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CHAPTER 16
Still, Edel pretended to be calm and spoke playfully.
“By the way, the person who should be practicing ‘give and take’ is not Your Highness, but Count Uros. I asked Count Uros for training, not Princess Rowen.”
“You need to get my permission first.”
Edel almost laughed, thinking even a passing dog would mock such nonsense, but she kept her face calm.
“What do you want?”
“Are you finally willing to listen to me?”
“For now, let’s say yes.”
“Good. Then I’ll ask for a favor. Princess Edel, you know there will be a tax inspection soon, don’t you?”
At this sudden remark, Edel frowned.
“This time, the person recommended for the inspection is Duke Kartner. But unless it were neutral Duke Dwelsen, I cannot fully trust Duke Kartner.”
“And so?”
“What do you mean, ‘and so’?”
Rowen leaned toward Edel with a soft expression.
“I want you to make a statement so that Marquis Basant also joins in and the tax inspection becomes a joint effort.”
Edel almost spat out the champagne she had already swallowed.
Marquis Basant was undeniably Rowen’s loyal supporter. At the last dinner, wasn’t he the very man who attacked Edel just because Rowen didn’t show up?
And yet Rowen wanted to send him?
Of course, Duke Kartner was also a prince’s loyalist, so in the end, both sides were in the same position…
As Edel hesitated, Rowen’s gaze grew heavier with each passing second.
“If you don’t accept my proposal, then I will not allow your sword training—”
“…No.”
Finally, Edel opened her mouth, and Rowen’s lips curved upward, amused.
Edel’s eyes were clear as she spoke each word firmly.
“I accept. That proposal.”
Her own eyes curved into crescents, just like Rowen’s.
“I promise to make the statement.”
“Really? Thank you, Princess Edel.”
Rowen’s expression brightened genuinely as he called Rye over.
Rye ran up quickly, listened to Rowen’s words, then, with an emotional face, reached out for a handshake with Edel.
Edel did not avoid it. She took his hand proudly.
Yes, she needed to become stronger. Perhaps this was a chance. Maybe this was the first trial in her challenge against fate—a reminder that to achieve her goal, some price had to be paid.
It was unpleasant, but that was only natural. In the end, the one who would kneel would be Rowen.
Still, her hands were cold, and because of her nerves, she barely heard Rye’s detailed explanations.
“Your Highness? Your Highness!”
Only when Rye called loudly did Edel snap back to reality.
“Ah… what did you say?”
“I asked when you want to begin the training.”
“Starting tomorrow.”
“As expected, right?”
Rye seemed far more excited than Edel, who had suggested the sword training in the first place.
As if reluctant to leave, Rye kissed the back of Edel’s hand again, then finally stepped away.
Left alone, Edel let out the breath she had been holding. Unconsciously, her hand touched her earring.
When she fiddled with the jewel that Cassian had called a talisman, she somehow felt at ease.
Yes, she wouldn’t lose even if there were problems. If God existed, then surely the reason Edel was given this second life was because He wanted her to live well. She firmly believed that.
After finishing her thoughts, Edel walked calmly.
It was still a party, after all. Shouldn’t she enjoy it?
—
The party ended without incident. The heir of Count Uros never appeared, which turned out to be a huge disadvantage for him.
With both princesses attending, any discontent was forcibly silenced.
Rye, with a proud face, completed the succession ceremony for the count title.
And as promised, Edel and Rye’s sword training began the very next day.
Edel changed into simple clothes—shirt and trousers suitable for sword practice—and headed for the royal training grounds.
Knights who had been training here and there froze when they saw her, lowering their heads all at once.
“Greetings, Princess Edel!”
“Carry on.”
At her light nod, they returned to their drills with precision.
Glancing around, Edel could already sense the order and hierarchy at play.
Rye was not training with the regular knights. Despite his young age, he was already deputy commander of the knight order, giving out instructions.
Among the trainees, Edel spotted many familiar noble heirs, and from time to time, even captains under the knight commander came by.
Edel accepted their greetings with a simple gesture and walked over to Rye.
When he saw her, Rye beamed and spoke enthusiastically.
“I couldn’t sleep at all last night! To be in charge of training a princess—what greater honor could there be?”
“I’ll count on you.”
At her soft reply, Rye’s cheeks flushed even redder.
“But… do you really have time for me? Taking the deputy commander away makes me feel guilty.”
Though she didn’t mean it, she said so. But Rye only grinned confidently.
“Lately, there are more individual practices than group ones. Even without me, the leaders will manage fine. Honestly, it’s better if the deputy commander doesn’t hover too much. It makes everyone nervous.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
Edel brushed her shirt as a small signal of relief, and the innocent boy took it literally.
Not a bad start.
—
Rye’s eyes widened as he looked around Edel’s palace.
He had visited Rowen’s palace a few times, but Edel’s palace was quite different.
