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“By the way, Agoth.. I’m going to the Imperial Palace this afternoon, so get ready after class.”
“The Palace?”
At the words I uttered during the fight, the tip of Agoth’s sword shook.
Without missing the opportunity, I quickly rushed in to attack. Agoth woke up belatedly, and managed to deflect my attack.
It was a pretty quick response considering she was distracted. Obviously, compared to Leonard or Caesar, Agoth’s sword was quicker and lighter.
“Can Bessie go instead of me?”
“Bessie said she’s not done taking over from the maid yet.”
“But, uh, I don’t know anything about the imperial law.”
Agoth came in, aiming for me, and said. Two swords intertwined like morning glory vines.
“You’re still worried about that? After growling at Caesar whenever you see him like that?”
“I can see his dark side of trying to monopolize my lady!”
“Well. There are many who want me, more than just Caesar, Agoth.”
It can be said that it is the fate of the capable person.
But Agoth still shouted with an angry expression.
“But the emperor has several wives! I can’t lose my lady to someone like that!”
“
 Puha!”
“Oh, the gap!”
This time, as I got flustered, the tip of my sword shook. Agoth sharply dug into the gap. I almost unconsciously dodged the attack and struck Agoth’s sword.
That’s pretty good, Agoth. You know how to disturb the other person’s mind. Wow’ I was really flustered.
“I told you not to hesitate because the attack failed, right?
“Kkagh!”
My sword struck Agoth’s sword strongly. Agoth staggered back and widened the distance.
Kang! Kang! Kaang!
I continued as I waved my sword in succession, pushing Agoth back gradually.
“Look, once you’re out of position, it’s hard to find a gap again.”
“Kyagh! Wait! Wait a moment!”
“Now, how are you going to get out?”
Agoth’s eyes, which were bewildered by my question, became sharp in an instant.
Agoth concentrated for a moment and blew my attack to the side. Hok! and my sword slid into the air.
Aiming for that gap, Agoth rolled around the floor to widen the distance, then got back up.
“Haa, haa.”
Agot had a cold sweaty face and breathed heavily.
“Oh, that’s pretty good.”
I couldn’t help smiling.
Of course, I can’t say no to that.
“You have a habit of rushing in when you see a gap and not thinking about when you fail. That’s why there’s a gap after the failure.”
“Yes
 I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You know that there is no ‘wait a moment’ just because you’re cornered in a real fight, don’t you? It’s just telling your opponent that you’re flustered.”
“Kugh, yes
”
“But it was a good decision to sober up and keep your distance even afterward.”
Agoth’s face, which had been gloomy, was again brightened at the praise.
How simple. Well, thanks to that kind of personality, she doesn’t give up easily and sticks to it until the end.
‘Her tenacity is the best of the three.’
I lowered my sword in a tender mood.
“Let’s call it a day. I have to get ready to go out in the afternoon.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
Agoth answered in a loud voice.
***
Upon entering the Imperial Palace, a palace servant was there to meet me. I followed him down the familiar hallway to the reception room.
The Imperial Palace stimulated a strange nostalgia because it felt like nothing had changed. Only the carpet, the position of the statue, and the type of tapestry on the wall were changed.
Perhaps the secret passage is still the same, the thought of it made me laugh.
“I’ve been waiting.”
Waiting for me in the reception room was Hamilton, with whom I’ve made appointed with. Rowena, who was standing next to the sofa, also bowed to me and greeted me without a word.
“It’s been a long time since I saw you, Viscount. Thank you for the last time, Miss Evergreen.”
I, who borrowed Rowena’s hand when going to Yulika’s birthday party, expressed my gratitude for it. Rowena shook her head with a still expressionless face.
“Just Rowena is enough, Princess.”
After greeting each other, the three of us sat down.
As soon as I sat down, I decided to get into the subject. Because greetings are cumbersome.
“Based on the list you’ve given me, I’ve been attending social gatherings and taking a look at the trends. There are quite a few aristocrats who have enough resources that we need to hook in right.”
I put the organized documents on the table. Hamilton and Rowena looked at it in silence for a while.
After a while, Rowena asked me with a rarely surprised expression.
“How do you get this confidential information?”
“It’s hard to keep all the servants’ mouths shut.”
“The servants?”
“The servants meet among themselves while the young ones meet. I got help from Agoth.”
If you do a separate investigation based on some scraped information, it is easy to find out about the difficult situation or weaknesses that the family is facing.
“Agoth is still young and a girl, so it’s easy to let her opponents off guard. Words leak from there.”
Above all, I too, grew up hearing all kinds of gossip and rumors in my previous life.
Now, I have a wall called ‘Princess’, so it may be harder to pick up rumors than it was then.
“Ha! So it’s like this. It’s not a proposal anymore, it’s a board to hang on to.”
I tilted my head at Hamilton’s inscrutable remark.
“What are you talking about?”
“Now that you’ve come to the capital, how about formally becoming His Highness’ swordsmanship instructor?”
Instead of answering, I just frowned.
The fact that I am Caesar’s swordsmanship teacher has been secretly rumored since the last gladiator tournament hosted by the Imperial Palace.
However, with only rumors, it is steadily flowing into an atmosphere of ‘no way, it must be a false rumor’. Rather, the issue of ‘candidate for the crown princess’ would be more interesting than that.
“It sounds like you’re saying you’re going to tie me up next to Caesar so I can’t escape.”
“What can I do? You’re too good to miss, and you say you don’t want to be the crown princess. So I have no choice but to have you by his side like this.”
Hamilton said with a bitter smile.
I thought for a moment.
