**Chapter 15**
If only the lesson could last the full hour like this. But the Crown Prince, Jereon—who had been watching us with evident boredom—finally couldn’t hold back.
“That’s enough, Sir Magnum. ‘Sophia’ always runs along the fence line on her own anyway.”
“I’ll still observe one more lap, just to be sure.”
*Sophia* was one of the Crown Prince’s personal horses. The moment I heard I’d be riding her, Joseph—the stable master—had looked visibly unsettled, which hinted at just how exceptional this horse truly was.
Jereon gestured toward Joseph, who was still nearby.
“Joseph is already keeping an eye on her. Why don’t you spar with me instead?”
“As you command, Your Highness.”
As the Crown Prince said, Joseph had been watching the whole time, riding a bit behind us. As I trotted past, he smoothly moved alongside me.
“Lady Shanael, your posture is excellent. I’d say just maintain that form.”
He praised my form, but I caught a few strange looks from the other riders nearby. I guessed they thought he was just flattering me.
“Th-thank you.”
“I’ve never seen anyone else ride His Highness’s horse before. She’s unusually docile.”
“Yes, she’s nothing like the horse I rode before. But, um, Joseph?”
“Yes?”
“Could we rest for a bit after one more lap around the track?”
“Of course. It’s best not to overexert yourself early on.”
The real reason I asked for a break was simple: I wanted to see how Sir Magnum handled a sword. I’d imagined it while writing, but seeing it in real life was a different matter.
Even now, riding past, I caught glimpses of the sparring between him and the Crown Prince—it was impressive how fluidly they struck and dodged.
What surprised me most, however, was how skilled the Crown Prince actually was.
“His Highness is quite proficient with the sword.”
“You didn’t know? He won the royal swordsmanship tournament last year.”
“I thought people went easy on him because he’s the Crown Prince.”
“Not at all. I watched it myself. Everyone wore helmets, so no one knew who was who. When he took his helmet off at the end, everyone in the arena was in shock.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It was a tournament format—each match had to end in complete domination. There were even a few fatalities and a man who lost his arm.”
“Gasp! That kind of brutal event, and His Highness… participated?”
“Exactly. There were even rumors someone else fought in his place. Especially since he injured his thigh in the quarterfinals and had to bandage it. The other competitors were reportedly sweating bullets when they found out later.”
“Well, if they’d known it was the Crown Prince, who would’ve dared to strike him hard? They’d risk the downfall of their entire family for three generations…”
And yet, the person who shaved the head of that legendary Crown Prince… was me.
“Oh, and Sir Magnum came in third.”
“Wow. Then who came second?”
“Not someone from the palace. He’s a knight serving a duke. Rumor has it he joined to prove his loyalty to his lord. But he was utterly defeated by the Crown Prince.”
“…So His Highness is *really* that good with a sword? Hard to believe.”
“I heard… he picked up a sword before he even learned to walk.”
I pictured a young Crown Prince clumsily swinging a sword as tall as himself. The image was oddly endearing.
Back to the present: *Sophia* the white mare was so gentle there was barely anything to learn. After dismounting, Joseph and I sat on a bench nearby to watch the sparring.
**Tak—! Tatak! Whoosh—Tak!**
They were using wooden swords, but the serious atmosphere made it feel like a real duel. Someone stood between them, likely acting as referee. When the Crown Prince knocked Magnum’s sword clean out of his hands with a sharp *Pak!*, the man raised his hand to intervene.
*Please be careful, Sir Magnum!*
I pressed my hands together in prayer, watching anxiously.
I thought they wouldn’t see me in the shadows of the tree, but the Crown Prince waved at me enthusiastically. I waved back, but my gesture meant something different—I was shaking my hand side to side to say, *“Please don’t hurt the knight!”*
But he seemed to misinterpret it as encouragement and even raised his sword-wielding arm high in triumph.
Seeing him beam like that, you’d never guess he had just been swinging his sword with such ferocity.
“Lady Shanael, who do you think will win?”
“Hm… I don’t know. But I kind of hope His Highness does.”
“Why?”
