The capital of the Yurasen Empire was sensitive to rumors and they spread quickly, being the center as it was. Even the smallest rumor, once it started from someone’s lips, would spread in an instant. Particularly scandals about noble houses or affairs were people’s favorite topics. For instance, two weeks ago, the story of a certain countess being caught by her husband having an affair with a viscount and being driven out was popular, and last week, the tale of a baron’s only daughter eloping with a knight was on everyone’s lips. But the rumor that became the hot topic this week was truly enough to capture everyone’s attention. It was the rumor that the Duchess and only daughter of Duke Kaien’s house, the Sword of the Empire, hadn’t disappeared 17 years ago but had been kidnapped. The rumors continued. Though the details were unknown, the kidnapped Duchess and only daughter had been rescued and safely returned, and the woman who had seized the Duchess’s position through blackmail was imprisoned along with her accomplices. And not long after, when the Duke’s house officially acknowledged that all these rumors were true, high society buzzed with anticipation about the returned Duchess and her daughter. Especially as rumors spread that the returned Duchess was the only woman loved by Duke Kaien, called the Iron Chancellor, and was a great beauty, high society began sending invitations to the Duchess and her daughter. Along with this, which event the Duchess and her daughter would attend became the subject of utmost interest. But all of this was only uncomfortable for one person.
“…All of these are invitations for me?”
Lea, who had been comfortably reading a book on the sofa, looked at the mountain of invitations that Jerome had servants bring in with a disgusted expression. It seemed to be enough to fill a whole sack.
“These are what the various gatherings sent while you were resting, My lady. We delivered nearly twice the amount you received to the Madam…”
Twice… Lea closed her book, feeling a sudden headache coming on. Not a month, not even two weeks. Only a week had passed since the day they thoroughly cleaned the Duke’s residence, yet this amount… She had heard about high society while receiving etiquette education from Lark, but she hadn’t heard about this.
During that week, she had been quite busy in her own way. She checked the documents Ian brought, delivered important contents to her father, and formally greeted all the employees and the entire knight order. At mealtimes, she consistently ate with her parents to reduce the awkwardness, and she had to learn about the structure of the mansion and the territory.
What was surprising was that the room her father and mother had decorated while waiting for her birth was still preserved as it was. The room had all sorts of items for a baby neatly arranged, and just looking around was enough to fully feel her parents’ love. Perhaps because of this, she liked the room and wanted to use it as is, and Jerome, being a competent butler, cleared away the baby items and brought in new bookshelves and tables to neatly arrange it so there would be no inconvenience for her use. But what remained most memorable was the meeting with the fashion designer.
‘It was terrible…’
Thinking of the agonizing half-day of repeatedly putting on and taking off clothes, the color slightly drained from Lea’s face. When she lived in the Kingdom of Hamel, she hadn’t thought about clothing for a single moment. Since it had to be easy to move in to catch criminals, it was almost always pants with a blouse and a robe worn over them. She didn’t have to act as a noble lady, and she had no occasion to attend high society, so there was no need to wear dresses. But upon taking the Kaien name, she was robbed of her freedom regarding clothes.
‘A woman only wears pants when riding…’
What she was wearing now was also the simplest and most plain design among the newly fitted dresses. Nevertheless, she still felt awkward, and just thinking about the designs fitted for parties made her feel suffocated.
‘What was it, Antete… that fashion designer’s name… What on earth is she making to act like that…’
She was a chatty lady with a high, thin voice. According to her mother, she was one of the top designers in the capital, but her explaining tone was so fast and chattering that it felt like her soul was being sucked out. Antete exclaimed in admiration as soon as she saw her. Then, while taking measurements and touching her body here and there, she sparkled her eyes in a burdensome way and exclaimed:
[Oh my, My lady won’t even need to wear a petticoat! With such a pretty figure, not an ounce of excess fat, and muscles attached so beautifully. Your breasts are so nicely shaped too. I feel the creative urge just surging up. Now, try this on first.]
The clothes-changing game that started like that only ended after exactly half a day. Her mother was there so she couldn’t even escape, and after making her try on all the clothes she had brought and saying she wasn’t satisfied with the existing ones and would have to make new ones, didn’t she start humming? When her mother said she needed clothes to wear right away, she reluctantly altered two outfits including the one she was wearing to fit her body and left. Her mother also had dresses made for her, and like me, ordered 10 everyday outfits and 5 party outfits. She thought it was plenty enough, but when she mentioned it to Jerome, he told her the number of dresses other noble ladies order, and it was shocking.
‘Ordering so many… It’s all because they don’t earn their own money.’
As she was grumbling inwardly, she felt Jerome’s gaze and looked at him.
“Jerome, do you have something to say?”
At her question, Jerome cleared his throat once or twice and said:
“What shall we do with the invitations, My lady? Will you look at them yourself or shall I sort them for you?”
“Um… wouldn’t it work to send mine to Mother too?”
