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Chapter 10
For example, pretending to have a stomachache while baking cookies so I could sneak off to the bathroom for a long time. That kind of thing.
Anyway, thanks to those antics, Camilla had blended in well between Baldwin and me.
Now, she showed no trace of the wariness she used to have.
We even bonded over our shared fan obsession.
In short, Camilla had completely fallen for Baldwin’s looks too.
The sad thing was, cameras didn’t exist in this era.
If they did, I probably would’ve taken 100 pictures of Baldwin a day.
As promised, Baldwin began sword training two years ago—when he turned seven.
The novel had described him as “a man with the elegant, languid eyes of a sleek black panther,” so sword training was a must.
Dad never hesitated to spend money on Baldwin and me. Baldwin’s swordsmanship teacher was one of the best in the Empire.
“You’re doing well, young lady. A little more strength in the arms. Keep your grip smooth.”
The sound of clashing swords echoed across the training ground.
I watched as I munched on a slice of cake.
A fluffy strawberry shortcake paired with honeyed milk.
Spring weather made it the perfect moment.
On top of that, I got to watch my beautiful little cat swinging a sword with all his might right in front of me, like he was doing cute little cat punches.
“Is this heaven…?”
It was enough to make any true fan faint.
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing.”
The maid who was looking after me—well, clearly placed by my mom to keep an eye on me—tilted her head in confusion.
Her name was Kara. Ever since Kara came, I’d definitely been more restricted in my actions.
If it weren’t for her, I’d probably be waving a handkerchief with Baldwin’s name embroidered on it.
All I could do now was:
“Fighting! Didi! You’re the bestttttttt! So handsome, Didi!!!!”
That was all I could manage.
I saw Baldwin’s sword slip from his hand.
Wow, he’s embarrassed.
*
Baldwin wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.
There were things he’d learned about Laila from spending so much time near her.
She was not, by any standard, a typical duke’s daughter.
She was unique, curious, and amusing.
Baldwin had come to this conclusion after being exposed to the children of the social world.
For one, noble daughters didn’t behave like that.
No matter how hard he searched through the knowledge and memories he’d inherited, he couldn’t find anyone as peculiar as Laila.
“Milk-colored Didi! So handsome!! So pretty!!”
Baldwin bent down to pick up his dropped sword.
Even he, a future swordmaster, was flustered by Laila.
The sword instructor chuckled.
“Lady Laila is passionate again today, I see.”
Even his sharp eyes softened whenever he looked at Laila.
Baldwin cast a disapproving glance at the knight captain, then quickly smiled.
Laila never made that kind of face toward adults.
Especially not to someone teaching her.
“Yes, it seems so.”
When Baldwin replied meekly, the knight captain smiled kindly.
Though his hair had grown long, now tied high on his head, Baldwin trained just as passionately.
He had never once skipped either the morning or afternoon training.
‘With that natural physique, she might even overcome the limits of a female body.’
Baldwin’s strength far surpassed that of other boys his age.
‘He’ll become an outstanding knight.’
Knight Commander Kerbel examined Baldwin carefully.
At this rate, he would be a fine sword to protect Laila in the future.
As the future commander of Lorovante’s knight order.
Baldwin spun the sword between his fingers.
No one had taught him, but Baldwin moved as if he were one with the sword. Naturally.
He was Caliburn itself.
The cold sharpness of metal was more familiar to him than human warmth.
His red eyes scanned down the blade.
“Then, let’s begin again, young lady.”
Kerbel raised his sword.
Clang—
Baldwin met the strike perfectly, eyes gleaming like a predator watching its prey.
Controlling his strength was hard.
But—
“Didi! Diiiiidi! Kyaaah! You’re amazing!”
Hearing that kind of scream made the strength drain from his hands without even realizing it.
Honestly, Laila…
Instead of a killing aura, Baldwin’s eyes now shimmered with laughter.
His long black hair fluttered in the wind.
*
Did you know? Fanning is more fun when you have a partner.
The female lead of this novel is Camilla Royster.
