Grand Duke's Beloved Granddaughter

Even though Elliot held a sword, he seemed unable to focus on the duel.

I could tell from his expression that he didn’t want to duel with me. Well, from Elliot’s perspective, Brian’s suggestion must have felt out of the blue, so it was understandable.

I glanced at Brian for a moment, then shifted my gaze back to Elliot.

Brian seemed to realize that the reason I almost fell during the duel with Adrian wasn’t simply because of a misstep.

That must be why he told Elliot to spar with me.

Adrian was still young and inexperienced, so it worked in my favor. If it had been someone skilled in swordsmanship, I might have been the one under attack.

There was no way someone as skilled as Brian would overlook such a sloppy trick.

In a way, it was fortunate. Although it had been beneficial to start from the basics and learn properly, what I wanted from Brian was a path to further development based on my current state.

If I did my best against Elliot now, wouldn’t Brian also reassess my current abilities?

“Mirabel, you go first.”

Elliot, who had been continuously observing me, spoke to me. It was a gesture of concession.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Of course.”

Elliot replied with confidence. I silently praised his high self-esteem and took a step forward towards him.

The tip of the sword I held aimed for Elliot’s left neck. As he stepped back and leaned his body backward, he evaded my sword. At the same time, he stepped forward again and swung his sword horizontally. Although his sword came dangerously close to me, I withdrew my extended sword and blocked his attack.

“Ugh!”

However, Elliot’s strength seemed stronger than I had anticipated. I could feel the impact transmitted through my hand holding the sword, and my muscles felt strained.

Despite that, I didn’t let go of the sword and pushed Elliot back using my whole body. As a result, Elliot took a few steps back, staring at me with wide eyes.

“Mirabel, you…”

“Elliot, do your best since you’re already here.”

I smiled at him, trying to reassure him in his moment of confusion.

Elliot seemed reluctant to spar with me before, and he didn’t seem to have a serious intention to compete, knowing that I had only started holding a sword three days ago.

But now, it was different.

Just from a single exchange, it was clear.

I wasn’t just an inexperienced beginner swinging a sword for three days.

In order for Brian to see my true abilities, Elliot needed to genuinely spar with me.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to showcase my skills either.

However, there was a slight unease in the back of my mind. Elliot’s strength was heavier and stronger than I had imagined.

It might be too much for a young me to handle.

“Well, this time, I’m serious. Be careful.”

After stepping back, Elliot changed his stance. Unlike before, when he held the sword loosely, he appeared serious. Not only that, his expression became more focused.

I adjusted my posture, just like Elliot. Then, I concentrated on finding an opening in Elliot’s stance.

At that moment, Elliot swiftly charged towards me with his sword.

Starting from the lower left, his sword sharply rose. I twisted my body to dodge it and quickly thrust into his chest. Then, I raised the handle of my sword to strike his wrist. However, Elliot saw through it and hastily retracted his hand, causing the attack to fail.

Before feeling any regret, Elliot took a step back and immediately swung his sword at me.

His heavy and agile attack almost made me drop my sword. Moreover, my balance was disrupted, and I was on the verge of falling backward. I quickly rolled my body backward instead of landing on my buttocks.

Although it was an undignified roll on the ground, it allowed me to avoid being defeated by Elliot.

I quickly stood up and moved away from Elliot.

Elliot still stared at me with a focused expression, taking a few steps back.

“Mirabel, you…”

“Elliot, do your best.”

I smiled and spoke to him, trying to reassure his flustered self.

There were reasons why Elliot didn’t want to duel with me earlier, and above all, he knew that I had been holding a sword for only three days, so he didn’t seem inclined to seriously compete against me.

However, now it was different.

Just from a single exchange, he could tell.

That I wasn’t just a three-day novice swinging a sword.

If I wanted to show Brian my true abilities, Elliot had to spar with me properly.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to demonstrate my skills.

But still, there was a slight chill running down my spine. Elliot’s strength was heavier and stronger than I had imagined.

It might be too much for a young me to handle.

“Well, I’m serious this time. Be careful.”

After stepping back, Elliot changed his posture. Unlike before, when he held the sword loosely, he looked serious now. Not only that, his expression became more focused.

I also adjusted my posture just like Elliot. Then, he swiftly charged towards me with his sword.

Starting from the lower left, his sword sharply rose. I twisted my body to dodge it and quickly thrust towards his chest, then raised the handle of my sword to strike his wrist. However, Elliot saw through my move and hastily retracted his hand, causing the attack to fail.

Before I could feel any regret, Elliot took a step back and immediately swung his sword at me.

His powerful and agile attack almost made me lose my grip on the sword. Furthermore, due to my struggling balance, I was on the verge of falling backward. I quickly rolled my body backward instead of landing on my buttocks.

