Chapter 52: CH 52

“She’s such a strange person. If one was kidnapped, they would usually strengthen their military power, yet the Princess thinks she needs to become stronger.”

“Agasa.”

“With whom does this quirk resemble?”

He asked in a calm tone.

The two pairs of eyes resembling Vivian shook rapidly.

[Just like this, Dad disappeared, and Mom is also missing. Vallois won’t survive unless we become strong.]

[If we go to the Academy, we will learn anything. We can’t just sit still.]

2 years after their dad vacated the house.

The 10-year-old twins, who gradually felt serious, entered the Academy with the thought that they had to do something.

The Academy wasn’t a place for nobles to go.

Most of them were commoners with exceptional skills, or children of low-ranking nobles who wanted to develop their skills and strengthen their families.

It was a topic that made no sense for Vallois, one of the four largest families of the Rolls Empire, to enter the Academy.

Yet the twins were admitted.

Because they were so desperate for the reason to be strong.

“…”

However, so was Billishia.

The little one didn’t look like their dad.

Rather, she was like the twins from the past left behind in the castle.

“…”

Agasa was relieved to see the twins, whose thoughts seemed to be complicated.

“She seems to have been born with Vallois blood.”

“Shut up.”

“This is what the Princess said to me, so what can I do…”

“If you know, shut up.”

“…Suddenly, I remember the Princess who had an accident. At that time, the Princess really did the same…”

“Agasa.”

“Yes?”

“Our Kai has become serious now. Please keep your mouth shut.”

At Bian’s serious tone, Agasa smiled and stepped back.

It was fortunate anyway.

Princess Billishia seemed to need peers she could rely on, or at least share her will with.

If the twins open up, it will be a powerful cure.

“Gosh. I’m sorry.”

There was silence for a while.

Kai brushed his hair and fell on the table.

“What should we do.”

“I know, right.”

“Is she very angry?”

“If I were her, I don’t think I’d even see your face.”

“Hey. Why do you talk like someone else. It’s your fault too.”

“Kai. At least I’ve never acted nice like you.”

“You brought it out in the first place when I said we were going to tease her.”

“It’s my fault? At that time, you should have opposed it instead of agreeing.”

“…What. So you’re saying it’s my fault?!”

‘It will work out.’

Agasa, who had been quietly watching them, slipped out of the dining room.

The twins’ conversation lasted for a while.

“It’s not that I didn’t do anything wrong, I just objectively said that little sister would be very upset.”

“I know that. You bastard!”

“Ah? I thought you didn’t.”

“Ugh! This fox-like brat!”

Crash!

Kai, who got up from his seat and kicked the chair, was hit by his shin and screamed, aakh!

Bian, who looked down at him insignificantly, let out a weary sigh.

“First, we need to apologize.”

“Hey.”

“Why.”

“But what if Dust doesn’t accept it?”

Of course she won’t.

The cold purple eyes were still clear.

The twins, who shuddered for a while, now realized the seriousness.

***

Tak!

Hard wooden swords collided with each other.

My little body trembled at the dull vibration.

Tak!

Tak!

“Princess. Avoid it!”

Whooshㅡ

The training partner the knight commander brought was a 5-year-old like me.

They said that she’s the daughter of Lilith, who currently serves as a knight of Vallois.

Tak!

Certainly, when I faced off against my peers, the radius of my attack widened.

My sword bobbed Lynn, slicking at the tip of her chin, who deliberately gave me a gap so I could give myself a chance to fight back.

If I feel like I’m on a wall I can’t get over when I’m with the twins.

Tak!

As the wooden swords competed again, I, who had been slightly pushed back, gritted my teeth.

‘It really feels like sparring right now.’

It was then.

Creakㅡ

The door to the large indoor training ground opened.

I felt that someone who hid their presence was cautiously entering, but I didn’t care because I wasn’t the only one using this training ground.

‘But don’t knights usually step out of their spots if they hear that the Princess is sparring?’

What does that matter.

It’s good for me because practicing with each other motivates me.

It was then.

“…Princes?”

Princes?

Princeeeeeㅡs?

I turned my head with my eyes wide open at the questionable voice of the knight commander.

“P-Princess!”

Lynn, who barely braked hard while trying to attack, also turned her head like me.

It was really the twin brothers.

“…What is this. Did you really bring in a 5-year-old apprentice?”

“You can see us clearly here, though?”

Kai, who had come in scratching the scruff of his neck, pouted in displeasure.

It was the same with Bian, who had been following him.

‘What kind of joke are these bastards playing again?’

I silently showed my anger, growled and turned my face away.

Whew. Let’s ignore it, ignore it.

“Lynn. Let’s go on.”

“The Princes have come, but even a conversation…”

“Are they of the same blood as me?”

As I blatantly laughed at Lynn’s question, I felt intense stares from the older brothers.

I thought they’d answer right away, so I intended to curse.

“…”

Surprisingly, the brothers were quiet.

“Then let’s continue.”

What. These children.

Why are they so quiet, I wonder.

“Yes. I understand. Princess.”

