“…You’re asking me to take a swordsmanship class?”
I repeated as if doubting my ears, but Ian only responded with a look of mild confusion.
“Is there a problem?”
It seemed like there were many problems…
Instead of answering, I glanced over Ian’s shoulder at the expansive training grounds. All around, the students of the swordsmanship department who had been training were now staring at Ian and me, their eyes brimming with curiosity. I could hear them whispering to each other in hushed voices, clearly intrigued by the sight.
Sigh…
I swallowed an inward sigh, but Lady Evermore, oblivious to my discomfort, chimed in with enthusiasm.
“Oh my, what a perfect opportunity! I intentionally scheduled the swordsmanship department first because I thought the Grand Duchess would want to see it, and now the Grand Duke is offering to teach you personally—it would be a wonderful experience!”
I turned my head to stare at her, silently asking if she was serious. Unfortunately, Lady Evermore seemed to interpret my gaze in a completely different way.
“Well, what do you think, Your Grace? How about a brief experience here? It would be a memorable moment for the students if the Grand Duchess joined in.”
“No, I—”
I couldn’t even finish my sentence. The moment she finished speaking, I felt a wave of heated gazes from all directions, full of curiosity and excitement.
As always, people were far too interested in other people’s relationships. Not that Ian and I were in any kind of romantic relationship, but still.
Feeling my cheeks flush, I awkwardly raised a hand to brush my face.
‘This is exactly why I tried to avoid running into Ian…’
A young grand duke and duchess from another country—it was far too interesting a spectacle for the excitable students of the academy to ignore.
“Um, Your Grace, thank you for the offer, but as you know, I’ve never held a sword before, and I’m not exactly dressed for swordsmanship training either.”
So maybe you could take the hint and let me quietly leave now?
I tried sending him a silent signal with my eyes, but Ian seemed completely immune to my subtle pressure. Instead of relenting, he tilted his head and looked me up and down.
“Is your attire the issue?”
“It’s the biggest issue, yes.”
Not the only issue, though.
Ian gave a short nod at my answer and then made a small gesture into the air. Out of nowhere, Kyle appeared, sticking his head into the conversation.
‘Could he be any quieter?’
Startled, I almost jumped, but Ian remained unbothered as he spoke in a low voice.
“You know what to do.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
Kyle turned to me and bowed politely.
“Well then, excuse me for a moment, Your Grace.”
Before I could even protest, he had used magic to transform my cumbersome dress into a shirt and trousers perfectly suited for swordsmanship training. He even tied my hair back into a ponytail with a flick of magic before stepping back.
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo, fairy godmother, is that you? Really?
“…Kyle?”
I gave him a look that clearly asked, What is this? He responded with a sheepish grin.
“Your Grace, I’m just a humble servant, you know that.”
As he rubbed his hands together like a fly and scurried off, it seemed he was nervous about the consequences of this.
Sigh…
This time, I couldn’t suppress my sigh. Ian, who had been watching, offered his hand again, his calm demeanor almost irritating.
“Well, the biggest issue has been resolved.”
Is that really what you have to say right now?
Unfortunately, with Lady Evermore standing behind me and all the students watching us from the other side, I felt far too many expectant eyes on me to refuse.
‘…This is crazy.’
In the end, I reluctantly took Ian’s hand, lowering my voice to a whisper.
“…Are you doing this on purpose?”
“I told you I was planning to make a fuss. Since you didn’t want to wear the brooch, I had to find another way to make it obvious.”
“I should have worn the brooch after all.”
“That’s a shame.”
Though his face was expressionless, I could tell he was teasing me.
With Ian practically dragging me to the center of the training ground, the students who had been watching us with curiosity quickly averted their gazes, pretending to clear their throats.
Unbothered, Ian walked over to a rack of wooden swords, picked one up, and handed it to me.
“…You’re joking, right?”
“Have you ever known me to joke?”
No, I hadn’t.
I obediently took the wooden sword in both hands, glancing up at him nervously.
“Just to remind you, I’ve never even swung a stick before, let alone a sword.”
“I know.”