Although it was an ungraceful roll on the ground, it allowed me to avoid being defeated by Elliot.

I quickly stood up and moved away from Elliot.

Elliot, with wide eyes, continued to gaze at me with a focused expression.

“Mirabel, you…”

Elliot let out a startled breath as the sword touched his neck.

“Stop!”

Brian, who judged that the duel couldn’t continue any further, shouted for the duel to stop.

I retrieved the sword that was against Elliot’s neck and used it as a cane to stand up from my position.

Elliot finally took a long breath and raised his hand to touch his neck.

“Mirabel wins.”

Brian approached Elliot, who was still taken aback, and placed his hand on his shoulder as he spoke.

“I didn’t think you could actually defeat Elliot. But it turned out to be real.”

Brian faintly smiled and said to me.

“Oh no, it was just luck. And above all, if it were a real sword, I would have lost to Elliot.”

I still shivered from the tingling sensation in my palm, wrist, and shoulder.

I knew there was a difference in skill between Elliot and me, but his strength was stronger than I had thought.

It seemed I should have taken into account that he had been trained since he was young.

“By any chance, did you learn swordsmanship from Gail?”

“You mean my father?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

As I shook my head and answered, Brian’s eyes widened, then he nodded in agreement.

“Well, it wasn’t systematic, I suppose.”

“What do you mean?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing. Anyway, Mirabel, you fought well against Elliot too. Good job, Mirabel.”

Brian lightly patted my head as a sign of praise.

Then he narrowed his eyes and looked at Elliot.

“Elliot, do you want to lose to a nine-year-old Mirabel, even though you’re twelve?”

As if feeling unjust, Elliot raised his head, then pursed his lips.

“I’m sorry. Does it matter? I would be upset if I lost to Mirabel too.”

With a disdainful voice, Elliot briefly glanced at me, then approached and lightly tapped my shoulder with his outstretched hand.

“Anyway, Mirabel, you’re amazing, aren’t you? I didn’t expect you to grab the sword like that at the end. But now that I think about it, there will be even more variables in a real battle, right?”

“That’s right.”

It was Brian who answered Elliot’s question. Elliot stared at Brian with a resentful look, then turned to look at me again.

“Still, Mirabel, try not to do those kinds of actions if possible. Although it was a wooden sword this time, if it were a real sword, you wouldn’t have any fingers left.”

“Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Well, yeah, of course, it shouldn’t happen in the first place.”

Elliot murmured quietly, took a deep breath, and smiled faintly.

“Next time, be prepared not to lose.”

“I will! I won’t lose either!”

Adrian joined in on Elliot’s determination. The sight of the two children raising their hands and making promises was very adorable.

I smiled widely as I looked at the two of them.

“Yes, I’ll be looking forward to it.”

At that moment, cheers erupted from the direction of the knights’ training grounds.

Surprised by the sudden cheers, I flinched and Brian gave the knights a stern look.

“You guys! Our niece got scared because of you! Be quiet immediately!”

With a forceful shout, the knights’ cheers gradually subsided.

“But, Your Grace! Even though she was up against the Royal Princess, as fellow young knights and considering that she had only started holding a sword a few days ago, how could we remain silent?”

“That’s right! It’s the birth of a genius!”

“If she did that without any training, she’s a genius. Yes, a genius.”

The knights began to explain the reasons why they couldn’t help but cheer towards Brian.

Smiling somewhat awkwardly, I watched them, and the knights started cheering again.

I glanced at Brian with a soft gaze. I could see a faint smile on his face.

However, Brian quickly erased his smile and shouted at the knights again.

“If you don’t return to your positions right away, there will be night training tonight!”

“Ugh… understood.”

The knights and soldiers who grumbled quietly returned to their positions and began swinging their swords again.

“Surprised?”

Brian asked me with concern.

“A little. But I’m fine.”

I shrugged my shoulders, and Brian patted my head once again.

At that moment…

“Your Highness, the Crown Princess!”

A messenger approached us from a distance within the training grounds.

“What’s the matter?”

When Adrian turned his head to look at the messenger, the messenger respectfully bowed to us and then spoke.

“Her Majesty the Queen has passed away.”

“Already?”

“Already? Time is running out. I have postponed all afternoon classes, but at this rate, you may have to continue until dawn.”

At the messenger’s words, Adrian slumped his shoulders.

“Mirabel, then I’m going now.”

“Yes, please go.”

“Next time, I will definitely win.”

I silently laughed as I watched Adrian leave. Brian and Elliot were also there with him.

And when Adrian’s figure was no longer visible, Brian placed his hand on Elliot’s and my shoulders and said,

“It’s almost time for dinner. Are you coming?”

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Translator Note:

This chapter was translated by Bree.

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