Chapter 10
At Kaiden’s question, I stammered.
“Uh… Well, I suppose I must have made various efforts…”
I tried to buy time with my response, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what he wanted.
[Lucas might try to seduce you with his face. What else would it be? He’d probably promise to give you all sorts of nice things. Kaiden, being a noble, sure knows how to talk in circles.]
At Bled’s words, I was startled and raised my voice.
“Are you seriously saying that Prince Lucas might actually try to seduce me? Rationally speaking?”
Kaiden looked at me with an expression of surprise.
“For once, you catch on quickly. Yes, that’s what I mean.”
“No, Your Grace. Do you think that’s even remotely plausible?”
Kaiden didn’t answer and just stared at me intently. He looked like he had a lot to say.
“Sigh, Marion. Think back to how you’ve been chasing after Prince Marius all this time.”
In that moment, a panorama of my past self, fawning over the prince with starry-eyed enthusiasm, flashed before my eyes.
Feeling a pang of guilt, I muttered in a small voice.
“…Well, me liking him and the prince of the empire trying to seduce me feel like entirely different matters…”
“You tend to fall for handsome guys who treat you well, don’t you?”
“…….”
No way! I wanted to declare confidently, but I couldn’t.
Though I did like the prince, the old me would generally freeze up in front of high-ranking people.
But a high-born, handsome prince treating me kindly?
‘…I might’ve given him my heart and soul.’
The old me would’ve absolutely been capable of that.
Since the first person I was so smitten with was the prince, if Lucas had actively approached me and treated me well, I’d probably have fallen for both of them.
I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my past self, so obsessed with looks.
Kaiden’s low voice reached my ears.
“There’s one thing I’m worried about.”
What was he worried about?
“Marion, I just don’t want you to get caught up in a power struggle and get hurt.”
Kaiden’s sincere words struck a chord with me.
“Your Grace…!”
So, despite everything, he’s looking out for me because of the bond we’ve built…! Touched, I looked at him, but Kaiden said something cryptic.
“Now it’s time for some practice.”
“Huh? Practice?”
“Yes.”
He leaned toward me with a serious expression, looking as though he was about to share a secret, and instinctively, I leaned closer to listen.
He spoke.
“If Lucas offers you a title, what would you say?”
“Huh?”
“Repeat after me. ‘No way.’”
“…….”
What is this?
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
But he repeated himself, as if he’d decided to drill simple input-output responses into me, his face deadly serious for good measure.
“Again. If Lucas offers you wealth and honor, what should you say?”
I was so flabbergasted that I said in a dazed voice,
“Why are you talking like I’m a kid being told not to follow someone offering candy?”
“Exactly. It’s poisoned candy. So, repeat after me. ‘No way.’”
Finally, I exploded.
“Ugh, am I a child?!”
“You’re not leaving this office until you repeat it.”
“Oh, come on!”
I let out my frustration. But Kaiden, unfazed, kept urging me to say “No way.”
* * *
“Sir Marion, are you training with that hand?”
As I was swinging my sword in anger at the training grounds, I turned at the sound of a voice behind me.
Lucas, holding a sword, was looking at me.
“Yes. If I don’t at least hold a sword, I feel like I’ll die of frustration.”
Grinding my teeth as I spoke, Lucas widened his eyes and asked,
“What happened?”
“Well, His Grace…”
I quickly shut my mouth.
The reason Kaiden had been hounding me was, in fact, the person standing in front of me.
‘I ended up saying it. How humiliating.’
Swallowing my anger, I glanced at Lucas.
He was undeniably a beauty that could captivate anyone.
But perhaps because of Kaiden’s near-brainwashing training, I felt a sense of wariness toward him. This is why rote education is terrifying.
“It’s nothing. What brings you here, Your Highness?”
When I asked, Lucas flashed a radiant smile and spoke.
“Would you give me the chance to spar with you?”
“Huh?”
I looked at Lucas in surprise. He held up his sword, emphasizing that he, too, was a swordsman.
“Please give me the opportunity to spar with a swordmaster. Since your left hand is injured, it’s the perfect handicap for me.”
“But sparring with Your Highness…”
I looked around, searching for an etiquette teacher or butler—someone who could advise me on whether sparring with a prince was permissible.
Noticing my hesitation, Lucas took a step closer and said in a soft voice,
“Even if I get hurt, I won’t hold you responsible. Please.”
“Hmm…”
With him putting it like that, it wouldn’t be polite to refuse. I spun my sword lightly and said in a reluctant tone,
“Alright, then… Let’s do it lightly.”
* * *
Clang!
The more Lucas clashed swords with Marion, the more he realized.
‘She’s toying with me.’
He hadn’t landed a single effective strike on Marion. Even when he aimed for an opening where she seemed off-guard, he failed every time.
Marion parried his strikes fluidly while simultaneously launching her own attacks.
In a real fight, he would’ve died dozens of times.
“Huff, huff.”
“Shall we take a break?”
“Haha, yes.”
At Marion’s suggestion, Lucas sheathed his sword.
While they were sparring, the butler and Lady March, having heard the news, had hurriedly set up a tent on one side of the training grounds, preparing snacks and drinks to rehydrate and satisfy their hunger.
Seeing this, Marion grumbled,
“Thanks to you, Your Highness, I’ll get to feast right after training.”
“Haha, they don’t usually prepare like this, do they?”
“Exactly. His Grace told me not to bother others and to go to the kitchen myself if I’m hungry.”
“Haha. The Grand Duke knows how to look after his people.”
Lucas felt that Marion was treating him more casually after their sparring.
Having experienced the prowess of a swordmaster firsthand, Lucas also revised his opinion of her. A swordmaster held immense value.
“What did you think of my skills?”
“Your Highness? You were…”
Lucas tilted his head slightly, cutting Marion off.
“Sir Marion, there are many princes in the palace besides me. Could you call me by my name?”
“Oh…”
Marion hesitated briefly but soon nodded.
“Alright. Please treat me casually as well, Lucas.”
“Shall I, then?”
Marion’s eyes widened, not expecting Lucas to drop formalities. She looked like a startled rabbit. Lucas continued smoothly,
“What did you think of my skills, Marion?”
“…You did well.”
Marion’s ears turned red, clearly flustered by the sudden informality.
Catching this, Lucas smiled even more charmingly and subtly closed the distance between them.
He was a man who knew how to use his beauty.
And the rumor that Marion “liked handsome men” was something every citizen of the Gratie Empire already knew.
Lucas tilted his head playfully, flashing a charming smile.
“But I was no match for you, Marion.”
“Well, that’s because I’m a swordmaster…”
Marion’s cheeks flushed as she stammered. Lucas saw his chance.
“If it’s alright, tomorrow—”
“Marion.”
At that moment, Kaiden’s low voice interrupted Lucas.
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BY Anna 💓
