🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 19
The gathering of knights’ children was held in the royal palace greenhouse.
Yes, the very place where the queen once flew into a rage, screaming that a lowborn had entered.
Clatter, clatter.
The sound of forks clinking against plates echoed occasionally.
Children between the ages of ten and fourteen chatted merrily among themselves.
“A little while ago, my father bought me this necklace.”
“Come to think of it, Miss Marti, your sister is studying abroad in the Principality, isn’t she?”
“You finally received your family’s treasured sword! It looks amazing!”
A warm and lively atmosphere.
Abel sat like a ghost in the farthest corner, mercilessly tearing into a scone.
‘Ugh, boring.’
It was the same as the last gathering.
The noble children continued their own conversations, completely ignoring Abel, who was treated as a commoner despite technically holding a title.
Before regaining her memories, she might’ve cried about it at home, but not anymore.
Abel no longer needed their kindness or recognition.
But still…
“Oh my, Lady Delaphion! There you are.”
“Who are you…? Del… What?”
“By the way, Master Kellon, isn’t this your first time at one of these gatherings?”
As usual, the conversation followed the same pattern.
Once greetings and social rankings were sorted out, the children sought new entertainment.
And Abel Delaphion, who had nothing but a noble title and a house granted to her father, was the perfect topic of gossip.
‘Damn brats. This is exactly why I didn’t want to come.’
“Lady Delaphion, you’re so frugal.”
“That dress! I saw one of my maids wearing the exact same thing. I guess it really is in fashion.”
Abel didn’t know who was teaching these kids, but they sure knew how to flap their little mouths.
‘To all the reincarnated seniors out there—lend me your strength.’
Abel just responded with minimal politeness—“Yes,” “Well,” “Ahaha”—with no intention of engaging.
Simple-minded as they might seem, these kids were likely children of her dad’s coworkers.
‘Hold it in…’
Abel really tried to keep her composure.
“I wonder what Lady Delaphion’s mother is like.”
“I heard it’s not the lady, but Baron Delaphion himself who handles everything. He’s so caring he doesn’t even keep servants.”
‘Should I hold it in?’
They clung to something she’d said offhandedly before and picked it apart.
After several rounds of patience, Abel’s fork snapped in half.
“L-Lady Delaphion, your fork just—”
“Hm? I was just imagining doing this to your neck.”
“What outrageous nonsense!”
“Shut it. Unless you want your precious wrist looking like this fork.”
“How dare you…!”
The boy, who looked to be a couple years older than Abel, turned red in the face.
Then, a girl stepped up beside the trembling boy.
“Lady Delaphion? As Lord Kellon’s fiancée, I cannot overlook this rudeness.”
“Oh? Are you going to run and tell your parents then?”
They could say whatever they wanted to her, but couldn’t handle the slightest pushback.
Whoosh!
A white glove came flying toward Abel.
“Lady Delaphion, I challenge you to a duel!”
“A duel?”
A curious glint appeared in Abel’s dark eyes.
She had sincerely vowed not to cause a scene today.
‘But? This? She’s the one who started it?’
Her gentle eyes curved into a sweet smile.
“Alright.”
Even the onlookers flinched slightly at her angelic expression.
It wouldn’t be right to back down from a fight someone else picked.
Her enthusiastic reply was so confident that even the girl who had thrown the glove looked startled.
“Let’s do it. A duel.”
Placing the broken fork neatly on the table, Abel smiled brightly.
The other girl’s lips twisted at the pure, innocent face in front of her.
“Then, in one week at this same time—”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
“You’re not going to back out now, are you?”
“Is your mother or father affiliated with any knight order?”
“My mother is in the 2nd Knight Order. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, just curious.”
Luckily, it wasn’t the same order as Abel’s father.
Even if she’s a noble, they were in different orders. She wouldn’t be able to pull any strings.
After all, nothing’s more pathetic than adults interfering in children’s fights.
She had planned to let it slide quietly, but that seemed unlikely now.
‘Sorry, Dad.’
Parents are responsible for their children’s actions.
It was a shame for her young father, who likely had no idea and only hoped his daughter would make some friends.
