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Looking for the Runaway Princess – Episode 3
Unless someone was foolish, there was no way they would find such unpleasant and blunt reactions enjoyable.
In addition, Elizia’s personality was not exactly mild to begin with.
In a burst of anger, she almost snapped, “What does it have to do with you?”—but at that moment, her nanny’s advice echoed in her mind like a hallucination.
“Please, control your temper at the Royal Academy! Act gracefully as a princess!”
“….”
She fell into a short silence.
Act gracefully. Control her temper. What had she promised when her nanny gave her that desperate advice?
She had nodded firmly and smiled, saying, “I’ll behave properly so I won’t bring shame to the Kingdom of Ortigia.”
Elizia stared at Bess for a moment, then composed her expression. She made herself look as kind and gentle as possible.
Then, in what she believed was the most polite tone in the world, she spoke.
“I’m not very used to dressing myself without a maid’s help. Even when I try, it doesn’t turn out well… So I really admire you, senior. Being able to dress so beautifully all on your own.”
“Hm…”
Bess narrowed her eyes at the ambiguous compliment, as if trying to read her intentions.
Smiling brightly, Elizia continued.
“By the way, you said you’re from the Shati Kingdom, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I heard rumors that Shati’s finances are not doing well… but that must be nonsense. Looking at you, it can’t be true.”
She smiled while looking at Bess’s large jeweled ring and shining necklace.
Her expression was completely pure, without the slightest trace of malice.
Bess’s face stiffened slightly. But Elizia, unaware, continued speaking as if praising her.
“You’re really beautiful. I’m even a little envious.”
Elizia gave a bright, innocent smile. It was her best attempt at a polite compliment, though Bess’s expression had already hardened slightly.
After a simple bow, Elizia gestured toward the training ground and turned away, signaling she would leave.
Bess neither nodded nor responded.
Taking her silence as approval, Elizia walked into the training area with a bright smile.
Good. I handled that well! Elizia!
She considered her actions wise and composed—worthy of an Ortigia princess. At least, that was what she believed.
“There’s no need to get involved in childish arguments like that. From now on, I’ll act properly like this.”
She murmured proudly as she walked away, completely unaware that Bess was clenching her fist behind her.
Bess stood at the entrance, silently glaring at Elizia’s back as she left. Her nails dug into her palm.
Everyone knew the Shati Kingdom’s financial situation had recently fallen into ruin. It was practically an open secret.
That was why Bess had always tried to maintain her pride through luxurious appearances.
Even if her people were starving, she believed her dignity and appearance mattered most.
Yet this girl had casually touched that weakness while smiling innocently.
Bess bit her lip as she recalled Elizia’s face.
This was humiliation.
Sweat rolled down Elizia’s forehead.
She didn’t even have time to wipe it as she swung her sword repeatedly.
It was already her 300th repetition of the same stance. Her arms trembled, and her mind felt distant.
In this class, unlike before, girls were not surrounded by admirers like Rakan.
Since this was a skill-based academy, swordsmanship class was also purely ability-based.
Most female students were not used to handling swords like male students.
So it was a physically harsh class for many.
Elizia herself was slender, but she came from a ceasefire nation.
As a royal, she had been trained extensively in self-defense in case war broke out again.
A sharp pain shot through her wrist. She cursed under her breath, wondering why this class was so intense.
But she didn’t give up.
The strict professor in front of them watched closely, and Rakan—who hadn’t even broken a sweat—was calmly swinging his sword nearby.
“Stop. Take a short break.”
At the professor’s words, Elizia exhaled heavily and collapsed onto the ground.
When she looked beside her, Rakan was standing there.
He glanced down at her and smirked, as if saying, So this is tiring for you?
She didn’t want to admit it, but his stamina was extraordinary.
After a few minutes of catching her breath, the professor’s voice rang out again.
“All students, stand. Form two lines. We will begin sparring.”
The break ended instantly.
Elizia groaned and stood up.
Clang!
She blocked an incoming attack with her wooden sword held horizontally against her chest.
Female students were not exempt from sparring.
Her opponent had no intention of holding back. Neither did she want anyone to go easy on her.
