Chapter 18
Sigh, I guess I’ll try raising the Affection Level later. Maybe after waiting a week, I’ll come up with something.
Elysia grimaced as she changed clothes after the duel.
Why isn’t the affection level going up?
She never imagined that even after winning a sword duel, the Crown Prince’s affection level would still remain at zero.
“Isn’t this a bug? Or maybe he just has no interest in people at all? What’s his deal anyway?”
It had risen steadily with Prillian…
It’s definitely strange that he has absolutely no interest.
“Right?”
How is she supposed to raise his affection level within a week like this? Just as Elysia frowned, more chat messages flooded in.
By the way, how did you win earlier?
Your sword skills are still locked, right?
“Ah, that…”
Elysia belatedly checked the chat window. There had been an overwhelming number of messages during the duel with the Crown Prince—from when she blocked his sword to when she won. Real-time reactions filled with awe.
Among them were messages full of concern and affection.
You don’t even have skillsㅠㅠㅠ what now
Did you go in without unlocking skills because you had no money? Oh noㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠ
I seriously want to donate—can’t you open a support account or something? Why is everything lockedㅠㅠㅠ
I’ll subscribe and watch all the ads! Please win!!
Warm concern and cheering.
She felt guilty for not noticing them during the fight.
“I didn’t realize you were all cheering me on like this… Thank you so much.”
They were worrying about a stranger like me as if it were their own problem…
Deeply moved by their kindness, Elysia bowed her head repeatedly.
LOL now you’re seeing this?
I mean we were all worried and you just went and won??
Come on, tell us how you did it!!
How did you block the Crown Prince’s attacks??
I didn’t tell the Crown Prince, but I guess it’s fine to tell them.
Elysia spoke up willingly.
“Luckily, the Crown Prince’s swordsmanship was very similar to one I already knew, so it was easy to block.”
…? Why do you know that?
What did you do before this?
Are you a fencing athlete? lololololol
“No, not a fencing athlete. It’s just… his sword technique was the same as one from the Seiros family style called ‘Imperial Sword Technique 15’. I knew the pattern, so it was easy to block.”
But the more she explained, the more the chat exploded with shock.
??????
What????
You memorized that??
Imperial Sword Technique what now?? Why would you even… How??
It’s not just the skill—you memorized all the movements too??
Can you even block it just by memorizing??
“Huh? Yes. I remembered it as I saw it.”
I’ve done it so much, it just stuck…
Of course, saying that out loud would make her sound like someone who’d devoted their life to the game, so she decided to leave that part out.
“Also, I could see the Crown Prince’s attacks very clearly. Maybe my reflexes are enhanced because of high stats?”
Uh…
Sure… lolololololol
Let’s go with that… lol
You beat the Crown Prince without mana?? lol
No one seemed to believe the bit about her reflexes. Well, just because a character in the game has great reflexes doesn’t mean the player does too. To react like that, you’d need pro-gamer-level skills.
“Ah, I shouldn’t take too long here. I’ll tell you the rest once I step outside!”
After reading chat for a while, Elysia noticed a commotion outside and peeked out. Leonar was being questioned by Jerome and the commander of the royal guards.
“What were you thinking, Your Highness? Using sword energy on a noble lady wielding a sword for the first time today?!”
“It’s a relief nothing happened, but what if Lady Sempherion had been hurt…?”
Mid-reprimand, they noticed Elysia’s presence and turned.
“…Lady Sempherion.”
Jerome approached her immediately.
“You’re absolutely sure you weren’t injured?”
They had checked earlier, but he seemed to want to be thorough in case she’d discovered bruises or injuries while changing. Elysia nodded.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“That’s a relief. However…”
Jerome hesitated before asking.
“Forgive me if this is an impolite question, but… is it really true this was your first time picking up a sword?”
A surprise question. But Elysia had just read the chats and gained a bit of information about her character.
“I actually learned a little when I was young.”
“There’s no way you could perform like that with just that much…”
“I agree. I wasn’t good as a child either. Maybe it’s because I had the basics that I was able to follow along better?”
“By any chance, have you studied the Imperial Sword Technique before?”
Another question—this time from the guard commander.
“How exactly did you manage to break through that style…?”
His eyes gleamed. With his pride on the line and such eagerness, it felt wrong to brush him off. After some thought, Elysia replied with a serious face.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say I broke through it. I merely managed to block it.”
In moments like this, humility was best.
