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Chapter 11
Before long, dawn had broken.
Knights who had begun gathering one by one at the training grounds all found themselves staring blankly in the same direction.
The blades shone sharply in the bluish light that drove away the darkness.
Clang—Ching!
Two blades clashed, a clear sound slicing through the air. Their duel was sharp, yet at the same time, traced graceful lines. The sight was like a dance—so elegant that the knights watching could not tear their eyes away.
Rune adjusted her grip on the sword and closed in again.
“When you extend the blade—”
Cailien, who dodged her attack with ease, looked amused.
“—you need to move with your whole hand, not just your wrist.”
Rune bit her lip. Each time their bodies drew close, his low voice brushed against her ear.
Cailien was usually the one holding back, but Rune was doing well enough to fend off several of his strikes.
Not bad.
The tremor through her fingertips from their locked blades, his piercing blue eyes that grazed hers, and even the faint scent that lingered around him—
It was all a pleasant kind of tension.
Cailien felt the tingling thrill rising all the way up to the crown of his head.
Claaang!
Rune did not miss the heavy downward strike and caught it squarely.
“Good sense,” he murmured, a smile tugging at his lips. It was the most fun he’d had in a long time.
Unfortunately, with so many eyes watching now, it seemed time to bring this delightful duel to a close.
Shhiiiing—
Cailien’s sword slid swiftly down Rune’s blade. The screech of steel made her wince.
The cross guard of his hilt hooked her weapon, and in an instant, he flicked it upward.
Clang!
It was over in a heartbeat.
With a sharp sound, Rune’s sword lost its balance and went flying.
“Ugh—”
She admitted inwardly: she lacked the sheer physical strength to match a man. But speed—that was her pride.
And yet, I couldn’t dodge it.
Knocked back by the rebound, Rune stabbed her sword into the ground and knelt on one knee. Raising her head, she saw Cailien’s face beyond the tip of his blade pressed to her chin. A hollow laugh escaped her.
If this had been real combat, my head would have been severed.
The sunlight that now filled the training grounds illuminated Cailien’s profile. Rune could not look away from the reddish gleam flickering in his dark eyes.
“Haa… haa…”
Breathless, her flushed cheeks burned. Sweat beaded beneath her neatly cropped hair, trailing down her pale neckline.
“It’s been a while since I’ve dueled like this. How about granting the victor a wish?”
Rune had accepted, thinking there could hardly be much he would want from her. She just wanted to cross swords with him. She had never truly expected to win against him, but still—it stung.
“I’ve lost. Please state your wish.”
“Good.”
Cailien smiled leisurely and lowered his blade.
As Rune stood, sliding her sword into its sheath and brushing damp hair from her face, his shadow suddenly loomed over her.
“From now on—don’t avoid me.”
Before she could question his strange words, a large hand ruffled her hair in an instant.
“Ahh!”
The careless touch on her sweat-damp forehead flushed her nape bright red.
“Y-you! What on earth—!”
Her hair, now a tangled nest, left Rune staring in dismay. Cailien seemed quite satisfied, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“One more thing. Hand over that dagger.”
At that, Rune’s face twisted.
“You’re making two demands now?”
“I never said it would only be one.”
With an unapologetic lift of his dark brows, he answered brazenly. Rune was left speechless.
In the end, Rune surrendered her cherished dagger before leaving the training ground.
Remembering how her cheeks had puffed round in indignation, Cailien had to stifle a chuckle.
Ethan, who had been watching, crossed his arms and scolded him.
“Who was it that said we shouldn’t spar recklessly with the Light Knights just out of pride?”
“I couldn’t refuse the earnest request of a fool.”
“Ha—of course not.”
Ethan shook his head at Cailien’s rather amused expression. He had seen his lord enjoy teasing the young Lord Este before, but still—to think he continued to toy with people even now. Evidently, that mischievous streak from childhood had not faded.
Ethan’s eyes fell on the dagger in Cailien’s hand.
“That dagger… wasn’t it a gift from your lord?”
“Sadly, yes. Though the one who received it doesn’t even remember.”
“…You do realize taking back a gift is even pettier than never giving one, right?”
“Perhaps.”
Cailien rubbed the sapphire set in the hilt. The deep blue gem reminded him of Rune’s eyes.
At last, he slipped the dagger into his coat and smiled faintly.
“It feels unfair that only I remember. But—I’m someone who keeps his promises.”
Indeed, he had been smiling more often lately.
After that dawn sparring match, an odd standoff arose within the marquis’ estate.
Damn it.
Hearing Cailien’s voice from the opposite corridor, Rune quickly turned heel and walked the other way.
She wanted nothing more than to sprint back to her chambers, but cursed etiquette held her back.
“Rune.”