“If he loses, I get the feeling he’ll chase down Sir Magnum until he wins. He’s not the type to let things go…”
“Ah…”
Soon the break ended, and the two resumed their duel.
**Tak! Tak!**
Even from a distance, the clear sound of wood against wood echoed in the air. Even I, who didn’t know swordsmanship, found myself holding my breath.
Their swords clashed with dazzling speed, and with each evasive move, their glossy hair fluttered in the sunlight.
**Taaak!**
The wooden swords met mid-air in an ‘X’ formation, locking in a standoff. They glared at each other, neither giving ground.
They pushed with such force I worried the swords might break. The referee began to look uncomfortable as the impasse dragged on.
*Are they going to do this all night?*
Just then, the Crown Prince suddenly shifted, relaxing his grip and twisting his torso. Caught off guard, Sir Magnum lost his balance and lurched forward.
Jereon seized the moment.
**Tak—! Thunk!**
A sword went flying and landed blade-first into the ground—it was Sir Magnum’s wooden sword. The Crown Prince had struck upward, disarming him in an instant. If I had blinked, I would’ve missed it.
“W-wow… His Highness moves like lightning…”
My first thought was that if he ever kissed someone… I’d really need to brace myself.
The referee signaled the Crown Prince’s victory, and Sir Magnum bowed respectfully in acknowledgment.
It wasn’t a duel with real swords, but from what I saw, the Crown Prince’s skill clearly surpassed the advanced level.
Just as I was thinking of getting back to riding, I saw Jereon jogging toward us.
“Shanael, you saw that, right? I beat Magnum.”
“Yes, Your Highness. It was quite impressive.”
*Clap clap clap.*
But then he suddenly frowned at my expression.
“Is that really your happy face? You look kind of dissatisfied.”
“Not at all. I’m thrilled.”
“So? I’m cooler than that silver-haired knight in your book, right? See? I’m no damsel in distress.”
“Yes, I’ll be sure to remember that.”
As we spoke, Sir Magnum also returned, handing his sword to a nearby aide. He seemed completely unfazed by his defeat.
“I’ve learned much today, Your Highness.”
“You’ve done well. Let’s end it here for today.”
“But, shouldn’t I finish teaching Lady Shanael how to ride?”
“No need. She was riding just fine along the fence earlier. If she needs to ride again, she can use my horse.”
“…Are you sure I may take my leave?”
Sir Magnum glanced my way for confirmation. But frankly, it was easier to just go along with the Crown Prince’s whims.
“Yes, I’m (absolutely not) fine with that.”
“Shanael seems tired too. That’s enough for today. Sir Magnum, you’re dismissed.”
To think I finally had a chance to interact with him, and now the lesson was over just like that. It felt too soon for goodbye, and the words caught in my throat.
“Thank you for today.”
“Not at all. I hardly did anything for you.”
“Well then, farewell—”
“If it’s not too forward… Lady Shanael, may I request the same parting as yesterday?”
“…Pardon?”
“The farewell you exchanged with His Highness.”
He gently tapped his own cheek with a fingertip. My eyes widened. *Was he asking for a cheek kiss?!*
Sir Magnum smiled softly and nodded.
When I hesitated, too shy to move, he took a single step forward and leaned down slightly, bringing his face closer.
My heart pounded as I inched toward him, almost touching his cheek with my lips—
**Thwack.**
A large hand suddenly came between us—specifically, between his cheek and my lips.
“No.”
Blinking in confusion, I followed the hand upward to its owner.
The Crown Prince stared down at me with a frosty expression, shadows cast over his sharp eyes.
“Shanael, cheek kisses are reserved for me.”
“…What?”
I was dumbfounded. Sir Magnum looked similarly baffled but straightened without protest.
I, on the other hand, gawked. *My mouth belongs to me, doesn’t it?!* I ended up voicing the question for him.
“Your Highness, may I ask why?”
“Because I don’t like it.”
“You don’t like me greeting others with cheek kisses?”
“Exactly.”
“…I don’t quite understand. May I ask the reason?”
“If you must know… it grosses me out.”
“Grosses you out? How so?”
“I don’t want cheek kisses from lips that’ve been *smooching* other people all over the place.”
