Episode 08
How to Turn Future Masterminds to Your Side
“Then the two of you go ahead.”
At my words, Toma’s eyes widened, and Ren, wanting to come along, grabbed my arm.
I felt my resolve weaken for a moment, so I gently pulled her hand away from my arm. Ren’s expression immediately fell. My heart ached, but I had to endure it for the sake of the future.
“I just want to rest for a bit. When it’s time to pick a Guardian, we’ll do it together, Ren.”
At that, Toma took Ren’s hand and pulled her along, shooting me a sharp glance.
“It’s fine if the two of you go. What’s there to worry about?”
Ren followed Toma out of the sitting room, leaving only Gray and me behind. I looked at Gray and let out a sly smile.
“Let’s have a little chat, just the two of us. Mr. Mastermind… but what should I even say?”
I was sure Fiora had already found Gray’s weakness.
Weakness… how could I figure it out? Hesitating, I finally spoke.
“…Your face looks full of worry and concern.”
“Pardon?”
I immediately realized I had made a mistake. Embarrassment washed over me. But I had already started, so I had to continue.
“Do you know about physiognomy? Here goes!”
“I… I read faces a bit. There’s a bad aura surrounding you.”
His eyes widened at my words.
“How… did you… know that?”
I inwardly wanted to ask, Why is this working…? But I decided to keep going while the opportunity lasted.
“I’m sorry for deceiving you, but it’s not really a bad thing, Gray. I just hope you’ll fall for it.”
I fumbled, trying to recall lines from my mind, and said:
“No one knows this… but I have some divine abilities. You can tell me everything.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Gray’s face. His eyes sparkled as he stepped closer to me.
“So, Your Highness… you actually possess divine power?”
Not exactly… but why is this working? I thought, seizing the chance to continue. Guilt pricked at me for tricking someone so innocent.
“It’s not that remarkable, so please keep it a secret. Now… tell me, what’s troubling you?”
Gray hesitated for a moment, then sighed as if he had made a decision and began to speak:
“My mother’s condition is worsening by the day.”
The moment he spoke, I recalled how Fiora must have manipulated Gray. She had tricked him with lies, claiming she could heal his mother. His mother’s illness was near incurable—diabetes. By the time he realized he’d been deceived, it was too late.
“Fiora really is a terrible person,” I sighed to myself.
And yet… Fiora had become me now.
“Why does it always have to be me? Why me?!”
Gray had been a victim, deceived not by a mastermind but by Fiora.
I sighed again, realizing that his mother’s condition was not yet severe, so it was only fair to provide him with guidance:
“Your mother likes sweets, doesn’t she?”
His eyes widened. My memory had been correct.
“That’s the cause. She should reduce her sugar intake and drink plenty of water.”
Gray nodded and thanked me with gratitude. Seeing him like this, I could understand why he had been fooled by Fiora.
“A knight captain, yet so innocent…” I mused.
His mother’s health being addressed, my attention shifted to the children.
At that moment, the door opened, and the children entered. Ren dashed over and climbed into my arms. Toma followed, wearing a slightly reluctant expression.
“Have you already looked around?” I asked.
Ren shook her head vigorously.
“It’s boring without Your Highness. Can’t we go together?”
Her bright red eyes looked up at me with a mix of hope and determination. Toma, who had clearly endured Ren’s antics before, sighed but said:
“Let’s go together.”
Ren’s face lit up immediately. She nodded firmly, glancing at me. Their expressions made me laugh.
Gray’s matter is solved, and now we wait to meet the children. I guess we can play with them for a bit.
“Alright.” I smiled and held out my hand to Ren. She grinned and took it. Extending my other hand to Toma, he hesitated for a moment before accepting it.
As we rose, Gray opened the door and bowed politely:
“Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. I’ll see you shortly.”
I nodded in response.
Outside the sitting room, the other knights’ gazes followed us. Perhaps embarrassed to be holding hands, Toma spoke up:
“I’m not a child.”