I’m losing in strength.
The opponent’s force pushed against her relentlessly.
But Elizia had always prided herself on one skill—quick judgment and exploiting openings.
She shifted her weight to her left foot and redirected the attack.
Her opponent staggered slightly from the imbalance.
Elizia seized the opportunity.
She spun and struck toward the opponent’s waist. The startled opponent barely raised his sword to block.
Her wooden sword stopped just near his neck.
The boy accepted defeat with a bitter expression.
“…I lost.”
At the same moment—
Clang!
Another wooden sword flew through the air and crashed onto the ground. A boy who had been sparring with Rakan had dropped it.
The boy sighed, looking between his empty hands and the fallen sword.
Rakan casually extended a hand.
“Good work.”
His tone was polite, but it sounded almost indifferent—like even saying it was bothersome.
Still, that arrogance suited him strangely well.
The boy silently accepted the hand.
During sparring, Elizia had managed to win only narrowly, while Rakan had won effortlessly again and again.
Was that the difference in their skill?
If I weren’t a girl, could I beat him?
She had always been praised for her talent, but she couldn’t be sure.
Why did she feel such strange competitive frustration whenever she looked at him?
Was it because he was from an enemy nation? Or because of his irritating first impression?
Even she didn’t understand her own feelings.
“Go easy on me, junior.”
“….”
It was now their turn to spar.
Rakan casually asked her to go easy on him in a relaxed tone that only irritated her further.
Elizia said nothing and lowered her stance.
As long as he was taller and stronger, she would have to find an opening.
The spar began.
Rakan stood still, letting her attack first.
Elizia carefully considered her move.
It didn’t take long.
Attack his lower body, then strike his neck when he lowers his upper body!
She aimed at his upper body first, then quickly changed direction toward his lower body.
Rakan blocked and shifted his upper body.
Now! His shoulder is open!
Her eyes lit up.
She thrust her sword toward his opening—
But Rakan deflected it effortlessly, pushing her back.
Her stance broke instead.
But he didn’t attack.
…Why didn’t he attack me?
He continued sparring without any real aggression.
To others, it might look like a normal duel, but Elizia felt it differently.
It felt like he was toying with her.
And worse, it felt like everything was flowing exactly as he intended.
Clang!
In that moment, she instinctively blocked another strike.
And she realized—it wasn’t her imagination.
The instant her focus wavered, she clearly saw it.
Rakan’s attack that had been aimed at her opening was suddenly withdrawn faster than she could react.
If he had not pulled back, she would have lost.
Elizia lowered her sword and stared at him.
Their swords were still touching, and the sound of other students filled the air—but between them, everything felt silent.
After a moment, Rakan gently placed his sword near her neck.
“I win.”
“….”
Even his tone was light.
Elizia pushed his wooden sword away, her breathing sharp with irritation.
She had fought seriously, while he had treated her like a game.
“Yes. I lost.”
“Good. Try harder next time, princess.”
He turned away without hesitation.
Elizia bit her lip as she watched him leave.
Is he going easy on me because I’m a woman? Disgusting.
She stood still, touching her neck.
If he hadn’t stopped, he would have struck there for sure.
Her fingertips felt cold.
After class ended, Elizia quickly chased after Rakan.
He was walking toward the dormitory, casually spinning his wooden sword.
“Senior Rakan!”
She had realized it clearly during sparring.
He had not taken her seriously.
He was deliberately holding back.
This wasn’t new. It had happened before in her kingdom too—knights or nobles would hesitate when fighting her.
And she knew exactly why.
That so-called “chivalry” of noble men. The disgusting habit of not striking women.
But she wasn’t a fragile woman—or just a princess. She was simply a swordsman.
She didn’t want to be treated like that again.
That was why she had chased him immediately after class.
Breathing slightly heavily, she fixed her hair and approached him.
“Senior, if you plan to go easy on me again next time, just let me win instead.”
“Suddenly, what are you talking about?”
“Don’t toy with people. I was fighting seriously, and it was quite unpleasant.”
“….”
For a moment, Rakan silently studied her eyes.
