Chapter 03

No one but a fool would find such blunt, insulting remarks amusing.

Besides…

Elizia had never been known for having a particularly gentle temper.

Just as she was about to snap back with “What business is it of yours?”, her nanny’s voice echoed through her mind like a ghost.

“Please, Your Highness! Control your temper at the Royal Academy! Behave with the elegance expected of a princess!”

“…”

She paused.

Be elegant.

Control your temper.

When her nanny had pleaded with her so desperately, how had she responded?

She had smiled brightly and promised,

“Don’t worry. I’ll behave in a way that won’t bring shame to the Kingdom of Ortigia.”

After staring at Beth for a moment, Elizia composed herself.

She put on the gentlest smile she could possibly manage.

Then, in what she believed to be the most polite voice imaginable, she said,

“I’m still not used to dressing myself without the help of my maids.”

“No matter how hard I try, I simply can’t make myself look very elegant.”

“That’s why I’m honestly a little envious of you, Senior.”

“You can make yourself look so glamorous and beautiful all on your own.”

“Hmm…”

Beth slowly looked her over.

Her expression clearly asked,

“What’s your angle?”

Still smiling sweetly, Elizia continued.

“By the way…”

“You said you’re from the Kingdom of Shati, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“I’ve heard rumors that Shati has been struggling financially lately…”

“But judging by your appearance…”

“They must be nothing more than ridiculous rumors.”

Her eyes drifted toward the enormous gemstone ring adorning Beth’s finger.

Then to the dazzling necklace resting around her neck.

She smiled with complete innocence.

Not the slightest hint of malice appeared on her face.

Beth’s expression stiffened.

Completely oblivious, Elizia continued praising her.

“You’re truly beautiful.”

“I’m actually a little jealous.”

She smiled as brightly as ever.

Beth’s face grew noticeably colder.

Yet Elizia remained blissfully unaware.

Believing she had handled the situation perfectly, she gave Beth another polite bow.

“Excuse me.”

She gestured toward the training hall before walking inside.

Beth neither nodded nor replied.

Taking the silence as permission, Elizia happily entered.

A triumphant grin spread across her face.

Yes!

I handled that wonderfully, Elizia!

She hadn’t argued.

She hadn’t lost her temper.

It had been a calm, elegant response worthy of Princess Elizia of Ortigia.

At least…

That’s what she believed.

“No need to get dragged into childish provocations.”

“I should keep behaving kindly like this.”

Muttering her resolution to herself, she walked away with cheerful steps.

Completely unaware…

That behind her—

Beth had clenched both fists so tightly her fingernails dug into her palms.

Beth silently glared at Elizia’s retreating back.

The financial crisis consuming the Kingdom of Shati was hardly a secret.

Everyone knew.

That was precisely why Beth had begun dressing more extravagantly than ever.

Even if her people starved…

Her own pride came first.

She needed to shine.

And yet…

That naïve-looking princess had smiled innocently while casually exposing the one thing Beth wanted most to hide.

Recalling Elizia’s smiling face, Beth bit her lip.

It was humiliating.

Sweat trickled down Elizia’s forehead.

She barely noticed it.

Ignoring the moisture running along her jaw, she continued swinging her wooden sword.

Again.

And again.

And again.

She had already repeated the same stance three hundred times.

Her arms trembled.

Her head spun.

Unlike in the lecture hall…

The female students no longer surrounded Rakan.

This academy valued skill above everything else.

Swordsmanship classes were no exception.

Generally speaking, female students lacked the same experience handling swords as the boys.

Many simply couldn’t endure such demanding training.

Elizia, too, possessed a slender figure.

But she had grown up in a kingdom constantly threatened by renewed war.

As a princess…

She had received more than enough training to protect herself.

Pain shot through her wrists.

Why is this class so brutal…?

She silently cursed.

Still…

She refused to quit.

Not only because the intimidating instructor stood watching them with hawk-like eyes…

But because, after secretly glancing toward Rakan…

She saw him calmly repeating the same motions.

Without shedding a single drop of sweat.

“Enough.”

“Take a short break.”

Hearing the instructor’s command, Elizia collapsed onto the ground with a long sigh.

As everyone reorganized into formation…

She noticed Rakan standing beside her.

He glanced down at her.

Then gave a faint smirk.

It practically said—

“You’re exhausted by something this simple?”

Annoying as he was…

She had to admit one thing.

His stamina was extraordinary.

Several minutes later, before anyone had fully recovered, the instructor barked another command.

“Everyone, stand.”

“We’ll form two lines.”

“Time for sparring.”

Their brief rest was over.

Elizia let out a small groan as she climbed back to her feet.

Clang!

She blocked her opponent’s strike with her wooden sword held across her chest.

Being a woman didn’t exempt her from sparring.

Nor did her male opponent show any intention of going easy.

Which suited her perfectly.

She didn’t want pity.

I’m losing in raw strength…

His attacks were incredibly heavy.

But Elizia had always possessed one particular talent.

Quick judgment.

Finding openings.

Shifting her weight onto her left foot…

She redirected his powerful strike.

