skillfully."\n
It was very rare in the Empire. In his life, he knew no one but himself who was ambidextrous. She spoke as an excuse to his silence that came again.\n
"Ah, um. That's. I used to be left-handed, but now I can use both hands."\n
"Well, the old headmaid-nim said the left hand was cursed. So I usually handled things with my right hand."\n
Hizen could not understand. One was supposed to use the correct hand, whether it was left or right. He could not believe she had been blamed for that. He lost his temper unknowingly.\n
"Who told you that crap? Surely an idiot who doesn't even know the basics."\n
His reaction was more intense than she had thought, so Leasis doubted her ears. She was startled and heard a dangerous voice.\n
"Bring them to me. I'll get rid of that rotten mind."\n
His blue eyes deepened. The beautiful look made her look down as she was about to be possessed.\n
She felt in trouble again. Hizen looked cool when concentrated. But Hizen who got angry for her looked a little cooler.\n
"Listen carefully. It doesn't matter whether you're left-handed or right-handed. A warrior can be strong with a robust mental strength and stamina. Keep that in mind."\n
Hizen, who was instructing her, bent down. He spoke seriously, touching her left foot.\n
"Put your left foot back a little more."\n
"Yes… Look straight ahead like that."\n
He was meticulous as if teaching the knights. Under Hizen's guidance, she started moving.\n
The wind brought dirt on his hands and clothes. She was restless. It bothered her that dirty foreign substances were on his noble hands because of her.\n
He said it was okay, but she did not even pretend to hear it. Hizen thought nothing of it. It was natural to receive some dust when teaching people.\n
"Yes. It's quite good now."\n
Hizen raised his body satisfactorily, and came face to face with Leasis. It was a distance close enough that she could feel his breath. Leasis unknowingly lowered her eyes. A cold voice like a winter wind made her ears ring.\n
It was always magical. As soon as she heard it, her shaky heart became steady. As she looked up, she saw Hizen showing a movement. He raised his hands and clenched his fists.\n
"It's the basics of hand gestures. A warrior is not only good at wielding swords. There may be no sword on the battlefield, and there are many threats of assassination. Think of your whole body as a weapon."\n
Hizen began to explain it to Leasis step by step. His low but powerful voice was stuck in her ears.\n
"Your elbow is useful when hitting an enemy close to you. Arms are also a source of defense."\n
"And the most important thing."\n
Hizen stared persistently into her red eyes. She swallowed a small breath, feeling as if she would be sucked into his clear eyes like the sea.\n
"It's not going to happen, but if you're going to point a sword at someone, don't give the enemy any pity."\n
Her red eyes grew bigger at the unexpected words. He murmured low, shaking his dusty hands.\n
"I've seen a lot of people with eyes like you. Those who don't heal themselves, sympathize with others, and can't aim their swords at the enemy."\n
"They don't live long."\n
Why? His words were too deep to be called self-defense, and an unknown goodwill continued.\n
While Leasis was questioning, Hizen pointed to a tree.\n
"Try to think of that tree as an enemy, and try to do it again."\n
With her eyes shining sharply, she aimed the sword at the tree. Hizen carefully looked at her wrists, the angle of her arms, and her posture. It was not bad. He tapped his chin down.\n
She spat out a deep breath. Then, she exuded the swordsman's energy, making her flesh sting. It was like alive.\n
Hizen ignored lightly the feeling. A sword shone in his eyes. It was a blue sword thicker than an adult forearm. It was the most vivid glow he had ever seen.\n
'Do you know how to use a blue sword?'\n
His expression changed subtly. In the meantime, she moved instinctively.\n
The sword cut the leaves with a sharp sound. Like with Hizen, they were all divided into four uniform pieces.\n
There was nothing more to cut. Hizen's appearance was reflected in her blurred eyes that had lost focus. She held the sword tightly and breathed slowly.\n
Hizen immediately noticed that her condition was strange. He grabbed her shoulder.\n
"Can't you hear me? Wake up."\n
Only then did her red eyes focus again. She turned her head from side to side, startled.\n
She looked alternately between her hands and the leaves on the floor. Her hands were already sweaty, and the floor was full of shredded leaves.\n
Hizen closed his lips. A woman, a maid, had such a tremendous potential. Was it a blessing or a misfortune? How did she use a blue sword?\n
There should not have been any knight from the Duke of Armada that could use a blue sword. Was it not a place that did not even have a basic swordsmanship teacher? How did she learn swordsmanship? Who taught her? With questions filling his mind, Hizen stared at Leasis.\n
She was still admiring the leaves on the floor. He felt thirsty for some reason. It was unpleasant not to know her. But he could not understand why it was unpleasant. He could not explain this feeling other than by calling it 'weird'. He was feeling it for the first time.\n
