The swordsmanship class, which only had Leonard and I, was lively for the first time in a long time.
It’s not just a class. When we got together, we talked about swords. Since it is a topic that I, who is not motivated to do anything at all, participate passionately, it is likely that the two of them will be considerate.
“Caesar kept hesitating when to hit. Brother only tried to use comfortable techniques.”
“After getting hit in the face in the past, I hesitated without realizing it.”
“What? What kind of ignorant man attacked the face of a man who had nothing but his face?”
“I don’t dare to use my clumsy skills to deal with His Highness.”
“Caesar, fix it before it becomes a habit. Brother, it is better to lose in a mock battle than to die in battle.”
“Kuh… Alright, I’ll fix it.”
“I will reflect on myself.”
At the dinner after class, the two men bowed their heads as if they were ashamed of my criticism.
My father burst out laughing at the sight.
“Haha, our Helena is a very strict teacher. But wouldn’t it be better to enjoy our meal?”
“What do you meanI? It’s not like I scold them that they don’t deserve to eat.”
I said it sincerely, but I guess my words sounded like ‘You two don’t deserve to eat.’
Either way, both are timid.
“It’s okay. Even if you two don’t do well, don’t starve.”
I said with a bright smile, trying to look as nice as possible.
My master sometimes starved me or beat me, but I don’t intend to be such a bad person.
But my smile seems to have been counterproductive.
In the end, the two of them had dinner that night.
***
Perhaps because of the nervousness that he had only three months to learn in person, the pace at which Caesar learned and mastered far exceeded my expectations.
If I teach one, he knows ten. Thanks to that, I had to revise the lesson plan to prepare for twenty again. Damn it.
While I was sitting in the study and making plans for next week’s class, Hamilton came to visit me.
“You are still busy, Princess.”
“Sir. Long time no see.”
I welcomed him. I was relieved because his face had not changed from three years ago, unlike Caesar’s.
“How is His Highness’ skill compared to last year?”
“It’s amazingly improved. I guess the imperial capital gives him a good teacher, too.”
“It’s all thanks to the diligent implementation of the nine-month training plan that the princess had devised.”
Ohh. Look at the sincerity. Writing a training plan is so rewarding.
“I am very grateful to you two brother and sister. You have been a good friend of His Highness.”
“Is that so?”
“They’re not empty words. Here, His Highness talks a lot and laughs a lot just like other boys his age.”
“Huh? Why is that?”
I tilted my head and asked.
Was it that unusual for Caesar to chatter and laugh?
At my question, Hamilton, who was sitting in the chair, smiled as if he was in trouble.
“Do you know what people in the capital call His Highness?”
“No. What?”
“A gray wolf. Someone who bites and kills everyone who comes close.”
Huh? A wolf? Caesar?
He’s hot-tempered and stubborn, but he’s not that ferocious, is he?
“He trusts no one, and he keeps no one by his side. After being nearly assassinated a few times, he got sharper.”
“Assassinated?”
“What? You didn’t know? It is because of the current situation in the capital.”
I didn’t know that.
He never said anything like that.
“Please keep it a secret that I told you this. He doesn’t want to talk to you siblings about this because he doesn’t want you to worry.”
… But really.
It should be obvious even without seeing it.
I can see how lonely and difficult Caesar must have been there. It’s something that I’ve been through, too. That’s why my heart hurts more.
“Nevertheless, his will to become an emperor is not broken. You don’t know how happy and reassuring it is.”
“I know. I’m proud of him.”
“Yes, all thanks to the princess.”
“Me?”
“I heard you promised His Highness that you will make him emperor.”
“But I haven’t really done anything.”
“No. Aren’t you a reliable close friend and best teacher of His Highness?”
Hamilton said with a grown-up smile.
“At first, I was worried about how such a young princess would be so reckless as a teacher, but it was my fault. I look forward to your kind cooperation.”
Hamilton bowed to me and greeted me.
It’s not easy for an old man to bow down to a 13-year-old girl. It could only mean that it is sincere.
I can’t stand being greeted so brazenly, so I got up from my seat and bowed lightly, but…
‘Can I accept this greeting?’
I don’t know the affairs of the imperial family, and I don’t want to get involved. Because it’s annoying.
I just want to appease my boredom and focus on nurturing younger students.
That promise that night may have been said too hastily.
Suddenly, a faint regret came over me.
***
Agoth and Caesar showed no sign of getting close.
The two were blatantly wary of each other and growled when they encountered each other.
Even if Caesar said so, Agoth did not lose confidence against the prince. It’s really the kid I picked up.
“I hate him.”
One day Agoth poured tea into my teacup, with a rare complaint.
It just made me laugh because it was so cute.
“You mean Caesar?”
“I can see all the dark inner intentions of monopolizing my lady.”
You two are saying the same thing to each other. Is it self-hatred?
“I’m my own person, I’m not in the mood to belong to anyone, Agoth.”
“I know, I know.”
Agoth bowed her head with a sullen face.
“I get jealous when the three of you are having a good time in sword class.”
Oh, did that look fun?
Leonard and Caesar are in class every day with a face that says, ‘I’m going to die like this’, but that may seem like it.
“Do you want to learn swords?”
“No, of course I know it’s ridiculous.”
“There is no such thing as a ridiculous thing to me, Agoth. If you want, I will send you to a swordsmanship school.”
Agoth was astonished at my words. That’s weird. I thought she’d like it.
Agoth kneeled in front of me, and clung to me as if begging.
“I want to learn swords from you!”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to add more students. Those two alone are annoying and overwhelming.”