Ian wrapped his arms around me from behind, his hands settling over my awkwardly positioned ones as he answered in his usual indifferent tone.
At the sudden closeness, I stiffened, caught off guard by the scent that came from him.
“Uh, Ian?”
“Wrap your fingers around the hilt of the sword like you’re holding an egg, and gently place your thumbs over the top. Both hands should be evenly spaced, with your thumbs and index fingers matching on each side.”
Despite my stumbling voice, he paid no mind and began adjusting my fingers one by one, teaching me how to properly grip the sword.
I forgot to even breathe as I clumsily followed his lead.
“Like… this?”
“Yes.”
He placed his hands firmly over mine again and whispered softly in my ear.
“This is the most basic downward slash. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, pull the sword back over your head, and imagine you’re drawing a line from the top of your head down to your knees.”
His voice was no different than usual, but just because his face was hidden and his voice came from so close, my heart began to race.
‘Is he really doing this on purpose?’
The students around us pretended to focus on their training, but it was clear they were openly stealing glances at us.
My face felt like it was on fire. Meanwhile, Ian, the instigator of all this, remained perfectly calm.
“Now, try bringing it down.”
“…Right now?”
“Yes.”
With a short reply, he gently let go of my hands and took a step back. The warmth I had felt behind me vanished, and I could finally breathe again.
Left standing alone, I took a short breath and awkwardly swung the sword downward.
“Yikes.”
I thought I had done it pretty well, but the wooden sword was heavier than expected, and I wobbled on the spot. Ian quickly pulled me back by the waist, steadying me.
“Seems like swordsmanship really isn’t your forte,” he commented dryly, sounding far too amused.
‘You knew that, and you still made me do this?’
I shot him a sharp glare.
“I told you I wasn’t suited for this. You’re the Swordmaster, not me.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
What do you mean, ‘that’s true’?
Feeling both annoyed and embarrassed, I pouted, and Ian released me with a soft expression that was hard to read—was he smiling, or frowning?
“It seems there are things you’re not so skilled at after all, my lady.”
“What do you mean ‘after all’? You’ve been enjoying this whole thing from the start.”
“I couldn’t help but watch.”
He shrugged as if to say it was only natural, his shameless attitude irritating me further.
Then, reaching out to smooth a stray lock of my hair, he spoke again.
“That’s enough for today. The class should end in the late afternoon, so you can head back first. Let’s have dinner together later.”
I narrowed my eyes at him in response, but he only raised an eyebrow.
“My lady?”
“…Fine, I’ll go.”
For some reason, the spot on the back of my neck where his breath had brushed felt warm. I quickly averted my gaze.
❖ ❖ ❖
After the brief tour of the swordsmanship department, Kyle reappeared like clockwork and returned my clothes to their original form. He didn’t forget to emphasize once again that he was just a powerless servant.
Meanwhile, Lady Evermore’s satisfied gaze never left us, not even as we toured a few other departments after leaving the training grounds.
Judging by her occasional questions about our married life, the scene at the swordsmanship practice had left quite an impression on her.
“That concludes today’s tour. I’ll come to escort you again at the same time tomorrow, Your Grace,”
“Thank you. It was a valuable experience. You’ve worked hard.”
“Shall I escort you to the main gate?”
“No need. I’ll take a leisurely stroll back.”
“As you wish. Then, I’ll take my leave.”
Lady Evermore gave a polite bow and turned back the way we came. Watching her leave, I too began walking slowly.
The Biblos Academy, with its 100-year history, boasted campus buildings that were each like works of art. As I strolled along, I paused when I heard noise coming from the outdoor corridor of one building.
‘What’s that?’
At the end of the corridor, which led out to a garden, a sharp voice could be heard through a slightly open door. I cautiously approached and peeked inside.
My eyes widened at the sight.
In the room, a small female student was shouting at a group of students surrounding her. Her lake-blue eyes flashed with anger, and her cherry blossom-colored hair swayed as she scowled.
“Are your heads just for decoration?!” she practically yelled.
‘That face… could it be…?’
My soft, squishy little dumpling?
♧♧♧
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