“I mentioned that the Madam has twice this amount…”
“…Please sort them…”
Watching Lea answer weakly, Jerome thought he must do his best to help his young lady. Thanks to the young lady, the Duke’s house had regained peace. Everything had returned to its place, and although he didn’t show it, the Duke’s eyes had softened, as if he was happy. Both the Duke and Madam doted on the young lady terribly, as if trying to give all the affection they couldn’t give before, but the young lady, seemingly unaccustomed to such things, though she didn’t show it, seemed somewhat burdened.
“Then I’ll ask you a favor. I’ll go see Father for a bit.”
Jerome could clearly see Lea’s intention to escape this situation and found it amusing, but he didn’t show it. He was a competent butler after all. Instead, he politely bowed to her.
“Please go ahead.”
As she left the room piled with invitations with Jerome’s send-off, Lea felt the blocked breath opening up a bit. At the same time, stress suddenly rushed in and she desperately wanted to swing a sword. So she turned her steps away from going to her father and headed to the training ground. When she arrived at the training ground, Hugo, who was training the knights, spotted her and gave some orders to the knights before walking toward her.
“I think this is the first time I’ve seen you since then. Have you been well?”
At Hugo’s polite question, Lea smiled slightly and answered:
“Yes. Thanks to you. But it seems you’re in the middle of training?”
“Yes. It’s almost finished now.”
“What do you do after training ends?”
“Usually we have one-on-one sparring.”
As Hugo faithfully answered Lea’s questions, when her beautiful red eyes began to sparkle at the mention of sparring, he felt an inexplicable unease. Sure enough, the words that immediately flowed from her mouth made Hugo jump.
“Can I participate in that sparring too?”
“What? Absolutely not! Although we proceed with wooden swords, sparring is fighting as if it were real combat. If you’re interested in swords, how about first learning how to hold a sword? I’ll assign someone suitable for you.”
Flustered by the mention of participating in sparring, Hugo thought the young lady didn’t understand what sparring meant. So he hastily said he would assign someone to teach her swordsmanship. But soon he realized he didn’t know the young lady well. A chillingly murderous aura covered him in an instant. And that aura was flowing from the young lady. It was an aura that someone who hadn’t learned swordsmanship couldn’t possess.
“I. Want. To. Do. Sparring.”
Lea’s lips held a smile as she spoke each word separately, but Hugo could instinctively tell from the aura flowing from her. That she was serious. And that she could handle a sword.
“…I understand. Then I’ll be your opponent, My lady.”
Hugo, now with a serious expression, decided to step up himself. He needed to adjust while gauging the young lady’s skill, and to do it safely, it would be best if he did it. He planned to engage her moderately enough not to hurt her feelings. But such thoughts flew away the moment their swords clashed.
“Ugh!”
How could such power come from such a slender body? Though the swords had clashed just once, Hugo swallowed a groan feeling the hand holding the sword tingle. This wasn’t just being somewhat skilled with a sword. The moment he deflected the clashing wooden sword, a sword flew sharply in, aiming for his neck. He stepped back and twisted his body to the left, thrusting his sword toward Lea’s right side, but his sword cut through empty air, and she, who had closed in tightly through the gap, swung her sword. Flustered by the completely unexpected attack, he barely escaped by almost rolling.
“…………”
Only silence pervaded the training ground before long. No matter how much Hugo had let his guard down, the fact that she made him roll on the ground shocked the knights. Hugo instinctively felt his body tense up. Though lacking in strength, her agility, technique of deflecting the sword, split-second judgment… Everything except strength made his whole body tense up as when facing the Duke. His wavering gaze slowly swept over Lea. Although it was a simple dress, it was still a dress, and even with low heels, the shoes must be uncomfortable, yet her movements showed no sign of that. That meant her real skill wasn’t just this level.
“Carelessness invites disaster. Sir Hugo.”
Along with the young lady’s words awakening his alertness, emotionless beautiful red eyes stared at him piercingly. She was saying with her eyes. To do your best to face me. That you must do so…
Hugo’s eyes gradually settled. His eyes also became emotionless as he heightened all his senses as when facing the Duke. And at some moment, he rushed at her first. That meant he acknowledged that her skill was above his.
Sword and sword clashed again and the two wooden swords danced splendidly. Lea’s appearance, deflecting Hugo’s sword attacking with full force while not missing any openings to attack, was more relaxed than Hugo’s. That couldn’t be helped. She had already reached the level of Sword Master, and Hugo hadn’t yet risen to that stage. The only ones who could compete equally with her would probably be her father the Duke and the Third Prince.
Lea, who had deflected Hugo’s sword coming in aiming for her waist, turned her body as if rotating and penetrated the opening. Hugo tried to fall back in surprise, but the tip of her wooden sword was already touching his neck. As Hugo was defeated in less than half an hour, the entire knight order was shocked.
“I’ve lost. My lady.”
Wiping the sweat flowing down his forehead with the back of his hand, Hugo sincerely conceded defeat. Unlike him, whose whole body was drenched in sweat, Lea hadn’t shed a single drop of sweat. That meant she hadn’t used her full strength.
“I enjoyed it too. Sir Hugo.”
Though not completely satisfied, Lea, whose mood had improved just from handling a sword after a long time, smiled and lowered the hand holding the wooden sword. That’s when it happened.
“…Would you like to spar with me as well?”