When I returned to the mansion, Luca was waiting for me.
“Can the Crown Prince really be away this often?”
I asked in surprise as I saw him leisurely sipping black tea on the drawing room sofa.
“Ria is more important to me. It looks like you’re feeling much better.”
Luca said, glancing at my training clothes and damp hair.
His gaze seemed to demand an explanation.
It wasn’t easy to fool someone like Luca, especially since he’d been with me the whole time I was at the orphanage. He was more like a comrade than anything else.
I made up a story about being interested in swordsmanship and wanting to build up my terrible stamina.
I wasn’t sure if he’d believe me, but I knew Luca well.
“I see.”
He never pressed me when I had trouble answering.
“But I can’t help worrying that you might get hurt. Still, you’re going to continue, aren’t you?”
He knew me well too. I gave him an awkward laugh.
Luca hadn’t come empty-handed. Concerned about my health, he brought all kinds of medicinal herbs and rare potions.
After I showered and dried my hair, Luca said he’d bring gifts next time—things I’d need for sword training.
“More importantly, how are you doing?”
At first glance, he looked like he was doing well—growing taller and more handsome by the day. But since I knew the contents of the novel, I could guess what his situation was like.
The golden throne had found its rightful heir, but no one welcomed him back.
In the two turbulent years he had vanished, someone had desperately tried to erase Luca’s presence and install a new crown prince.
Money changed hands, titles were exchanged, rumors spread, and many of Luca’s former supporters were likely bribed.
Now everyone was probably suspicious of one another, carefully watching and calculating which side to take.
The ministers argued among themselves. The emperor, infatuated with a foreign woman, ignored his returning son. The concubine traveled far and wide with her two sons to strengthen the faction that would crush Luca. And the empress—his biological mother, who should’ve been his main support—was bedridden with illness.
Luca’s sister, Rachel, had gone abroad to search for him. I heard she was preparing to return now that she’d learned he was back.
“Are you really okay?”
I asked Luca again, staring into his calm, clear eyes.
In response, he smiled brightly. This guy really liked being worried over.
“I’m doing just fine.”
I wasn’t expecting a truthful answer. Luca stood up and leaned toward me on the sofa.
“With Ria worrying about me like this, I can’t let anyone mess with me.”
I grabbed his tie and pulled him close.
His eyes widened as our noses almost touched.
“What if someone bullies you when I go to the palace?”
His beautiful red eyes wavered just a little.
“Since I lied… I guess I’ll need to be punished. I’ll become a dog that serves Ria for life.”
He said it with a big grin, and I quickly pushed his shoulder away in shock.
“W-what punishment?! I was the one saying I’d scold you!”
I grabbed his now-blushing ear.
“Ow, ow…”
“I’m going to the palace tomorrow.”
“Are you coming to see me?”
Yeah, I needed to check how he was doing. The kid was too naive—he’d probably be fooled and not even notice.
“But even though I’ve officially been adopted into the Rayes family, everyone knows I was born a commoner. What if that causes bad rumors about you…”
I voiced the sudden concern. Luca smiled faintly. But for some reason, that smile had a chilling undertone as he replied,
“That won’t happen, so you don’t need to worry. I’ll clean everything up before you get there.”
Clean… everything up? I nodded slowly.
Luca said he had something to take care of tonight, so he couldn’t stay for dinner. I saw him off to the front gate.
“Thanks for coming today. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes. I need to get back to the cleaning I’ve been putting off. I’ll be waiting.”
How dirty could his room be that he’s in such a hurry? Back at the orphanage, Luca was one of the neatest kids I knew.
Right before getting into the carriage, he suddenly stepped closer and kissed my cheek.
“Huh? Luca, you—!”
I pointed at him, hand on the warm spot he kissed—but by then, he was already inside the carriage.
“You used to accept it just fine when we were little.”
That’s because you were shorter than me and looked like a real younger brother!
But now—
I quickly turned away, my face burning.
Tomorrow, when we meet, I’ll definitely give him a good flick on the forehead.
When I returned inside, the mansion was already bustling with dinner preparations. Even though dinner happened every day, the meals of nobles were always prepared like some grand feast.
Come to think of it, I’d heard Dad and my brothers had left for a meeting about the noble titles of a collateral family.
‘So I’ll be eating alone today?’
Without much thought, I arrived at the dining hall—only for Garnet to swing the doors open.
“Huh?”
Inside, my dad, Miller, and Drehan were all seated, waiting for me.
“Ria, are you feeling better?”
Miller stood up and rushed over.
“I’m fine. But I heard everyone was away today…?”
“We just got back. Anything happen while we were gone?”
Dad asked.
‘Something did happen.’
I thought of what happened at the training grounds.
“Nothing.”
It wasn’t time to tell them yet, so I lied without batting an eye and let Miller guide me to my seat.
Drehan stared at me silently.
Over the last two days, he and Miller had gone ahead to the vassal territory to handle business on Dad’s behalf after confirming I was awake.