Hizen could not take her eyes off her. She held up the leaves, observing them as he approached her. He felt unknown emotions flooding in.\n
This woman had managed to get through any difficult situation in her own way. He wanted to see her succeed, but at the same time he did not want to. He wanted her to fail, but he did not want to. He did not know when it had started. All those emotions united into one, creating a strange sense of incongruity.\n
"Count-nim, thank you for your time."\n
When Hizen got his sword back, he slightly lowered his eyes. It was different from usual. The cold sword was warm. It was… it was not bad.\n
"Count-nim, can I ask for one last favor?"\n
After a little hesitation, she took some white paper out. What is it? When Hizen asked with his eyes, she answered brightly.\n
"I would like an autograph, please!"\n
<center><h5>*</h5>\nLeasis' steps leaving the Imperial Palace were light. She headed for Liduré, carrying an autograph in her pocket. She was getting more excited, thinking of Setchen who would like to receive it.\nDing.\nWhen she opened the door, she saw happy faces. Grien, who was counting money at the counter, opened her mouth wide.\n"Leasis!"\n"Grien-nim!"\nThe two embraced each other. She smiled brightly after greeting the employees.\n"Hehe. I'm here again today."\n"Good morning."\n"What about Setchen?"\n"He went out for a second and will come back soon. But is it okay for you to come here this often?"\n"Yes, the Count-nim said I could rest in the afternoon."\nGrien and the employees praised Hizen, saying how good of a person he was. These days, it had only been fun for her, so Leasis agreed vigorously.\nDing.\nThe door opened one more time. A tall man wearing a long cape came in. He stretched out his long arms as if he was in a hurry and picked up a tray and tongs. Leasis greeted him happily from the counter.\n"Hello, you're here again!"\nThe customer paused for a moment and nodded his head. He put macarons on the tray as if sweeping them away.\nHe walked to the counter with all the macarons on it, and began to search his pockets. Leasis immediately touched his hand.\n"The money's fine, sir. You gave me plenty last time."\nHe had previously paid so much that he could now eat macarons for at least a year. At that time, the embarrassed employees and Leasis had tried to give him change, but he had already disappeared.\n"You can just go today."\nHe stopped moving, a little surprised at Leasis' words. He felt like a stranger to the world. She smiled kindly, putting the macarons in a big bag.\n"The macarons we sell are 10 silver coins per piece. In the future, you don’t have to give us twenty gold coins."\nHe nodded slightly. She opened her eyes a little wide as he reached for the bag.\nHis hands were exceptionally large and white. It reminded her of someone…\nDing.\n"Welco…"\nGrien, who was about to greet the customers, took a deep breath. There were two men in black cloaks she had never seen, along with Setchen.\nHeld by a man, Setchen's face was white. Something sharp was glistening around his neck. It was a knife. Scared, Setchen could not say anything. A man spoke in a mean voice.\n"Whoa. I heard the owner of this store had swept all the money in the capital."\n"You… what are you doing to our Setchen?"\n"Wow, you'd better calm down. If you're worried about your son's safety."\nGrien tried to run out of the counter. But she stopped walking when the blade that was threatening Setchen turned red. Blood was dripping out of a sharp wound on his neck.\nLeasis tried to keep her calm and observed the situation. She could see at least two more men wearing big black cloaks over the window.\nDon't tell me these guys are with them. Leasis quickly looked at the men inside the store. But they were still silent.\nShe asked in a nervous voice.\n"Is it the store's money that you want?"\n"Whoa, what would I do with this little money? The key to the safe hidden by the owner of this store. I want it."\n"A safe…"\n"The secret vault in the Netsche Bank."\nSurprised, the employees looked at Grien. Having a secret vault in the Netsche Bank was only available to high-ranking nobles. It was operated on a membership basis and was available only to a few who had been screened. But Grien could use it. As the staff looked at her with surprise, Grien clenched her fist.\nIt was a life-saving money for Grien. It was a secret place where she had abandoned her youth and hid all her life's money. She opened her trembling lips.\n"If… if I don't…"\n"Then this would be the end of your son's life."\nWhen her vision became blurry, Grien breathed heavily several times. Setchen's eyes filled with tears.\nGrien closed her eyes tightly.\n"The key is… under the floor of the store."\n"Whoa. Where exactly is it?"\n"The floor where you're standing right now…"\nThe robbers hurriedly searched the floor and found the key. It was a small golden key.\nThey chuckled, looking at each other. Grien shouted desperately.\n"Setchen... give us back Setchen!"\n"Ha. You're quite naive. Where else would we get such a good guarantee?"\n"What?"\nThe robbers laughed at Grien who looked embarrassed, and ran out of the store in a flash. Grien reached out for them, but they had already disappeared.\nThen, two people ran out of the store at the same time.\n