She’s the daughter of Count Royster, and would one day become Baldwin’s lovely fiancée.
Right now, she was just my fellow fangirl.
According to the novel, Camilla was like a passionate red rose.
To Baldwin—cold, stoic, and quiet—Camilla was a shock.
If Camilla was a red rose, the original Laila was a lily. A lily.
Unfortunately, what imprinted itself on Baldwin wasn’t the lily, but the rose.
Camilla and Baldwin’s connection deepened at the Knight Academy, and they started dating when they turned 18.
Their love story was dramatic and heartbreaking.
Watching from the sidelines, Laila went to her parents in desperation.
“I’ll die, Mother. I really will die if I don’t have Baldwin.”
My god.
Just thinking about that line still gives me goosebumps. Isn’t this like a historical version of Misery?
And to think that future me is the one who says that line… Ugh. I’m gonna faint.
These random thoughts kept coming because I was doing something I didn’t want to do.
“What’s wrong this time?”
Baldwin asked gently.
We were nine now and had started studying.
The study room was filled with age-appropriate books.
Baldwin seemed to think of it as his second home. I did not.
Mom was fiercely determined to invest whatever it took to improve our grades.
“Nothing. Just…”
I shook my head.
“Tell me. That way, I can help.”
Baldwin smiled sweetly.
“You’re not having weird thoughts, are you?”
Now nearing the end of age nine, Baldwin had gotten a little more prickly.
Ahem. I rested my chin on my hand and looked at him before speaking.
His clear red eyes sparkled. He just keeps getting prettier.
Although, now that he was training with the sword, he was starting to show a bit of manliness, so Mom had started casting illusion magic on him every month.
Ugh… Unnie, take me now.
*
“…Do you really think this is okay? We’re only nine! And this schedule is already murderous! I can’t accept this!”
When I said that with all the seriousness I could muster, Baldwin smiled softly and shook his head.
“Didi! Look at me! Look at how I’m withering away, dying like this!”
“You look fine.”
Ugh, this guy doesn’t get it!
Keep this up, and we’re going to be force-fed 12 years of rote memorization!
I distinctly remember what I said when I was seven.
‘Lala, what do you want for a present?’
‘A world without studying.’
Mom grabbing the back of her neck after hearing that was just a minor memory.
What mattered was that I came to this world after enduring 12 years of forced education.
And now you want me to study more? What is this, a PhD track?
Huff.
No. I refuse to sit at this desk and study such impractical stuff anymore!
Baldwin and Camilla had already begun swordsmanship lessons.
In other words, they were doing something directly tied to their future careers.
I tried it too, of course.
And I failed miserably.
“Huff, huff… Carry me… please…”
After barely running one lap and crawling across the training ground, I got piggybacked home by Baldwin. After that, the knight commander gave up on me.
“She lacks even basic stamina. In this condition, she can’t even lift a wooden sword. Lady Laila is not suited for sword training.”
Geez. That man is ruthlessly decisive.
So it seems I’ll have to find my own way to survive.
I’m a typical STEM person, so going into politics like Dad doesn’t really appeal to me.
I’d rather—
“I’m going to be a scientist.”
“A scientist?”
For some reason, Baldwin’s voice had a hint of laughter.
Are you mocking me?
But when I looked at him, he was just smiling sweetly.
Never mind then.
“Yup. I’m going to be a genius scientist!”
At age nine, I made my bold declaration.
I’d learned a lot in my previous life. Might as well use that knowledge and become a scientist.
If I could invent something groundbreaking for this world’s scientific development, I’d be able to kick back and relax.
Mwahaha.
Maybe I could create something like antibiotics.
Wouldn’t they call me the mother of pharmacology then?
You know… something like that.
Like Mother Teresa… or Edison.
People are remembered for the legacy they leave behind.
“Alright, genius scientist. You’ll need to study, then, won’t you?”
“I already know all of this! I really am a genius, you know!”
I slammed my hands on the desk.
Twelve years of rote learning didn’t just vanish into thin air!