Despite his protest, he still held my hand. Amused, I gently squeezed his hand, which only stiffened his expression. He seemed to want to assert that he wasn’t a child.
“Holding hands isn’t just for children. It shows closeness with someone.”
“I’m not close to Your Highness.”
Toma said firmly, yet he didn’t let go of my hand. Whether out of fondness or fear of hurting me, I couldn’t tell—but either way, I didn’t mind. One of his ears had even turned slightly red.
“I want to be closer to Your Highness.”
Ren smiled, and I felt an irresistible urge to tap the ground five times out of pure joy.
“Of course, Ren.”
“I’m so happy, Your Highness.”
Her innocent smile made me feel both tears and laughter at once.
Why ‘Your Highness’? Everything’s fine, but why that? Cute! So cute! Sad! Couldn’t they call me Teacher instead?
Just as I was about to tell them to call me Teacher, Toma stopped. I breathed a sigh of relief, keeping my thoughts hidden.
Toma stopped in front of a small door. From inside, I could hear the sounds of practice—shouts and the cutting of swords.
“Ren, you said you wanted to hold a sword, right? This is where the new knights train. I asked the captain, so you should be able to practice.”
Ren’s eyes brightened at Toma’s words. We knocked, and a bearded man stepped out. Startled, Ren ducked behind me.
“Greetings. I am Ryu, in charge of training the new knights. Please come inside.”
Following Ryu, we entered a room filled with straw dummies. Toma went to a storage area and brought out two wooden swords.
“Do you want to try?”
Ren nodded vigorously and took the sword. She awkwardly stood in front of a dummy. Toma approached and adjusted her posture.
“Relax your hands, keep your feet shoulder-width apart.”
Ren struggled to lift the sword. As she attempted to strike the dummy, sweat appeared on her forehead. Toma demonstrated, his movements smooth as if carried by the wind. With a single swing, the dummy split perfectly in two.
“Like this.”
Toma’s casual words reminded me of a cooking show host—simple for him, impossible for us. Ren, frustrated, handed the sword back.
“I can’t! I can’t do it like that!”
“Why not? It’s easy!”
Toma, feeling wronged, looked at Ryu for help. Ryu chuckled:
“Geniuses are naturally bad at teaching.”
“You really are a genius. And incredibly annoying,” Ren said sweetly.
Toma and Ryu froze at her words, and I nearly laughed out loud. Their playful banter reminded me of my childhood. Toma’s hands trembled slightly, shocked by Ren’s comment.
Ren grabbed another wooden sword and moved to the storage area with a determined air, leaving Toma staring after her. I watched, smiling. Ryu brought a chair over.
“Please, have a seat.”
My legs were sore, so I accepted his kindness. Toma continued practicing with the dummies, and I enjoyed watching him. Time passed, but Ren didn’t return.
“Why hasn’t Ren come back yet?” I murmured worriedly.
Ryu reassured me:
“Don’t worry. There’s only one way out of the training area.”
At that moment, one of the knights called the children into the training hall—but still, Ren hadn’t returned.
Looks like I’ll have to go get her.
I made a gesture to rise, and Toma reached out his hand. His gaze avoided mine, but his ears were already tinged red.
“If we’re going to fetch Ren, let’s go together.”
“Thank you.”
I took his hand, and we headed toward the warehouse.
A loud clang echoed as the massive wooden door opened, letting sunlight flood the dim interior. My eyes fell on Ren, covered in blood…
Meanwhile, in Baridas’ office:
A single document lay before him, listing ten knights who would oversee Fiora’s Guardian exam.
“A Guardian, huh…”
He pondered silently. As the princess of a nation, she couldn’t simply choose any knight as her Guardian.
Maybe I should have picked the knights myself…
Worried about her judgment, he eventually set off for the training grounds, regretting leaving the selection to her.
If you want, I can also do a slightly tighter, more cinematic English version that reads like a professional fantasy novel, emphasizing tension, humor, and the children’s antics.
Do you want me to do that next?