Edel let him look around enough before leading him to the practice hall tucked in a corner.
It hadn’t been used in a long time, so it was run down, but repairs could be made later.
“Shall we start?”
“Yes!”
With determination, Rye asked his first question.
“Have you ever held a sword before?”
“Not since I was a child.”
In truth, Edel had no memory of ever using a sword, but she lied with a straight face.
“Then it’s best to see directly.”
Rye carefully drew his real sword, moving with formality, and handed it to her with great respect.
He seemed carefree usually, but now he looked every bit the knight he was.
Edel also received it carefully, as though it were a rare treasure.
“Ugh!”
But it didn’t last long. The sword was so heavy she quickly dropped it.
Alarmed, Rye grabbed her hand to stop it from hitting the ground. His seriousness toward the sword was clear.
“This won’t work. You’ll need to start with a wooden sword.”
“You’re right. It’s really heavy.”
“When you use a real sword later, make sure it fits your build. Otherwise, your arm will give out.”
Excited, Rye poured out advice until Edel nodded, and only then did he take out the wooden sword.
“You must grip firmly so it doesn’t slip, but don’t tense your shoulders too much… huh?”
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“No, it’s just…”
Edel raised an eyebrow at his sudden pause.
He was staring at her.
“Have you really never held a sword before?”
“That’s right.”
“….”
It didn’t make sense. But then Edel understood.
Even before Rye explained, her posture holding the sword felt stable, natural. Almost as if her body remembered.
“Maybe I have more talent for the sword than I thought.”
“You really might…”
Rye muttered in awe, then quickly straightened up. Teaching a princess was already an honor, but now he was thrilled at the thought she might have real talent.
“Let’s begin right away!”
Of course, the first day was spent only on the basics. Practicing basic stances over and over took up all the time. Even with such little activity, Edel was exhausted.
She realized in one day just how weak her stamina was.
Rye, noticing this most of all, hurriedly handed her a water flask. Only after drinking deeply did she feel her breath return.
The sun was setting. They sat on the dirt floor of the training yard, watching it sink.
“Princess Edel, I heard that you have a different mother from Princess Rowen and the prince.”
Edel’s eyes narrowed slightly at the sudden mention of bloodlines.
But Rye waved his hands quickly, flustered.
“I’m the same. My brother and I also have different mothers. I didn’t mean anything insulting.”
“…I know.”
It still didn’t feel pleasant, but it wasn’t a big deal.
Relieved, Rye continued.
“Maybe that’s why you’re so different from Princess Rowen. From appearance to atmosphere.”
“And?”
“But, since you both carry the Emperor’s blood, there are similarities too.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hmm…”
Rye hesitated, and Edel gestured for him to go on.
With a mischievous smile, he whispered:
“You’re both kind to me.”
“….”
“Haha, I guess I’m just not used to kindness, since I’ve only ever been treated badly.”
“Do you dislike it?”
“No! Not at all! On the contrary, I’m so thankful I don’t know what to do.”
His ears turned red as he spoke.
At that moment, Edel regretted it. If only she had realized sooner how affection-starved Rye Uros was, she could have drawn him to her side earlier, before he became Rowen’s dog.
Clicking her tongue in frustration, Edel turned her head toward the sunset.
“You seem to have finished training well.”
Both turned at the familiar voice.
Rowen was walking toward them with his usual confident steps.
“I heard you started training today, so I came to see how it’s going, but it looks like you’re done already, Edel.”
“Come earlier next time. Of course, even if you do, I won’t reveal my secrets.”
“What secrets? Everyone already knows.”
“The training process, for example—that’s a secret.”
By now, Edel and Rowen were used to this kind of casual banter.
But anyone could see it was just a cover. Even as they chatted, both were carefully watching the other’s every move.
They shared the same goal: one day to strike the other down.
Meanwhile, Rye, who believed fully in family bonds, couldn’t even imagine such schemes.
With a flushed face, he knelt before Rowen.
Rowen gently stroked his hair and received a kiss on his hand.
“Time passed faster than I thought.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Yes!”
Rowen’s expression twitched strangely—half a smile, half concern. Perhaps he already worried that Rye was giving too much of his heart to Edel.
“But… you don’t learn swordsmanship, sister?”
“I can handle it well enough, so I don’t feel the need. Unlike you, I’m sturdy, and I have plenty of people to protect me.”
Rowen glanced at Rye as he spoke, making the boy blush furiously.
“And I’m so busy, I don’t have time to practice swords.”
“Still, shouldn’t you do anything necessary to achieve your grand dream?”
—To become Emperor.
At the pointed words, Rowen flinched, but quickly covered it with a smile.
“Let’s return, Sir Uros. The knights are waiting for you.”
At his command, Rye bowed his head, then waved goodbye to Edel with a bright smile.
Once again, he looked just like a puppy wagging its tail.
—