Apologies to the Aystas Imperial family, but the truth was that Imperial Sword Technique 15 was relatively simple compared to other powerful techniques from the Seiros style. The Crown Prince’s form also seemed somewhat unrefined, maybe due to emotional involvement.
Still, it wasn’t something she could say out loud. This was a matter of the empire’s pride, after all. It was best to let them save face.
Elysia smiled lightly and refreshingly.
“I doubt I could do it again.”
Of course, if they came at her again, she wouldn’t back down. But she kept that part to herself and quietly stepped back.
The guard commander muttered in disappointment.
“Still… this kind of talent isn’t ordinary. Have you ever considered becoming a knight…?”
Just as he began to elaborate, Leonar interrupted.
“Wait, Elya. You’re just going to go home?”
“Yes.”
Elysia nodded immediately. It was already morning—much too late. The duchy had probably gone into an uproar by now. If she delayed any longer, it could be dangerous.
But… why is it so quiet?
She expected at least a system notification updating her on the duchy’s status. Maybe even a message from the duchy to the imperial family, or an alert saying “The Duke’s disappointment has increased.” But there was nothing.
Why isn’t anything changing? Don’t tell me… there’s no disappointment left to give?
Maybe they had already given up on her and didn’t care if she ran away.
The thought left a bitter taste. Just then, Leonar asked again.
“Won’t you at least have some tea in the garden before you go? It should be ready by now.”
“No, thank you.”
Elysia declined firmly.
Her first proper invitation to tea. The first time the Crown Prince sincerely tried to converse with her.
But she didn’t feel like staying. Honestly, she didn’t even know what to say to his face. Talking wouldn’t magically raise that stubborn affection level. Right now, checking the situation back home was more important to her.
“My father might be worried. I should return home quickly. Let’s have tea another time.”
At her words, the Crown Prince didn’t press further.
“…Right, the Duke does treasure you, after all.”
He only murmured softly.
What’s that supposed to mean?
Back home, she was treated like a nuisance. All she ever got was his deep disappointment.
Maybe the Crown Prince, being an outsider, didn’t really know her family’s situation. Elysia turned away without hesitation.
…
Leonar rubbed the back of his neck as he watched Elysia walk away. He still felt the chill of her blade.
“Are you all right, Your Highness?”
The guard commander asked. Jerome had already gone off, trailing after Elysia. Leonar spoke to the commander.
“Do you also think Elya is abnormally strong?”
“Well… Lady Sempherion can’t use sword energy. But even so…”
The commander swallowed hard.
“She has amazing talent. She blocked the entire Imperial Sword Technique despite not using mana and never seeing it before. If she ever learns to use mana, she could be incredibly powerful…”
“…Why didn’t Elya tell me any of this?”
“Maybe she never had the chance. Maybe she never knew how strong she really was.”
“You really believe that?”
Leonar asked pointedly, unconvinced. Did he really think Elya wasn’t hiding her skills? After a long pause, the commander finally replied.
“…Yes. I don’t think she was hiding it on purpose. You’ve seen her yourself. And her swordsmanship today—while impressive—didn’t seem polished. It looked like someone picking up a sword for the first time… or the first time in a long while.”
“Is that so?”
“…Does it bother you?”
“…”
Leonar stayed quiet, staring after her shrinking silhouette. Her red hair now just a tiny dot. Her cold voice echoed in his mind:
“You didn’t care about me anyway.”
Is that how it looked?
How did it show so clearly? He thought he’d hidden it perfectly. Maybe that was arrogance.
“…I didn’t think I cared at all.”
He looked at the training ground, where her real sword still lay. The hilt was decorated with faint red markings, as if to leave no regret.
“I probably won’t be able to send letters anymore.”
It wasn’t a big deal.
He just wondered why she wouldn’t send letters anymore. Why she’d been hiding her strength. Why she didn’t take the duel seriously.
It irritated him that she was hiding things from him, and he couldn’t help himself. That’s why he had gone so far as to use sword energy—a skill he had kept secret from everyone.
“…If I went that far, doesn’t that mean I do care?”
“Pardon?”
“Now that I think about it… maybe I was interested after all.”
Leonar murmured.
Leonar’s Affection Level has increased by 30%!
Affection Level: 0% → 30%!
“…?”
On her way home, Elysia tilted her head.
What was that?
Suddenly?
His affection level suddenly jumped? Now?
I literally just left after dueling him and saying goodbye. Why now? Why not earlier?
Maybe there really was a bug in the system.
Elysia glared at the system window, suspicious.
