/
Stefan didn’t know that the appearances that were just cute and admirable were actually flowers that bloomed from wounds.
[‘I’m the one who killed my mother.’]
Stefan mused over Dorothea’s words.
The death of Empress Alice was certainly a shocking event. This made Emperor Carnan very painful. Although Stefan did not see him in person, he was told that the Empress died of excessive bleeding while giving birth to Dorothea.
The blood did not stop, so the bed on which she gave birth was soaked red, and there was blood on the floor of the room, and every time they walked, a sticky red liquid got on their feet. The bloodstained footprints of the imperial doctors and nurses running around made it even worse.
They said they saw bright red blood dripping from a woman’s body without stopping, they saw a helpless emperor next to him sobbing and saw a blood-soaked child being pulled out of a dead mother’s womb.
Someone whispered, ‘It was more terrifying than the battlefield to see the bright red blood in the gorgeous palace, the empress’s room.’
The doctor managed to bring the dying child back to life in a sea of blood, but in the end, Carnan’s hands tried to cut her throat.
But it was a story that had to end on the adult line. Dorothea doesn’t need to know how terrible it was.
Even if it ends with ‘My mother died when I was young’, it’s painful enough.
‘But what kind of person even said such a thing to the princess
?’
‘The princess has lived with such thoughts.’
Stefan stopped sharpening his sword for a moment and looked at the sharply shining blade.
A blunt, Silent man appeared above the silver blade.
A man who knows Dorothea’s true feelings and wounds but remains silent.
Indeed, he was too silent to heal Dorothea’s wounds. It was his old complex.
‘I always try to talk, but I can’t come up with the right words.’
Stefan think It would be nice if he could say a nice word to the young lady when she was feeling a little daunted by such thoughts.
‘What should I say? if I say something wrong and it hurts the princess more.’
It’s like while he was choosing a horse in agony, time did not wait for him and ran first.
‘Why is my body so fast, but my mouth is so slow
’
Stefan was always in trouble.
Stefan raised his head when he felt something.
There was someone at the door. He got up with the sword and opened the door, and someone fled behind the dawn light.
“
.”
Stefan followed the fugitive. Soon, he gently grabbed the fugitive’s neck. The one in his hand was a potato, no, It was Joy.
It was the child Dorothea had brought.
“I heard a strange sound from early in the morning!”
Joy was caught in Stefan’s huge hand and struggled to escape.
‘This is the third time
.’
Yesterday and the day before, Joy was also spying on him, sharpening his sword.
‘I tried to ignore it, but I was still concerned.’
Eventually, Stefan grabbed Joy and hugged her. Joy clung to Stefan’s shoulder like a drooping blanket of laundry.
“What, what!”
Joey was caught in his arms and floundering her limbs, but Stefan returned to his sword-forging position and sat him on a rusted anvil.
Stefan tied Joy tightly once with black eyes. ‘Don’t spy, come close and sit comfortably and watch.’
After passing a silent glance, he began to sharpen the sword that he had not sharpened before. The sound of the metal grinding was repeated at a constant beat.
At first, Joy, who was looking at Stefan, moved her hips slowly when Stefan didn’t say anything, took a comfortable seat, and watched.
“hey, how to become a knight?”
Joy, who was watching quietly, asked.
Stefan paused for a moment and glanced at Joy, then sharpened his sword again without answering.
It wasn’t because Stefan didn’t want to explain it to Joy, so he didn’t answer. There are so many different ways to become a knight and to explain it, you have to say lengthy and long sentences, but Stefan didn’t have that skill.
As he spoke, he would gibberish and stutter, and he might convey something different from the truth.
Fortunately, Joy didn’t seem to expect much from Stephan’s answer.  Because she knows Stefan usually doesn’t have a word.
“If I become a knight, people will look at me nicely! Ah, I want to be a knight too~ If I swing a nice and expensive sword, no one will be able to attack me! Then I would protect the Po and make a lot of money.”
Joy quietly chatted to herself next to Stefan sharpening his knife.
“I’m not a noble, can’t I be a knight?”
After talking for a while, Joy smiled shyly.
It is said that even ordinary people can become knights, but it was almost impossible for ordinary people to survive among the nobles who had a good sword and learned from an excellent teacher from the beginning.
“Huft, I am lucky to have come to this palace as a servant.”
At Joy’s words, the sound of a knife sharpening at a constant beat stopped.