The sparring started again.

Kai, who had been hesitant, lowered her head as if he was dispirited, and Bian looked at me while I felt the knight commander slipping away.

Thud!

Such a dull shudder was vibrating through my body.

“…It would be nice if Dust didn’t look at the sword, but at the opponent’s eyes instead.”

“…I know, right. Then her skills will increase dramatically.”

Taang!

“… And overall, it seemed that there was a lack of strength in her grip. Wouldn’t it be better to learn how to use a short sword well than a long sword that is obscure to Dust right now?”

“…Mm. My thoughts are the same. In terms of balance, our little sister would be better with a dagger.”

“I can teach her well.”

“Me more.”

“No, me more.”

“Me more-more-more.”

“…”

My face becomes ferocious at the continued intellectual assault.

“P-Prince.”

By the time Lynn and the knight commander broke into cold sweats.

“You guys shut up!”

Bang!

In the end, I threw the wooden sword and screamed.

“Don’t interrupt and go away!”

I pointed my hand towards the door.

As their faces heated up like a volcano, the brothers, who were hesitant and startled, nodded and backed away hesitantly.

I told them to go outside, but was there a communication problem?

The older brothers creaked and settled down quietly in a corner of the training ground.

They were like dogs scolded by their owners.

‘Suddenly pretending to be pitiful? I clearly know what’s inside them.’

Hmph!

I let out a snort, took a deep breath, and worked hard again.

“Please eat this.”

“I don’t need sympathy.”

“It’s not. Please just eat this.”

“Yeah, Kai. Receive it if he gives it to you.”

I felt the knight commander, who was looking at me and my brothers, alternately approaching and handing out sandwiches to my brothers.

Of course, the sparring continued.

“Princess, you should avoid it!”

When Lynn took the lead and gave me advice, I twisted my waist and barely avoided the wooden sword.

It was then.

[…It would be nice if Dust didn’t look at the sword, but at the opponent’s eyes instead.]

Ugh. It bothers me for no reason.

Just in case, I looked at the wooden sword and stared into Lynn’s green eyes.

‘…Ooh?’

But a strange thing happened.

As I swung my sword right away, I could feel Lynn’s eyes naturally looking down, preparing to strike back.

Zzzztㅡ

“!”

‘The opponent’s attack has become more predictable.’

I turned around ahead of time.

Lynn’s face was stained with bewilderment.

At that time.

Munch, munch.

“…Dust is quick to learn.”

“I know, right.”

The older brothers, who had been paying attention, opened their mouths again.

Even while munching on a sandwich this time.

Munch, munch.

“Hey. Bian. Honestly, isn’t the opponent too weak?”

“Originally, in sparring, you have to learn a lot from someone with higher skills than you.”

“Right, like us.”

“Like us.”

To be honest. That’s right…

‘No! Of all the 5-year-olds, there must be no other person with such good skills!’

I gritted my teeth, shaking my head at the deceptive conversation.

“Your time is up. Please rest for a while.”

That’s how the sparring ended.

Huft, huft.

Haa, haa.

After stopping the attack, Lynn and I took a moment to catch our breath and stare at each other.

As I smiled bashfully, Lynn bowed her head and approached.

“Princess. You’re wonderful.”

I could feel the disapproving gaze of my brothers.

I tried to ignore it and asked for a handshake.

“…I can shake your hand?”

“Right now, we’re sparring. It’s polite to shake hands after we finish.”

“Yes. Princess.”

Lynn smiled at my words and accepted the handshake.

Contrary to her spirited attitude, her earlobes were dyed red.

“Knight commander. We’re here, why a sparring opponent…”

“I told you to go away, though.”

It was then.

Kai’s protest, which looked at the handshake with displeasure, was cut short by my warning.

“Can the knight commander and Lynn step aside for a moment?”

I thought it would be better if the three of us had a conversation.

It was clear that they had something to say to me, seeing as they were munching on their sandwiches.

Let the knight commander and Lynn go out like that.

“…”

An awkward silence passed.

Only Vallois’ lineages remained in the indoor training ground.

I was obviously sweating, yet somehow the air around me was chilly.

“You want me to hit the vital point again?”

As I put my hands on my hip and snarled, Kai jumped up in surprise.

“Dust. I think we misunderstood you, sorry…”

“Sooorry?”

“Mm. We’re here to apologize.”

When the nervous Bian laughed vaguely, I made a noise, ha!

How absuuurd!

I tilted my head, twisted my lips, and made a sarcastic remark.

“Apology? That would be a mockery, not an apology!”

“Billie!”

“Go away! Apologies aren’t words! You have to show it with your actions!”

Crash!

I rushed with my whole body and tried to push the brothers away.

“Kyaaak!”

“Billie?”

Instead, my body bounced off like a ball and I staggered, and the twins gasped.

“Are you okay?”

Kai hurriedly approached and tried to support me.

“Go away!”

Annoyed, I refused to touch him and left the indoor training ground running.

One apology wasn’t enough.

I was planning to see how fresh their apology would be in the future.