“You won’t run away now, will you, Lady Delaphion?”
“Haha, you’re the one who better not chicken out and flee.”
Well, good luck, Dad!
That afternoon, with the sun hanging at the center of the sky.
Golden brown cookie crumbs scattered over a chessboard.
“You—who did you say you’re dueling?”
“Cardel Lucio. How’s this batch taste?”
“Not bad, I guess—but don’t change the subject!”
“I wasn’t changing it.”
It hadn’t been long since he interrogated her over even a single thumb-sized candy.
Abel found it incredibly satisfying to see the boy quietly nibbling the snacks she made.
Yep, bribing kids with food always works.
“I just wanted to know what kind of flavor the prince likes.”
“Why would—anyway, Cardel Lucio? Isn’t she the only daughter of the Lucio count family?”
“Count family? Really?”
“You didn’t even know that, and you challenged her to a duel?”
“A title means nothing in front of a fist. If you get hit, it’s over.”
“Do you like getting hit?”
The prince’s sharp eyes crumpled into a scowl.
After brushing off the crumbs on the chessboard, the First Prince sighed and explained.
“Cardel Lucio’s reputation precedes her. Like her mother, Dame Lucio, she has a natural talent for the sword.”
“Oh wow, you know all sorts of things.”
“In other words, even I’ve heard of her.”
“No wonder she brought a sword to the gathering. It looked expensive.”
“A duel though, seriously?”
“Right? I didn’t know people still did that these days.”
“They don’t—not in the traditional sense. The last officially recorded duel was 120 years ago.”
“Guess that girl reads too much knight fiction.”
Tap.
Once again, the chess match ended in the prince’s victory.
“She was rash. I heard she’s about to enroll in the knight academy.”
While arranging the chess pieces for the next round, Abel commented.
“She’s not in yet though. She’s just a 13-year-old kid.”
“You’re ten.”
“Kids grow up through fighting.”
Tap.
“You could get hurt.”
“Aw, are you worried about me?”
Her legs swung above the floor.
All the furniture in the detached palace was adult-sized—too large and too tall for children.
Abel smiled as she moved the chess pieces, designed to fit a child’s hand.
“Don’t worry. I never take on a challenge I can’t win.”
“You just lost this game.”
“Not in chess. I’m winning something else.”
Abel smiled at the prince, who hadn’t answered when she asked if he was worried.
She thought it would take much longer to get this far, but things were progressing better than expected.
Would the First Prince realize?
That he was truly starting to be drawn in, just as Abel had intended.
“I didn’t know you could use a sword.”
“I don’t.”
“What?”
“Never even held a wooden one. Not interested.”
Her soft, uncalloused hand tapped the table.
The wounds from climbing and falling had long since healed.
“Can you use a sword?”
“…No.”
“That’s good. Kids shouldn’t go around wielding dangerous things like swords.”
“I’m two years older than you.”
‘Yes, yes, you’re two whole years older, Your Highness~’
Abel barely held back the urge to tease him and nodded obediently.
Her goal was to prevent the prince’s rebellion, not to provoke him.
“Then maybe it’s time you learned.”
“Is it really necessary?”
“Well, you wouldn’t beat Cardel Lucio with a few days of training anyway.”
“A duel doesn’t have to be fought with swords.”
“…I’ve heard at least thirty times now that you’re unnaturally strong for your age.”
Cheser Lagracio glanced around the reception room, looking slightly exasperated.
The furniture had all been moved.
‘How about pushing the unnecessary stuff against the wall to make more space in the middle?’
‘Why?’
‘Because kids are supposed to run around and play!’
The moment he gave in with a reluctant sigh, Abel rearranged the sofas, tables, and cabinets.
She had even brought in a plush carpet—larger than herself—to cover the newly cleared space.
The vibrantly glowing green eyes returned to the appearance of a particularly chubby-cheeked child.
“But swordsmanship is a matter of technique.”
“Haha, only weaklings say things like that.”
Her plump lips curved into a smooth arc.
Tap.
The chess match ended again in the First Prince’s victory, but he didn’t feel like he’d truly won.