“Can’t I just watch the master while teaching? I will look over your shoulder and study on my own!”
“Um, that’s a bit…”
“I will never bother you!”
Well, I’ll appreciate your motivation.
‘Well, after Caesar is gone, Leonard needs a sparring partner.’
Right now, I’m dealing with it, but the difference between me and Leonard was too big.
Agoth is similar in height to Leonard, so if I teach her well, we may get synergy.
“Then let’s do this. While Caesar is away, I will teach Agoth the sword. If you’re not good enough to fight Leonard within a year, I will send you to a swordsmanship school.”
“Yes, believe me! I will be the servant you need! I’ll be prepared to die for you!”
“No, you don’t have to be prepared to die.”
Agoth was delighted with my permission. I don’t know whether it is out of joy from learning swords or to spend time with me.
‘If I keep doing this, I’m not going to set up a swordsmanship school, am I?’
Why is it that I am reminded of my father’s words that I would get caught up in something I couldn’t handle?
I let out a long sigh.
***
Swordsmanship class with Caesar has also undergone some changes.
Late night after dinner. I summoned Caesar to the hall on the second floor.
Caesar looked at me puzzled, holding a small sword in his hands.
“What? What about the rest of the class?”
“Yeah, so… Every night from today until the day you return, I will be holding a special class.”
“A special class? For me alone?”
“Yes. Because I’m going to teach you a skill Leonard can’t learn.”
I picked up the sword in my right hand and aimed at Caesar.
“It’s a dirty, cheap, cowardly, informal, and mannerless technique.”
A skill that nobles would despise. A skill that no good swordsmanship teacher could teach.
‘This is not something I learned from Master. I learned it myself when I was in the mercenary corps.’
To teach this precious thing without paying tuition, am I not a true teacher?
“Raise your sword, Caesar. This is not something that can be taught with words. Let your body remember.”
Caesar had a bewildered expression on his face, but he grabbed the sword anyway. However, his posture still seemed erratic.
But I got tired of waiting and went ahead and attacked. Confused, Caesar managed to avoid my attack.
“Wh-what! How could you start without any notice?”
“What did you hear, Caesar? I said I’m going to teach you a dirty and demeaning skill, didn’t I? I can even swing my sword at your back now.”
“No, but there is a degree to it! Besides, why do you have two swords?!”
“During class, shouldn’t you call me Master, disciple?”
“No, wait, wait, wait!”
Kang! Kaaang!
The sound of the collision was sharp because we were using real swords. At my unpredictable attack, Caesar barely defended himself.
“W-wait!”
“There is no such thing as ‘waiting’ in a real battle!”
I leapt high and swung my sword down with the force that could break Caesar’s head. Caesar fell to the floor with a bloodless face.
I stood with my feet on the fallen Caesar’s chest, and pointed the sword in front of him.
“Oh, my. You’re dead.”
“Hey!”
By this time, Caesar seemed upset, so he grabbed my leg and knocked me down. Of course, it was only the expected result, because he failed as I turned around like an acrobat and distanced myself from Caesar.
But there is no time to catch a breath. It was because Caesar was approaching me before I knew it.
“Hey, darling, what—?!”
I blocked Caesar’s attack head-on. I felt like my arm was going to fall off. As expected, I’m still behind in strength.
‘As expected, he’s following me quickly. How talented!’
I grumbled inside, but somehow the corners of my mouth were up.
And I saw a maddening pleasure through Caesar’s blazing red eyes as well.
Anyway.
‘Shall we go out a little harder?’
I revealed my life without hiding it.
Then Caesar flinched and stopped. He probably had never faced such a life in his life.
‘But if you stop here in fear, all you will come back to is death, Caesar.’
This is different from a mock battle.
Defeat. slight wounds. humiliation. Life is not kind enough to end like that.
“Haaaaaaa!”
I slammed Caesar’s sword away and stabbed him in the stomach.
“Keuheugh!”
Caesar let out a groan of pain and collapsed. I pointed the sword at his neck.
“You died again.”
“Cough, cough! Kegh!”
Caesar grabbed his stomach and coughed. When the cough barely subsided, he stared at me with bloodshot eyes with resentment and determination. It was a chillingly well-set gaze.
However, it is not enough.
Not enough, Caesar. Speculation alone cannot kill.
“You have to be stronger. Until the only person left in this world who can kill you is me.”
No, more than that.
“You must be good enough to kill me, Caesar.”
“I don’t know about winning, but how can I kill Master?”
“Otherwise, you will die.”
Do you know how I survived and became an emperor among the half brothers who tried to kill me?
Simple. I killed them all before they killed me.
“Didn’t I say that even a cat will not touch a biting mouse? Now that’s not enough. Caesar, you must be a wolf. To the cats who want to touch you, show them what you are.”
That way you can survive.
You can become an emperor.
“I said I will make you emperor.”
Caesar staggered and stood up at my words.
He stood still for a while, then picked up his sword from a distance and stood in front of me.
“Again.” Caesar pointed his sword at me and said.
In the speculation that fluttered in his eyes, one could see, at least faintly, the life that had been squeezed forcibly.
“You have to step up like that.”
I gripped my sword and smiled.
***
I can say with confidence that I had a really good summer that year.
It was an undesirable schedule for me, who was lazy and bothered by everything.
But I have no regrets. Because I think I’ve made Caesar enough not to be killed anywhere.
Whoops, ahh. I was careless for a while and started to live hard again. From now on, I’m going to really just goof around. I will do my best to be idle.
… Of course, this turned out to be nothing more than a vain hope, as something unexpected happened in five months.