Chapter 28 (2/2)
The boy, who reluctantly responded to the duchess’s calling, was very displeased. He stared at me for a long time and said in a crackling voice, “Well, shall we go, miss?”
“Where are we going?”
“You said you are here to practice fencing with me, right? I have to check your skills first if I can spar with you. Don’t you think so?”
“‘Sein!”
“Oh, why are you calling me again, Mom? I’m being respectful to her. ”
Pressing her temple, the duchess sighed deeply and told me, “What would you do? I just thought of introducing you to my son today, but if you’re going to accept his offer, I will send someone to bring you some clothes to change. ”
“Ah, that would be kind of you. Can you do that? Thank you for your consideration. ”
“No problem. Let’s have tea until he brings the clothes. Sit down, ‘Sein. ”
The boy looked dissatisfied but quietly sat down. I swallowed a sigh while drinking the almost cold tea, seated between them as they showed hostility toward me.
‘That’s why I was trying to do it myself.’
As soon as the maid who went to pick up my clothes returned, the duchess ended the tea time.
I thanked her for inviting me then changed into a training outfit. Guided by the servant, I headed to the training place. .
“It took you a long time to change clothes.”
“… … Sorry for being late, Lars. ”
“My father told you to practice fencing with me?”
“That’s right.”
“Ha, it ‘s funny. Do you think you can learn fencing quickly? Don’t ever think anybody can learn it easily.”
Carsein de Lars was, perhaps, fourteen or fifteen. He was the youngest knight in history with an unprecedented record, and he was called a fencing genius who had no rival when it comes to swordsmanship.
As I have never met him before, I imagined what kind of person he was when I was on my way to his mansion. I thought vaguely that he would be a man of few words who only focused on fencing like my father.
But the boy before my eyes was completely different. He talked down to me and showed no manners at all. He was a sharp contrast to Alledis, called a genius who could lead the empire, who was kind and gentle.
When I saw him looking down at me arrogantly, I suddenly got enraged.
“I didn’t say I would learn fencing as a pastime, Lars!”
“Ha, I know you are pretending to learn fencing for a few years then quit to get married, right? What a joke!”
“I am not…!”
“Don’t try to make poor excuses. If it’s not a joke, show me your skills and determination, won’t you?”
I shut my mouth slowly because he was right. No matter how much I talked, I couldn’t prove my will. It was me, not him who was asking for help anyway.
“You are right. How can I prove it? ”
“… Let me see if you can show me the basic skills,” said the boy, staring at me in dissatisfaction.
I picked out what seemed to be a lighter practice sword in the corner of the empty training place. I demonstrated the basic skills that I learned so far before the boy with red hair looking silently with his arms folded. I even showed him whatever slumsy skill I learned by myself.
“It’s terrible. You want to learn fencing with your poor skills like that? ”
“…. ”
“I think your basic skills seem to be solid, but what’s that you showed me at the end?”
I felt like crying at his scornful tone, but tried to look expressionless as best I could.
‘Be patient, Aristia. It’s you who needs help.’
After taking a deep breath, I said in a voice as calm as possible, “My skills are what you see. I tried practicing by myself, but there was no progress. ”
“Of course. You know why? Your basic fencing posture is wrong. How can you expect to improve?”
“Then, what can I do?”
As he pointed out my problems, I felt he might give me some tips on training.
But he replied as if he was annoyed, when I asked how I could improve.
“I don’t care. Why should I help you practice? Take care of yourself, and don’t bother me! ”
“… Lars!”
“Why?”