Chapter 38
I didn’t expect to be praised for doing well—but, to be honest, I had been a little hopeful.
Still, now that I’m hearing this, I don’t know what to do. What if he says, “You’re not worthy to inherit the Saillkar Fist”? Or worse, “You’re useless, just get married and stay out of the way”? Was my punching really that bad? Did it really look like a back-alley brawl?
At that moment, I felt a firm grip lifting my hips and lower back. Theodore had picked me up tightly in his arms.
“Don’t cry! This old man will teach you properly!”
Theodore said loudly, then suddenly rubbed my face hard with a hand like a big iron plate.
“Ow—!” The pressure was so strong, I let out a choked squeal.
“Originally, Jindel said he’d take charge, but it’s a good thing I insisted on seeing you before any bad habits could form. Don’t worry, this grandpa will teach you properly! Tsk! Don’t cry! There’s no need to cry!”
He was the one yelling a minute ago, and now he’s telling me not to cry? I protested with teary eyes.
“But… you were mad at me…”
“What do you mean I was mad?! I wasn’t angry—I was stunned and heated because someone managed to throw such a messy, flawed punch so powerfully! With that strength and that body, imagine how amazing you could become with proper technique! Don’t you see?”
“You said it was messy and f-flawed…”
“But you still did it excellently, didn’t you?!”
Was this an insult or a compliment?
While I stood there confused, Theodore suddenly glared around us. Following his gaze, I realized the knights who had been training nearby were now watching us like we were a curious spectacle. Oh no—they must’ve seen my embarrassing punches too. The shame made me want to cry again.
“You brats! Get back to training, now!”
Theodore roared even louder than he had at me. The sound was so thunderous it felt like one of my eardrums might burst. I quickly covered my ears in surprise.
Once silence returned, Theodore smiled at me with satisfaction.
“Alright then, you’ll learn from me, got it?”
“…”
“I’ll teach you a martial art far beyond what you just showed.”
“…”
“You’ll grow up strong enough to beat up every man you ever meet, my granddaughter.”
With that, Theodore rubbed my face again. Somehow, his face looked incredibly proud. My eyes must have been playing tricks on me.
Meanwhile, Theodore, rubbing away the goosebumps rising under his collar, was walking quickly somewhere. As he turned into a hallway, he stepped into a large room—the Duke’s study within the Saillkar estate.
“Jindel.”
Jindel, who had not yet entered the palace, looked up. Next to him was Horne, who had been writing something.
“Father.”
“Oh, you’re here too, daughter-in-law. Perfect.”
After glancing at both of them, Theodore cleared his throat and declared:
“I like Verdette the most.”
“…Pardon?”
“Verdette? Are you serious?”
Jindel and Horne both asked, eyes wide as if they had just heard something impossible.
“You mean out of the three children?”
“How many times do I need to repeat myself? Yes.”
Jindel and Horne looked at each other, clearly shocked.
“She’s still a child. Isn’t it too early to make such a definitive statement…?”
“You both know it already. That child is ridiculously talented. Her body’s different from other girls—strong build, sturdy bone density. What did the basic training instructor say?”
As Theodore cut off Jindel and asked, Horne let out a sigh.
“…Obe has been showering her with praise, calling her a prodigy. But honestly, I think it’s still too early for her to be training under you, Father.”
“No. It’s precisely because she’s young that she should learn early!”
“What? Father!”
“You’ve already been told, haven’t you? In her first session with me, Verdette hit the punching dummy thirty-eight times. Her form was rough, and she was filled with so much aggression it looked like a back-alley thug fight—but it was still thirty-eight consecutive punches. In one breath, non-stop!”
“…”
“You both know what that means.”
“…”
Of course they did.
Jindel and Horne exchanged a deep sigh. How could they not understand? The arena where Verdette had sparred with Theodore was in the center of the training grounds. Every knight present at the estate that day had seen it.
“Thirty-eight punches in a single breath… That’s incredible.”
Jindel admitted reluctantly. Theodore raised his chin, as if to say, See?
“On top of that, the flow was astonishingly precise. She had the focus of someone who’d done it many times before. Her control of power—its rise and fall—was excellent.”
“That’s impossible… She’s still a child. You’re exaggerating.”
“Are you trying to make this father-in-law of yours blind, Commander Horne?”
“….”
Horne immediately fell silent. She realized how her words sounded—like she was doubting her father-in-law. Seeing her go quiet, Theodore continued with calm confidence.
“Of course it was messy. She had gaps. Her follow-up after striking vital points was terrible. At best, she’d be a seasoned brawler from the slums. …But that changes if we’re talking about a seven-year-old girl who’s barely begun using her fists.”
With that, Theodore briefly poured himself a drink from the decanter on the desk.
“…She has an uncommon desire to win, and when she decides her fists are for the right cause, she doesn’t hesitate.”
“…”
His voice was elated—completely different from the scolding tone he’d used with Verdette earlier.
That’s right. In truth, Theodore had been completely overwhelmed by Verdette’s natural talent. He had only acted tough in front of her to avoid showing how impressed he was.
“But, Father. The reason Seomhwa had that accident was precisely because she shouldn’t have been exposed to such danger. I’m opposed. I don’t want my daughter enduring harsh training already.”
Horne spoke firmly. It was rare for her to contradict Theodore so directly—she deeply respected him.
Normally, if Horne spoke like this, Theodore would have reconsidered and said, “Very well, I’ll think it over.” But this time, he didn’t back down.
“You think everyone who experiences such trauma ends up attaining Seomhwa? Do you believe that outcome is guaranteed for all?”
“….”
“I don’t. Verdette has absurd talent. In troubled times, she’d be the hero to save a nation. Her skill is unmatched in our family—she may even be heir-worthy.”
“Father!”
“Father!”
“Silence. This isn’t the time to argue. You need to witness that child’s incredible potential.”
Theodore’s tone was sharp, but it wasn’t out of anger. He was simply too excited by the overwhelming talent he had discovered.
“It’s unfortunate that a child had to brush against death to reach a new realm—but this one is different. I’m not saying this because I’m obsessed with martial arts or out of duty as the former head of the Saillkar family. I say it as a grandfather who loves her, and who believes in her potential.”
“…”
“I will train her. Personally. Full-time.”
As Theodore solemnly declared this, Jindel and Horne could only look at each other with exhausted expressions, sighing deeply.