Stefan looked at Joy with black eyes. Joy kept her mouth shut, wondering if it was because she was talking too much.
Then.
“Do you want to be a knight?”
Stefan’s words surprised Joy.
‘You can speak!’
Joy’s surprise turned into pleasure.
“Sure! That’s cool!”
‘If I become a knight, I will have nothing to be afraid of!’
“
.”
“If you become a knight, you have to do things that are life-threatening.”
Joy smiled at Stefan’s eyes and read his words.
Stefan didn’t mean it like that, but that was what he wanted to say to Joy, so Stefan stayed still.
“But still, it’s better than being dragged into a mine and suffocating, isn’t it?”
Joy shrugged.
“If I have to do something to die for, I want to die doing something nicer!”
“
.”
“And if I become a knight, won’t I be able to repay the princess for my favor? I can’t be very rich, but if I’m strong
”
Joey lifted her head and looked at the sky outside the window.
A few days ago, after the incident that soiled Dorothea’s handkerchief, Joey thought she might be kicked out.
Dorothea looked very angry that day.
But that evening, Dorothea called Joy and Po to forgive them.
[From now on, don’t touch things recklessly. Also, it’s okay to not have to bring snacks.]
Po, who had been nervous all day, burst into tears and hugged Dorothea, who comforted Po.
Joy admired Dorothea like that.
“Honestly, how can a kid like me repay the princess for kindness?”
Joy sighed.
‘I have received much, but I have nothing to give. No money, no skills
’
Even if Joy gives the wealth she has accumulated throughout her life, it wouldn’t be something big for the princess.
Stefan shut his mouth and looked at the sullen Joey.
* * *
“Do you have something to say, Stefan?”
Stefan’s eyes were different from usual, Dorothea asked.
Stefan nodded.
“I can’t believe Stefan has something to say to me first.”
Dorothy smiled and made eye contact with Stefan as if to do it.
Then Stefan rolled his lips inward and bit them, hesitating, then slowly opened them.
“Joy
Can I teach her?”
“Joy?”
It was an unexpected suggestion.
Of course, it wasn’t bad for Dorothea.
Recently, after having Joy and Po separate the letters, she was teaching them various things with a book, but unlike Po, who was interested, Joey was forced to study. She endures without being annoyed because Dorothea said she has to do it, but it is natural for her to lose concentration.
Rather, it was better for Joy to use her body.
‘So, I think it would be good if Stefan could teach Joy how to use swords and how to use her body.’
“Can you handle it, Stefan?”
Dorothea was worried about Stefan. This is because the unspeakable Stefan and the active Joy seemed to be opposites.
But Stefan nodded.
Dorothea smiled at him.
“Then do it. My escort can be free for a few hours.”
“
.”
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“The Princess
 wouldn’t you like to train your swordsmanship? ”
Stefan asked.
Dorothea said that she wouldn’t do swordsmanship training. After Hark came and went, Dorothea did not hold the sword.
‘Was it the shock of Nereus’ threat to Dorothea?’
For unknown reasons, Stefan respected Dorothea’s decision. Because Dorothea has been working really hard so far and thought she might need a break.
It’s been a month already.
“I’m still a little
”
Dorothea shook her head.
Then Stefan looked at Dorothea with a tighter mouth that had already been closed.
“Don’t look at me like that, Stefan. I don’t want to hold the sword anymore. I’ve done enough. I’m not going to become a knight, right?”
Dorothea felt a little sorry for Stefan. It seemed that she betrayed his efforts so far. But it’s dangerous for Dorothea Milanaire to get stronger.
The desire to win is more dangerous. Dorothea pretended to be relaxed and took the book, but Stefan opened his mouth.
“But Don’t you like it
?”
Boom, his words made Dorothea silent.
As he said, she liked it. Dorothea felt alive when she grabbed the sword and swung it, and heard the sound of sharp metal. A thrill that she doesn’t normally feel, a joy that awakens the five senses.
However.
“I’m a little tired now,” said Dorothea.
Stefan’s forehead was faintly wrinkled, but Dorothea turned away from him.
Dorothea knew. The reason she feels alive while holding the sword is that the suppressed desire to compete and the desire to win something explode within her.
That’s a feeling Dorothea should never have.
“So now teach Joy instead of me, Stefan.”
Dorothy opened the book, avoiding Stefan’s eyes.
It felt like a thorn had been stabbed in Stefan’s chest.