Emperor (3)
“Will our Selena be alright…?”
The Duchess of Yohaiden bit her lower lip as she looked down at the arena.
Why else would she have burst into tears when she first saw Selena?
She was a daughter raised with utmost care and affection.
Disheveled silver hair.
Her cheeks were hollow and her eyes sunken, as if she hadn't eaten in months.
And her whole body was covered in dirt and grime.
She looked so different from when she was at the Duke's estate.
It was heartbreaking to see.
In truth, the Duchess was one of the people who understood Selena's desire to become a [knight] the most.
She was fortunate enough to be born the daughter of a marquis, and she met a gentle, kind, and capable husband.
What a blessed life it was to have lovely and wonderful children.
She had no complaints about that.
The ladies she met at banquets and tea parties would often complain about their husbands,
and she'd often hear stories of other noble women who had terrible lives because they chose the wrong men.
Compared to them, the Duchess of Yohaiden was like a model of a successful noble woman, envied by all.
However, while she was grateful for her good fortune,
she couldn't help but think, "Wouldn't it be alright for our daughter to live a little more freely?"
With two older brothers above her, there was no need for her to inherit the Family business,
and since her husband didn't desire more power, there was no need for Selena's marriage to benefit the Family.
That's why the Duchess felt a surge of emotion while watching Selena's peers, Iriel Eustia and Yuri Gilbert, perform brilliantly in the matches.
But, now that she saw Selena looking like a beggar,
she couldn't help but wonder if it would be right to make her stop swordsmanship right now.
‘Is it worth it to push herself so hard…?’
Selena's opponent, Instructor Dios, had a bear-like physique and exuded a rough aura.
In front of him, her daughter looked so fragile that it seemed like she would collapse if he just touched her.
Her palms became clammy with anxiety.
Then, she felt a warm, thick presence on her hand.
It was her husband, the Duke of Yohaiden.
He looked at his wife with warm eyes.
“My lady, let's trust Selena.”
“…But.”
“Hmm, I actually realized today, after seeing Selena, that I was wrong.”
“…Yes?”
“I suppose it's inevitable that I'll continue to see Selena as my cute daughter, no matter how much time passes. She's just too darn adorable.”
Ahem. The Duke of Yohaiden, who almost naturally went into praising Selena again, cleared his throat.
“Anyway, even though she's our daughter, she's also an aspiring knight. I haven't been seeing her sincerity, and I've just been trying to protect her. She's an adult now, trying to forge her own path.”
“….”
“Look at our daughter, my lady. Although her body is covered in dirt and she looks exhausted, have you ever seen her eyes shine so brightly?”
The Duchess turned her head to look at Selena.
Indeed, as he said, Selena's eyes were sparkling with determination, as if they held the clear blue sky.
“And, Zeke Clayman. That man isn't the type to spout nonsense, so let's trust him.”
Squeeze.
The Duke of Yohaiden squeezed his wife's hand tightly.
Even though he said that, he wasn't without worry.
‘If our daughter gets even a single scratch, I won't let him off the hook!’
* * *
Selena faced Instructor Dios.
‘…A spar with Instructor Dios?’
When she asked Instructor Zeke what was going on,
she only got a frustrating answer.
─ The other students' matches are all over. But, there are people who are looking forward to your match. Are you going to betray their expectations?
─ Then, can't another student from Instructor Dios's class just have a match?
Zeke shook his head as if she didn't understand.
─ Listen carefully, Selena. Fights where you have nothing to lose, whether you win or lose, are not common. And you have to accept those fights whenever they come.
─ Yes?
─ Even if you lose the spar, it's only natural since it's an instructional spar. But, what if you win? Even your Family who are against your dream of becoming a knight will see you in a new light, wouldn't they?
─ Th-That's!
Hoo─
She exhaled briefly and sharpened her senses.
‘He really knows how to leave me speechless.’
Even though it was in the form of an instructional spar, it was still a spar.
It was a match she would have considered even if she were in perfect condition.
Her current physical state was a mess.
The muscles in her entire body were screaming from overuse and fatigue, and her eyes were half-closed from lack of sleep.
Pain spread throughout her body, leaving no part untouched.
‘I should ask Instructor for a massage after this match…’
Lying on a soft blanket, receiving a massage from Zeke, and falling asleep without even realizing it.
What greater happiness could there be?
But, that was for later.
‘Right now, I need to focus on the spar with Instructor Dios.’
Selena lifted the bread Zeke had given her with trembling hands.
There was a small commotion in the audience at the sight, but Selena didn't have the time to pay attention to it.
‘Even though Instructor Zeke is special, Instructor Dios is still a swordsmanship instructor at Ramielli Academy.’
Moreover, Selena had the memory of being defeated by Yuri not long ago, despite using all the swordsmanship she knew.
She had eventually completed Zeke's task, but Selena still lacked confidence in her sword.
