Chapter 5
Arnhulf, exhausted from fatigue, had fallen asleep unusually early in the evening and woke as the pale light of dawn began to seep in.
“What… is this place?”
Frowning, Arnhulf looked up at an unfamiliar ceiling. Then he remembered that he had been discharged yesterday and brought to Joseph’s mansion.
In other words, this was the bedroom Joseph usually used.
That’s right. From now on, I have to live as Joseph, not Arnhulf.
Prince Arnhulf was dead. He no longer had to wander the battlefield like a mere worker ant, never reaping any glory, or struggle through the frontiers.
What should I do from now on?
In the past, Joseph had been a reckless man. But now that Arnhulf’s body belonged to him, he could not live that way.
Arnhulf considered that it might be okay to try out the simple future he had once imagined for himself.
“For example… opening a kendo dojo.”
That might be nice. But he quickly clicked his tongue. Who would send their child to a dojo run by someone notorious for being a hopeless rogue? Perhaps if he showed he had reformed, it might be possible.
“Yeah, right.”
Hearing the story that Prince Arnhulf had died, no matter how much effort he put in, it would be difficult. It would be better to teach children somewhere quiet and peaceful.
“Or… I could even go to the Duchy of Pomozein.”
That might work too. After all, he had occasionally thought about leaving for a place where no one knew him. Since Joseph’s hometown was in the duchy, it might be even better.
Just imagining small children practicing with spirited “yap yap” sounds put a faint smile on Arnhulf’s usually expressionless face for the first time.
But first, he needed to build up his stamina.
As he sat up, Arnhulf’s face twisted slightly. His whole body felt sore and stiff. It seemed that the fatigue from lying in bed for so long had not yet fully dissipated.
“Let’s loosen up a bit first.”
By moving, he would get a better sense of Joseph’s body condition. Normally, when Arnhulf woke in the morning, he would run at the palace training hall. Stretching and loosening joints and muscles helped clear his mind when he felt stiff or troubled.
Arnhulf left the room immediately. He thought of finding Finn, but it wasn’t necessary—Finn was already waiting at the door.
“Do we have a training area or a place to exercise at home?” Arnhulf asked cheerfully.
“Huh? A t-training area?” Finn stammered in surprise.
“You want to exercise, right? I heard that correctly?”
He asked several times, unable to believe it. Understandable—Joseph and running didn’t seem to suit each other at all.
But Arnhulf gave an unexpected reply:
“Yes. If there’s a usual place to train, that’s even better, but if not, just tell me a suitable spot.”
He actually wanted to find a training hall…! Finn’s voice trembled with emotion.
“We don’t have a special place…”
“Then let’s go train in the garden. Got it.”
Arnhulf responded calmly and passed Finn. Judging the mansion earlier, it seemed unlikely there was a dedicated space, but perhaps the backyard would do.
Finn, shocked, quickly followed behind. Arnhulf went out through the back door.
As expected, there was a small yard. Arnhulf swung his arms, stretched his legs, finished warming up, and started running.
The fresh morning air brushed his face, chasing away the lingering drowsiness.
It’s best to loosen up lightly after waking. Since I just got discharged, three laps should be enough.
A faint smile appeared on Arnhulf’s lips. Finn watched, utterly amazed.
But after only one lap around the yard, Arnhulf bent over, clutching his knees. His legs were shaky, and he was too breathless to continue.
“Whew… how… weak… is this body…?”
He could barely speak, punctuating sentences with gasps. He wiped sweat from his jaw with the back of his hand.
Even so… he’s from the Royal Academy.
He muttered to himself in frustration. No matter how reckless, Joseph was a Royal Academy alumnus—a prestigious school for nobles and royals where not only academics but also swordsmanship and physical training were taught.
Joseph should have been trained, yet his stamina was this pathetic! Arnhulf looked at Joseph’s body with undeniable disappointment.
In truth, Joseph wasn’t frail; his slight build was lean but not weak, with enough muscles to appear agile. A little maintenance would have sufficed.
Judging by his stamina, he must have been neglecting himself, just eating and playing all this time.
Now Arnhulf began to understand Joseph’s character. He loved fun, ignored self-care—he was a true rogue. Under these conditions, teaching kendo as he had imagined earlier was utterly impossible.
First, I need to get him to a level where he can at least wield a sword. Wait… he can use a sword, right?
Arnhulf realized that before swordsmanship, building basic stamina was essential. Instantly, he devised a fundamental training plan in his mind.
“Are you okay, Joseph?”
Finn, still shocked and uncertain if he was really seeing Joseph, ran up. In his hands were water and a towel prepared for his master.
“You brought me water, right?”
Arnhulf wiped the sweat from his brow and straightened. Thirst made the water immediately appealing.
“Yes!”
Finn quickly handed him the cup. Arnhulf drank it in one gulp. His breathing settled slightly, but his trembling limbs suggested he couldn’t do much more.
“I wanted to try wielding a sword… but at this rate, it’s impossible.”
Arnhulf muttered while touching his chin, and Finn’s eyes went wide.
“A sword? You mean a sword?”
It was as if he had heard news of war. To Finn, it was that significant.
Joseph himself said that…!
When Joseph entered the Royal Academy in Hessen, Finn had accompanied him. As a servant of a noble, it was expected. Joseph behaved the same as always—reckless, disobedient, and indulgent. He studied and trained poorly, ignoring physical exercises entirely. He focused only on enjoying himself, giving him a bad reputation even among professors and classmates.
The one time he became serious was when he showed interest in Siegmund, and everyone at the academy noticed.
Even Prince Arnhulf knew about it.
Finn remembered the strong, noble Arnhulf, who attracted attention without trying, yet never showed off, earning loyalty from many. He had even once thought Arnhulf would make a good king.
Thinking of Arnhulf made him gloomy. Recently, Joseph had gone to that notorious social club because he heard Siegmund would be there. But Joseph ended up fighting a noble and causing trouble with Prince Arnhulf too. Things looked bleak.
No, I shouldn’t think like that. At least the Queen said it was an accident and won’t punish him. And Joseph has changed since that incident!
Finn’s face brightened with emotion. Meanwhile, Arnhulf, frustrated by his weak body, trudged back to the mansion.
“How about a meal, Joseph?”
“Keep it simple.”
Arnhulf’s soaked shirt clung to his body after just a short run. He needed a wash.
“Yes, sir!”
Finn left energetically. Arnhulf went straight to the bathroom. In the mirror, he still didn’t get used to his red hair. Frowning, he rubbed his head furiously.
Starting a dojo like this… impossible.
It would only damage his reputation. Who would follow a teacher who lacked even basic stamina, let alone sword skills? Arnhulf chuckled and washed the sweat off.
“Leave that out.”
Finn paused mid-task. The plate held a pie topped with plenty of peaches.
“This?”
“Yes.”
Arnhulf shook his hand with a grimace. In truth, he had a peach allergy. Even a little caused itching, swelling, and blurred vision; severe reactions could cause difficulty breathing. If he had known the peach was in the alcohol he drank earlier, he wouldn’t have touched it.
“Don’t bring peaches anymore.”
Finn tilted his head, puzzled by Arnhulf’s disgust, but assumed it was just a whim.
“Yes, sir.”
Watching Finn remove the peaches, Arnhulf finally picked up a spoon.