It was my intention to become Caesar’s teacher. Becoming a swordsmanship instructor does not deviate much from my will.
“But if you put me in a seat like that out of the blue, there would be a backlash.”
So far, I have never participated in a gladiator contest. I only existed behind the disciples.
Who would welcome a woman whose skills have not been verified as a sword instructor for the Crown Prince?
“Actually, for that reason, I have something to offer you.”
Rowena, who had been listening to our conversation until then, intervened.
“Do you know Elder Ben?”
“Elder Ben?”
I frowned.
One of the nobles who attended my last birthday party was Elder Ben.
He was an old nobility, just like Peresca, who had removed his foot from politics and was locked up in the estate and guarding the frontiers.
‘Even so, I was worried that he attended Peresca’s party.’
As if trying to resolve my doubts, Rowena continued speaking in her unique emotionless calm voice.
“Recently, through Duke Peresca, he has been hoping for enlistment support.”
“Enlistment support?”
“These days, the frontier area is said to be infested with demonic beasts.”
It is not unusual for the frontier to be infested with demonic beasts.
In the first place, the frontier nobles prevent them. It is not without reason that the frontier nobles are allowed to command their own private enlisted soldiers.
“The Elder must have private soldiers.”
“It’s beyond anyone’s control. We don’t know exactly because we haven’t been there yet.”
“Still, it’s strange. In that case, he should’ve asked for support from the nobles around the area rather than my father.”
“He had already requested Marquis Brande, but it seems to have been rejected. That’s why he asked the Duke, who is a member of the Crown Prince faction.”
Oho. He’s upset at the Empress.
“The Imperial Palace has no intention of sending a standing army yet. There is also a budget problem, and the standing army of the Imperial Palace is not accustomed to combating demonic beasts.”
“Elder Ben must be upset.”
I see.
In such a case, if you help the elder, you can attract him to the Crown Prince’s side.
‘It is a great welcome if the elder, who has enlisted soldiers, becomes the Crown Prince’s aide.’
Certainly this is an opportunity.
Did my eyes change? Because cnfidence flashed on Hamilton’s face as he looked at me. He spoke to me in a slightly aroused voice.
“My personal opinion is this: Princess forms a demon subjugation corps to help the frontier.”
“Then it will be a verification of my skills, and we will recruit the elder. Am I right?”
I burst into a short laugh.
“What makes you sure to send me there?”
“I have been seeing Princess since you were young. I just know.”
Hamilton said with a firm expression on his face.
That’s right. He was there at the time of Caesar’s kidnapping. A man who already knows that I have overpowered three grown men.
‘But do I have to deal with demonic beasts until the end of this life? Ah, the thought of it bothers me.’
Why on earth do I have to go to a place where blood is splattered when I was born as a princess?
“Was my suggestion too rude?”
After I didn’t answer for a while, Hamilton mumbled with a sullen face.
In fact, who would dare to ask a noble girl to go catch a demon?
I let out a deep sigh.
What Hamilton suggested to me meant that he recognized me as a sole 'swordsman.” I don’t hate that.
“
 I have a condition.”
“Say it.”
“I will pick and pack those I will take.”
“No need to say.”
It’s annoying, but, well, let’s be positive.
For example, as a teacher, to give the students practical opportunities to improve their skills.
“Of course, including my three students.”
Because nurturing juniors is the only thing I have ever wanted to do in this life.
***
It is inevitable that some people are against this. For example, parents who are always worried about their unmotivated daughter. Nagging Martha and Bessie. And Kegor, the butler with a nice mustache.
“No! I’m against it!”
But you, of all people, shouldn’t object, dude.
Caesar, who received the report on the matter decided by me, shouted with a flushed face.
For reference, Hamilton and Rowena had bailed out. They had said Caesar would be aghast when he found out that they had conspired to get me in. Tch. Cowards.
“Are you crazy? You’re going to deal with those demons? Do you know how dangerous it is there?!”
“Then should we just throw away this good opportunity?”
“I’ll go! I’ll go if you don’t go!”
“Ha! Would it be more dangerous for you to go or me to go?”
How dare you rub your skills against me now, disciple.
Caesar was at a loss for words. But as if he would not step down, he soon opened his mouth again and began to persuade me.
“Why? Helena doesn’t like to be bothered, does she?”
“Can a person live only by doing what is good for him?”
“If it’s because of me, I refuse. I don’t want to do anything that puts Helena at risk.”
“Caesar.”
I folded my arms and let out a long sigh.
“Did you forget? I was the one who promised to make you emperor.”
“But
!”
“But what? You don’t like that I’m taking your place? Do you want me to be only in your shadow?”
“T-That’s not what I meant!”
I know.
Because you know me better than I do.
“Do you want to throw away a chance to see my skill?”
I smiled softly and lifted my chin.
Caesar’s expression became complicated.
I’ve always matched my skills with my students. No one has ever seen my ‘best’.
Wouldn’t you, who had always did your best to face me, want to see me?
“I am your master, disciple.”
I persuaded Caesar with words to which he was eventually forced to surrender.
“No one can beat me.”
That is my authority.
It is my power and crown that no one dares to cross.
Caesar covered his face with one hand as if covering his frowning face. I decided to wait for him to think.
After a while, Caesar spoke to me with a deep sigh.
“Are you doing this to me knowing that I have no objection to what Helena wants?”
“A little.”
“At the scene, we will withdraw if I feel like it’s really dangerous.”
As if this was a compromised line, Caesar told me with a sharp look.
I responded to the tension with a light smile.
“It’ll be great to finish before winter is over.”
It’s just too easy and boring for me anyway. Just a few more boring days.