At the sound of his voice behind her, she nearly choked on her own breath.
Forcing herself to turn slowly, she offered an awkward smile.
“Good afternoon, Lord Cailien.”
“If you’ve yet to dine, then—”
“Ah! I have lessons now, so please excuse me!”
Before he could finish, she bowed properly and darted around the corner.
Cailien frowned, staring down the now-empty corridor.
“…Did she just avoid me?”
Ethan snorted, shrugging.
“That’s what happens when you overdo it.”
Considering how he’d ruffled her hair every time they crossed paths that morning, it was no wonder Rune was fleeing.
“By the way, are you truly planning to handle that dagger yourself?”
“That’s the third time you’ve asked.”
“Why not just entrust it to a smith here? I can have the steward arrange it.”
“No. The stone stays.”
Ethan clicked his tongue, handing over a box containing a whetstone.
“First you take back a gift, then you say you’ll sharpen what’s clearly a decorative blade with no edge… what are you thinking, my lord?”
“None of your concern.”
“I wish it weren’t, but—”
Ethan narrowed his eyes, studying him.
If only I could ignore it…
His master was always difficult to read, but this was baffling. Watching Cailien inspect the whetstone, Ethan asked carefully,
“Forgive me for asking, but—you haven’t been suffering headaches, dizziness… anything of the sort?”
“What nonsense.”
His sharp retort made Ethan nod with satisfaction.
“Good. You seem fine, then.”
That cold, expressionless face was proof enough—it was the same as ever.
Well, at least it’s not sunstroke, Ethan thought.
“Milady, I’ve brought your meal.”
Her attendant entered with a simple lunch. The scent of hot chicken soup and fresh bread filled the air. Yet Rune, appetite gone, only stirred her soup idly with a spoon, sighing.
Why does he obsess over my hair like that?
How was it possible to keep running into him in such a vast castle?
By now, she was convinced he was deliberately seeking her out. So she chose not to leave her room.
He told me to keep myself in line… is this too part of Father’s so-called foresight?
With a hollow laugh, Rune eventually set aside her half-eaten meal. The thought of the dagger she’d lost soured her stomach further.
“So petty…”
Restless, she wandered her room before throwing herself onto the bed. She had lost her treasured dagger, and now she was practically confining herself—her insides burned with frustration.
Though she had used Cailien as an excuse, the truth was she had no lessons with Baron Conrad today. On a day like this, having to hole up in her room was maddening.
“Ah, that’s right!”
Tossing restlessly, she suddenly sat bolt upright.
“I need to see Sir Humphrey.”
She had reported the black dust from the collapsed wall through him. The Light Knights were probably investigating that area now.
He said they leave at dawn tomorrow. Lord Cailien will surely be busy this evening with inspections.
Yes, it would be best to visit Humphrey quietly around sunset.
“Whew, looks like we’re nearly finished.”
Ethan, not Cailien, was the one running himself ragged with inspections. It took five days to cross the Empire and reach the Grand Duchy—three, if they hurried. Before departure, the tired horses had to be checked, and replaced if necessary.
Entering Cailien’s room, Ethan approached him at once, where he sat by the window.
“There are no wounded among the knights, but two of the horses must be swapped. It’s a shame to give up warhorses.”
“Este’s horses are fine quality. Even ordinary ones won’t be a loss.”
Cailien, perched on the window frame, replied casually, eyes still outside.
As Ethan had said, breeding warhorses took years and great cost. But northern horses had equal value. Raised roaming the plains, they could handle mountain trails and forest paths with ease.
“If anything, we may owe the Marquis more for his hospitality than we can repay.”
Through the half-open window, a cooling breeze drifted in. The red sunset sank on the horizon. By sunrise, they would be gone from here.
“I’ll discuss it with the captain. Humphrey Robere, was it?”
“Yes, the man who greeted us at the outer gate.”
The broad-shouldered middle-aged knight had seemed loyal enough. A captain revealed much about the nature of his order.
The Light Knights had long been known for their deep loyalty to their lord. From the way they treated Rune, that devotion wasn’t limited to the Marquis Este alone.
Knights of such conviction… good for her.
At the thought of Rune, Cailien clicked his tongue and scowled.
It was strange.
Since arriving at the Marquis’ estate, all his thoughts seemed to circle back to Rune. No matter what he considered, somehow it always led to her.
Yet she, who had spent all morning dodging him, had now vanished entirely—he hadn’t seen so much as a strand of her hair since noon. Not only had she completely forgotten him, she was now avoiding him outright. It was ridiculous—no, it was unfair.
Unlike him, who had even heard of her back in Remoir, she found only discomfort in his presence. If he chose to ignore her, that should have been the end of it.
And yet—
Why can’t I stop thinking of her?
