Chapter 75
While grumbling inside, I placed the bread back on the tray and let out a deep sigh. Once again, the Emperor was making a big deal out of something.
“I heard that someone named Baron Surden might become my guard. Is that why there’s going to be a tournament?”
“That’s just his delusion. You don’t need to worry about it,” the Emperor replied casually.
I pressed my fingers to my forehead. Things really were getting out of hand.
“…Daughter.”
“….”
Instead of answering, I acted like I didn’t hear him and took a big bite of the stacked bread. I reminded myself—he’s not my real dad, so I shouldn’t respond.
“How was your relationship with Josef Rohia when you lived in Rohia?”
“Uh… oohf… ohfayo? (Josef Oppa?)”
As soon as he mentioned Josef, I started chewing much faster. I took a big sip of orange juice to wash the bread down and answered.
“He sometimes visited me. But I didn’t really get to interact with the rest of the family, so those visits didn’t mean much.”
“…I see.”
The Emperor stroked his chin and said, “Since Rohia is such a big part of your past, I thought it might be good to invite the only decent one from that family—Josef—to meet you. But only if you’re okay with it. If not, we’ll forget it.”
“Yes, I’d like that!”
He looked surprised by how quickly and eagerly I answered.
‘I was planning to ask, but he brought it up first. Lucky me.’
I smiled as brightly as I could to show I was being honest, and he soon smiled back, pleased.
“Should I call him tomorrow?”
“Yes!”
“I’ll call him tomorrow if you call me ‘Dad.’”
“…You can take your time and call him next month. I know you’re busy, and I’m already thankful for what you’ve done.”
Calling someone “Dad” was a line I wasn’t ready to cross.
The Emperor twitched his eyebrow at my answer, but I picked up a strawberry like I didn’t notice.
“…Eat well. You’ll need the energy for Sir Radd’s lessons.”
My hand moved faster to grab more food. Hmph! I’ve been reincarnated into a fantasy world, right? A bit of hard training won’t stop me! I might even end up a sword master!
Just thinking about it made me smile.
The Emperor gave me a small laugh and turned back to his papers.
***
Loti shyly handed Alfred a piece of paper I had written for her.
“Read this, Alfred.”
“Uh… I love you, Alfred?”
Alfred’s face turned red as he scratched his head. Loti squirmed in embarrassment.
Lena and I, on the other hand…
“You spelled it wrong! Alfred, it says ‘saram-he’ not ‘sarang-hae’! Can’t you see?”
“Love? Seriously? Are you stupid? Did you forget how to read too?!”
Loti clamped her hands over her ears and shook her head.
“Aaah! I don’t care, I don’t care! Love should be shown through words and actions, not writing!”
“Break time! Brea—ak!”
At my shout, the three of them flopped onto the floor. Alfred was already face-down, thanks to getting stepped on by Lena.
Loti really didn’t get along with studying. I’d forced her to sit still and study, but as you can see, it wasn’t going well.
I sighed heavily and glanced at the clock. It was almost time for my training with Sir Radd.
“Heave-ho!”
I stood up with strength from my core and changed into the exercise clothes the Emperor gave me.
I patted my full stomach, which held a thick pancake, a bunch of grapes, and a bowl of soup I’d eaten 30 minutes earlier.
“Calories: check.”
I stretched my arms and waist.
“Flexibility: check!”
Thanks to the kid-loving Emperor, my health was improving day by day.
I even started humming. I had a good feeling.
Before leaving, I gently patted the arms of the sweet potato sprouting from the flower vase and said to Loti:
“Loti, you must finish this set of basic letters today. I don’t say this often… but this is an order.”
It started as a joke, but watching her struggle made me too frustrated to ignore.
Loti’s face turned pale, and she slumped over to her desk.
Yep, she complains, but she still gets it done.
I didn’t want to stress over this anymore, so I shouted cheerfully,
“I’ll come back recognized as a sword master in training, so wait for me!”
With cheers from my three-and-a-half supporters, I proudly headed to the training grounds.
***
“You’re here.”
As soon as I stepped inside, the first person I saw was the Emperor.
Unlike yesterday, he wasn’t in workout clothes. He wore a dark red formal uniform.
I wasn’t sure why he was here, but I bowed politely.
“Hello, Your Majesty!”
“Don’t shout so loudly.”
He coughed lightly.
“…It’s best to save your strength. I only came to check on your first day to see if the training is too much. Just act naturally.”
I pressed my lips together and nodded.
The Emperor went to sit in a chair by the field.
Next to him, Count Linton Hester sat down with a pile of paperwork, and the two of them began working.
“Izana!”
“Oscar!”
Oscar ran up to me, waving. He was also in training gear and holding a sword.
“You’re training too?”
“Yeah, Sir Radd trains with us in the mornings. Since you’re up next, everyone worked extra hard today.”
“Waaaah!”
A loud scream made both of us turn our heads.
All we could see were shirtless knights huddled together.
But something was clearly happening beyond them.
“Stop him!”
“Aaaahhh!”
It sounded like popcorn popping. The knights were flying through the air, one by one.
“Today’s training must be intense.”
“Not really. Sir Radd is just… walking.”
Huh?
I squinted and looked more closely. The knights were grouped tightly, as if trying to block something.
Then, all at once, about six of them were flung through the air.
“Tsk.”
Sir Radd stepped out from the crowd, brushing off his clothes and adjusting his glasses.
He looked back at the fallen knights and said,
“Better than usual. If you can hold out this much, we’ll do even more tomorrow.”
At his words, the knights began trembling and even shed a few tears.
I felt a bit intimidated watching it, but I rolled my ankles and kept stretching.
One of the knights who flew through the air was Baron Ager Surden—the one who might become my bodyguard.
He tried to grab Sir Radd’s pant leg but was flung again… and landed right in front of me.
“L-Lady…”
He reached out with a trembling hand.
I grabbed it firmly and nodded.
“I’ll work hard so I can live up to your expectations!”
Baron Ager smiled in satisfaction… then passed out.
My eyes got teary and my heart ached.
‘This… this is what they call brotherhood?’
I gently laid down his hand and stood up.
“You’ve got a good look in your eyes.”
“Gasp!”
Sir Radd had suddenly appeared in front of me and rested his foot on the Baron’s chest, smiling.
I stood tall and shouted,
“Please take good care of me, Sir Radd!”
“Strong voice. I like that. Let’s get started then.”
What would we do first?
Fifty bunny hops?
Run around the field 100 times?
Swing the sword 1000 times?
I looked at the streak of white hair on his black bangs, full of excitement and tension.
“Today’s training is… tag. Are you ready?”
Oh! Tag for 100 laps—wait, what?
“Tag…?”
I felt the strength drain from my wide eyes.
Oscar blinked just as fast, probably thinking the same thing.
Sir Radd spun his finger in a circle and said,
“It’s a game where the ‘it’ hunts others down. You’ve played it before, right?”
I figured I should say no, so I nodded.
Both Oscar and Sir Radd looked at me with pity.
Wow. The tone of this story definitely varies a lot from bit to bit