Only after making sure I’d fully recovered did Dad leave to join them.
“I heard His Highness the Crown Prince visited. And that you plan to visit the palace tomorrow?”
Since I didn’t know they’d be back today, I’d told a messenger to inform Dad of my plan to visit the palace.
“Yes, I want to check for myself that Luca’s doing okay.”
“Hm… I won’t be able to go with you tomorrow due to unresolved matters.”
“I can go alone.”
He shook his head. I knew what he was worried about.
Even if I was visiting as the Crown Prince’s guest, the palace wasn’t safe yet. It wasn’t about physical safety—but the risk of damaging my reputation.
If I, unfamiliar with noble customs, even mispronounced a noble’s name by one letter, the tabloids nobles loved could have a field day the next morning.
What could be more exciting than gossip about a commoner-born, adopted noblewoman about to debut in society?
As I was about to say it’d be better to wait and go with him another day, someone cut in.
“I’ll go with her.”
‘Drehan?’
A surprising volunteer.
“You will?”
Dad and Miller both looked at him in disbelief.
“Is that not allowed?”
“No, that’s not it. Then Drehan, take care of Ria tomorrow.”
“Yes. I’ll excuse myself now.”
As Drehan stood up, his green eyes briefly met mine. He seemed like he had something to say, but left without speaking.
“Did something happen between you and my brother?”
Miller asked. I shook my head. I couldn’t tell them about him picking a fight on the stairs or our encounter in the library, so I just gave an awkward smile.
Dad spoke up.
“Still, I’m relieved. He seems to have decided to accept you.”
I nodded, feeling the same.
More importantly—
“Dad, I have something to ask.”
“What is it?”
“I want to learn swordsmanship.”
“What?”
It was Miller who reacted first, choking and gulping down water.
“Swordsmanship? Why all of a sudden?”
“There are many reasons, but the biggest is because of what happened before.”
By “before,” I meant the incident that left me bedridden for two days. Dad and Miller seemed to understand.
“At the orphanage, I couldn’t even eat proper food, let alone build up stamina. I’ve realized my body is very weak. The medicine from the royal physician and the potions Luca brought can’t be permanent solutions.”
Judging by Dad’s expression, he was halfway convinced. I delivered the finishing blow with a smile.
“It’s my wish!”
It was the first time I’d ever made a personal request. I’d never asked for anything before—not for things I wanted or things I wanted to do.
Even when he asked, I just said I didn’t know. Everything I needed was provided within this well-designed plan, so I’d never felt the need to ask.
That’s why this wish was special.
In the novel, Raveria had made her first ever request—not really a request, but a plea—to possess Luca.
The text described how she called him “Daddy” for the first time like a lark, even though her eyes held contempt.
But I was different. Luca wasn’t a possession. I had no desire to own him—never had, never would. Instead, I asked to learn swordsmanship.
With such good intent and motivation, I expected a positive answer.
Besides, in this world, it wasn’t strange for women to become knights.
Not common, but not unheard of. In fact, the Empire’s legendary knight was a woman.
Since coming to the duchy, I’d been studying the Empire’s history and current affairs.
You never know when knowledge might come in handy.
While reading a biography, I learned about the knight who led the Empire to victory 700 years ago during the Great War.
Empress of the Sword, Claire. A commoner with no family name, she lived quietly in a rural village, training children before the war. When the war broke out and corrupt nobles fled, she emerged as a once-in-a-generation hero.
From soldier to lieutenant, captain, major, and colonel—her rise coincided with victory after victory. She always fulfilled her missions with perfection. The turning point of the war was thanks to her.
In the final battle of Gaillen, Claire led the Empire to victory and became the first commoner in history to command an army.
But just as she was preparing to return home and found a new nation, a surviving enemy soldier shot her in the back with an arrow.
It struck a vital spot, and she fell from her horse—dying young.
Diogrius I, the founding emperor of the Grepin Empire, mourned her death and granted the title of Duke to her descendants.
Thus, the current Claire Ducal House—one of the Empire’s three ducal houses—was founded.
With that precedent, there was no reason I couldn’t wield a sword.
Dad looked thoughtful, but eventually gave in.
“If you truly wish it, I’ll allow it. The physician did say your stamina is lacking… and this is the first time you’ve ever asked me for something. It feels like blackmail.”
He smiled as he spoke.
A rare smile. He seemed touched that his daughter had finally expressed a desire of her own.
Miller also gave in, smiling wryly.
Miller was the vice-commander of the knights, second only to his teacher, Hugh. When Drehan became Duke, Miller would inherit the title of Count and command the Rayes knights.
“I’ll take responsibility for Ria’s sword training, Father.”
Not knowing I’d knocked a knight’s wooden sword flying earlier, Miller patted my head.
His unusually gentle touch made me laugh—his idea of sword training probably differed quite a bit from mine.
“Thanks, both of you.”