“Sigh… What is this nonsense… Tsk. He told me to trust only him… I shouldn't have listened to the First Prince…”
Dios frowned as if something was displeasing him.
“What's wrong?”
“Are you going to face me in that state?”
Dios looked at Selena with a pitiful expression.
“You look like a walking corpse who can barely stand… And what's that in your hand? Ha, are you trying to imitate that Zeke Clayman after following him around?”
“…Instructor gave it to me.”
“Ridiculous. That bastard must think very little of me…”
Dios shook his head.
His future was uncertain, even for tomorrow.
He wanted to quit this ridiculous spar right away.
He had considered showing the Black Dragon Sword to catch the Emperor's eye, but he shook his head.
Selena and her father, the Duke of Yohaiden, were here.
“Sigh. Fine, let's get this over with.”
Dios casually raised his wooden sword with one hand.
Soon, the bell signaling the start of the spar rang.
Ding━
Swish.
Selena firmly planted her feet on the ground.
In an instructional spar, the one receiving instruction was supposed to attack first,
but she had no intention of moving first.
“Selena Yohaiden, what are you doing?”
Dios asked Selena, who remained still even though the spar had begun.
“…….”
Of course, she knew this wasn't the proper way to do things.
But she couldn't help it.
She didn't know how many times she could swing her sword in her current state.
She didn't want to waste her stamina when every swing drained her energy.
She simply stared at Dios, maintaining her stance.
‘In times like these, I just need to be shameless like Instructor.’
If she was going to have Zeke Clayman, who constantly exasperated others, as her teacher,
shouldn't she, as his student, learn from his example?
And Selena disliked Dios.
Much more than she thought.
“Instructor, come on in.”
Selena taunted him, wiggling the end of the bread.
“I’ll give you some pointers.”
“What!?”
“Didn't you say that in instructional spars, the one receiving instruction should attack first?”
Dios glared fiercely and his body trembled.
“…What are you doing, Selena Yohaiden?”
“I heard from Instructor Zeke that all the students in your class lost to us? Rosnante said he would have won if there was no cheating.”
“So… Are you saying that this Dios Redwood is worse than Zeke Clayman, or even his students?”
“Well, I didn't say that… Are you feeling guilty? Honestly? A little bit? Seeing you lose to our Instructor every time, hmm… I’d say it seems doable…?”
Selena's provocation was a direct hit to Dios, who harbored a deep inferiority complex towards Zeke.
Flinch.
Dios forcibly stopped himself from charging forward.
Yes, he knew what kind of situation this was.
He wasn't that stupid.
With the Emperor and the Duke of Yohaiden present, watching this spar,
he couldn't just beat Selena to a pulp.
He just had to treat her like a guest, spar at a moderate level, nod, and acknowledge her.
Then it would be a spar that everyone would be satisfied with.
But he couldn't just brush off Zeke Clayman, who Selena kept bringing up.
Dios spoke, feigning composure.
“Hmph, you're just like a woman, learning those vulgar tricks from Zeke Clayman. Selena Yohaiden, this is why women shouldn't wield swords. Wouldn't it be better to marry into a good noble Family and learn to knit?”
Selena's eyes sparkled as she saw Dios react to Zeke's name.
‘Instructor would have taken it a step further here, wouldn't he? I wouldn't normally say this… but I want to at least show you a proper fight.’
Suddenly, Selena remembered the time she attended Dios's demonstration class.
“Oh, and I remember you showed off that Black Dragon Sword? or something during the demonstration class. I told Instructor Zeke about it, and he said it looked like a worm wriggling. He said it was just trash and I should erase it from my mind.”
Grit─
Selena's words struck a blow to Dios's pride.
“And… Sending your students to disrupt Instructor Zeke's classes is just pathetic, isn't it? Even if you can't beat him with a sword, that's no way to act. I thought a lot about… is this what a knight is…? back then.”
“Enough, Selena Yohaiden.”
“Hmm─. So, Instructor, you're just… incompetent as a swordsman and as a man…”
“Selena Yohaiden!!!”
Dios couldn't hold back any longer and shouted.
Zeke Clayman, Zeke Clayman.
He couldn't stand being constantly compared, belittled, and insulted.
Selena frowned and shook her head.
“Ugh… You're so loud… Just come at me, I said. You don't have to worry about the Yohaiden name or the fact that I'm a woman right now. I'm just saying this so you don't make excuses later about not being able to show your full potential.”
“…You're crossing the line. This is Ramielli Academy. You should know that instructors have more authority than students in the Academy!”
“Yes, yes, I know. So, come on in, I said. You talk too much for a man. It would be nice if you could shut your mouth like Instructor Zeke. Want to learn how to knit?”
Selena Yohaiden, she was a fine student of Zeke Clayman.
“Zeke Clayman's student, Selena Yohaiden, will be your opponent.”
Click.
Dios gritted his teeth and charged at Selena.
“You bitch!!!!!”
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