TSKSML 24

24

The Imperial Knights’ training was conducted in three shifts: morning, noon, and evening.

As the Crown Prince’s escort knight, Jaina could only attend the morning sessions.

Usually, Commander Andre led the training, but today, Duke Zighart had made a special appearance.

Standing on the platform, demonstrating swordsmanship to the trainees, Zighart drew admiration from Jaina.

“That’s Duke Zighart…!!”

When Zighart swung his sword, the steel target split cleanly in two.

A bluish aura shimmered along the blade.

It was “Aura,” a force only Sword Masters could wield.

Seeing the legendary aura firsthand, the knights burst into cheers.

Zighart swinging his sword looked like a god of war from ancient myths—majestic and awe-inspiring.

Jaina remembered.

When they were younger, her sister Liriana’s eyes would sparkle whenever she talked about Duke Zighart.

But at some point, Liriana stopped bringing him up altogether.

Whenever his name was mentioned, she would blush and awkwardly change the subject.

Jaina had a hunch that Zighart might have been Liriana’s first love.

And after Zighart and Liriana recently reunited at the temple, he had even recommended Liriana to become the head lady-in-waiting to Lady Angelina.

Neither Liriana nor Helene had said anything directly, but it was clear to Jaina that Helene was trying to bring the two together.

How amazing would it be if someone like him became my brother-in-law?

Jaina was usually skeptical about Liriana’s marriage, but with Duke Zighart, things were different.

He was the Empire’s greatest Sword Master.

Among all the swordsmen Jaina had seen, his skill stood unrivaled.

As a fellow knight, Jaina couldn’t help but admire him.

If he really became my brother-in-law, I could get private sword lessons from him… she daydreamed.

Unable to resist the excited cheers of the knights, Zighart demonstrated his aura once more.

After training, Jaina quickly returned to Louis Hart’s room.

There, she saw Della, the maid in charge of the Crown Prince’s quarters.

Della was the daughter of a baronial family that had served the royal household for generations and had worked in the palace for a long time.

Jaina had hoped to become friends with Della, since they seemed to be around the same age—but that hope was one-sided.

Della looked down on Jaina, the daughter of a fallen count’s family, for becoming the Crown Prince’s escort knight, and often made subtle digs at her.

As soon as she spotted Jaina, Della marched over.

Worried Della might scold her again—like last time, when she’d dirtied the carpet with muddy boots—Jaina quickly checked herself over.

But this time, Della’s expression was oddly different from usual.

When their eyes met, Della smiled and showed a gentleness Jaina had never seen from her before.

Did she somehow grow fond of me or something?

Once again, Jaina’s guess was off the mark.

Della still didn’t like her. But she had realized something—Jaina, being part of the Imperial Knights, must train every day with all those famously handsome knights.

She decided it wouldn’t be wise to be on bad terms with someone like that.

Plus, Della had something she absolutely had to ask Jaina today.

“I heard Duke Zighart led the training today?”

Since morning, the palace maids had been abuzz with news of Duke Zighart visiting the knights’ training ground.

Della had long harbored a crush on him.

“Ah, yes.”

“Is he doing the afternoon and evening sessions too?”

“I’m not sure about that…”

“I see… Then, was His Grace as handsome as always today?”

Because she had cleaning duty in the hallways today, Della couldn’t go see him in person.

But she still wanted to hear about him, even secondhand.

“Yes, I’d only heard rumors before, but… he practically shone. And that swordsmanship! It was such an honor to be taught by someone like him!”

Jaina mentally replayed the training from earlier.

Just how much must one practice to achieve such perfect swordsmanship?

She couldn’t get the image of the vivid blue aura off the blade out of her head.

She had completely fallen for Zighart’s swordsmanship.

Della scowled.

She mistakenly thought Jaina was swooning over Zighart himself—not just his skills.

“You’re not thinking of having… feelings for His Grace, are you? Do you think someone like him would even glance at a skinny, stick-like girl like you?”

From observing Jaina, Della had figured out she either lacked confidence in her looks or just didn’t care.

Della secretly hoped Jaina would never realize how pretty she actually was.

“…Is that so?”

Somehow, Jaina felt strangely offended by that.

In her mind, Zighart was already her future brother-in-law.

She could already picture herself getting private sword lessons from him someday.

But when Jaina didn’t shrink back like usual and instead looked a little prouder, Della became flustered.

Trying to prove herself right, she blurted out something she most wanted to deny.

“Th-the Duke is already in love with Princess Angelina! She’s so beautiful and lovely—she’s in a whole different league from girls like us!”

Jaina had heard countless things about Princess Angelina. She wasn’t deaf.

The palace was full of gossip about the love triangle between the Duke, the Crown Prince, and Angelina.

The biggest buzz was about who would be her partner at her debutante ball.

“Wh-who’s to say the Crown Prince won’t end up with Princess Angelina?”

Angelina was known to be beautiful, wise, and lovable.

Every flattering adjective imaginable was used to describe her.

But Liriana wasn’t any less impressive.

Even though she had never met the princess in person, Jaina believed—perhaps a bit biasedly—that her sister wouldn’t lose out.

If Angelina ended up with the Crown Prince, then maybe Liriana could end up with the Duke.

“O-of course… Being Crown Princess might be better than being Duchess, I suppose…”

Della thought to herself,

“There’s still a chance Princess Angelina could end up with the Crown Prince!”

That’s what Della, who had an intense crush on Zighart, always told the other maids.

“But His Grace has the charm of a real man! Sure, His Highness is handsome, but next to the Duke, he’s just a boy. A lot of people say the Duke—hero of the battlefield and a Sword Master—is more suited to be the next emperor!”

Crown Prince vs Duke. Duke vs Crown Prince. Any woman working in the palace had probably debated that at least once.

Though she said all this, the Crown Prince had plenty of fans too.

His soft skin, sly upward-slanting eyes, and boyish charm that tugged at maternal instincts made him quite popular.

Still, Della resented the Crown Prince.

He never once addressed her by name in the three years she had worked for him, yet had no problem saying the new escort knight’s name.

Besides, many in the palace believed the heroic Duke, who had repeatedly defended the empire from invaders, would be a better emperor than the unruly Crown Prince.

“D-do you really think so…?”

Even if she were a noble princess, Jaina thought she’d choose the mature Duke over the immature Crown Prince.

But she couldn’t let that happen.

Her sister’s first love had to come true.

“What’s wrong with His Highness? He’s younger than the Duke, he’s cute, and so what if he doesn’t use a sword? His body’s already in great shape! And he’s amazing at chess!”

Jaina raised her voice.

She wanted to add more praise, but she couldn’t think of anything else.

“A-and… um… also…!”

She just needed one more line to win this argument, but she was drawing a blank.

“He’s breathtakingly handsome.”

A voice suddenly cut in from behind her.

“Well… I wouldn’t go that far…”

He was good-looking, sure—but not breathtaking.

Jaina turned around to correct the exaggeration—and froze when she saw the Crown Prince himself.

Just like he said—seeing his face really did make her gasp.

At Louis Hart’s appearance, Della immediately dropped to the floor in a deep bow.

Turns out, the Crown Prince hadn’t gone out riding today. He’d been sitting quietly in his wingback chair, deep in thought.

It was Della’s fault for getting distracted by talk of the Duke and failing to confirm whether His Highness was in.

Jaina also bowed beside her.

She had spoken carelessly about the Crown Prince—in his own room, no less.

As his knight, she had crossed a line—no, committed a serious offense.

She could be expelled from the Order or even imprisoned for insulting royalty.