His momentum carried him forward.

His balance faltered.

Now!

Without hesitation…

She spun around him.

Her wooden sword swept toward his side.

Startled, he barely managed to block.

His head jerked backward.

A split second later…

The tip of Elizia’s sword rested against his neck.

“…I lose.”

The young man admitted defeat cleanly.

The words had barely left his mouth—

Clatter!

Another wooden sword flew through the air before crashing loudly onto the stone floor.

A student sparring against Rakan had been completely disarmed.

The boy stared blankly between his empty hand and the sword lying on the ground.

Then sighed.

Rakan stepped forward.

His expression remained perfectly indifferent.

“Good match.”

He said the words…

But his tone almost sounded as though even speaking required too much effort.

Oddly enough…

That arrogant attitude suited him perfectly.

His opponent looked dejected.

Still…

He accepted Rakan’s offered hand.

Throughout the training…

Elizia narrowly defeated one opponent after another.

Meanwhile…

Rakan effortlessly defeated everyone.

Is that really the difference between our abilities?

If I weren’t a woman…

Would I be able to beat that infuriating man?

People had always praised her talent.

Even so…

She wasn’t confident.

Whenever she looked at him…

An inexplicable competitive spirit welled up inside her.

Was it because he belonged to the Empire?

Or simply because of their disastrous first meeting?

She honestly couldn’t tell.

“Go easy on me.”

“My dear junior.”

“…”

It was finally their turn to spar.

The first thing he said…

Was for her to go easy on him.

And he said it in that infuriatingly relaxed voice.

Instead of replying…

Elizia lowered her stance.

He was much larger than she was.

She needed to get inside his reach.

Their match began.

Rakan simply stood there.

As though inviting her to attack first.

Elizia desperately wanted to win.

Her thoughts raced.

Attack his legs.

If he lowers his body…

I’ll strike his neck.

Decision made…

She lunged toward his upper body.

The instant he raised his sword to block—

She abruptly changed direction.

Her blade swept toward his legs.

Rakan blocked smoothly while shifting his upper body to the side.

Now!

His shoulder’s open!

Her eyes flashed.

She thrust toward the opening.

Yet—

As though that opening had never existed—

Rakan effortlessly knocked her blade aside.

Instead…

It was Elizia who lost her balance.

Even then…

He didn’t counterattack.

…Why?

Their swords remained locked together.

Occasionally…

He slashed.

Occasionally…

He thrust.

But never with real intent.

A chill crept beneath Elizia’s eyes.

To everyone watching…

It probably looked like an ordinary spar.

But standing before him…

She felt something entirely different.

It was as though…

He was simply playing with her.

Worse…

She had the unsettling feeling that every movement between them was unfolding exactly as he intended.

Clang!

Instinctively blocking another strike…

She suddenly realized.

She hadn’t imagined it.

For the briefest instant…

Her concentration wavered.

And she clearly saw it.

His sword—

Already aimed directly at her opening—

Stopped.

Then withdrew.

His attack…

Had been faster than her defense.

If he hadn’t pulled back…

She would have lost immediately.

Slowly lowering her sword…

Elizia stared at him.

Around them…

Wooden swords collided.

Students shouted.

Yet between the two of them…

Only silence remained.

After several moments…

Rakan calmly lifted his wooden sword.

Its tip rested lightly against her neck.

“I win.”

“…”

Even his tone sounded casual.

Elizia brushed his sword aside with her fingertips.

A wave of frustration rose inside her.

She had fought with everything she had.

Yet he had merely toyed with her.

“Yes.”

“I lost.”

“Indeed.”

“You’ll have to work harder.”

“Princess.”

He turned away without another glance.

Watching his back disappear…

Elizia bit her lip.

Is he going easy on me because I’m a woman?

How insulting.

She reached up and touched her neck.

Right there…

Where his sword would have struck.

Her fingertips felt cold.

After class…

Elizia hurried after Rakan.

He was walking back toward the dormitories, casually twirling his personal wooden sword.

“Senior Rakan!”

Now she knew for certain.

He had never taken their spar seriously.

For some reason…

He had deliberately held back.

This wasn’t unfamiliar.

Back in Ortigia…

Royal knights and noble sons often behaved the same way.

They never truly attacked her.

And she knew exactly why.

It was the so-called gentlemanly courtesy of noblemen.

The belief that they couldn’t bring themselves to strike a woman with a sword.

She hated it.

Once she picked up a sword…

She wasn’t a fragile woman.

She wasn’t the Princess of Ortigia.

She was simply another swordsman standing across from them.

She had no intention of letting Rakan toy with her again.

That was why she chased after him the moment class ended.

Quickly tying back the hair that had come loose while running…

She stepped directly in front of him.

Then got straight to the point.

“Senior.”

“If you’re going to treat our next spar the same way…”

“You’d be better off simply admitting defeat.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I’m asking you to stop playing with me and fight seriously.”

“I gave it everything I had.”

“And honestly…”

“I found it incredibly insulting.”

“…”

For a brief moment…

Rakan silently studied the determination burning in Elizia’s eyes.