Chapter 42: 42
Halfnon always considered himself a skilled swordsman, even if not quite on par with Barhen. Among young swordsmen, he was one of the stronger ones, having received offers from several knight orders. However, now he felt a sense of futility.
‘If you rely on instincts, there should be gaps…’
There were indeed those who wielded swords by following their instincts. While it could be considered a natural talent, it usually led to reaching a ceiling quickly. One could respond to immediate attacks, but subsequent strikes often left them defenseless.
‘I can’t see any gaps. He even counters immediately…’
Just a moment ago, Halfnon had changed direction and aimed at Zion’s left leg. Zion, however, instinctively pulled back his leg and counterattacked as if anticipating the move. It was almost as if Zion was orchestrating both attack and defense to match Halfnon’s actions.
‘He must have bent to draw my attention.’
Usually, when wielding a weapon, the arms are primarily used, with the legs following. With enough experience, one starts using the arms in more varied ways, and eventually, the waist and shoulders come into play. Zion had bent his upper body, pulling his wooden sword, and naturally, the tip of the sword aimed at Halfnon’s chest.
‘He’s too fast. Thinking and moving is too slow…’
“Is something wrong? Did I make a mistake?”
“What? Oh, no.”
Halfnon retreated a few steps to create distance. Zion stood with his wooden sword at the ready, watching him.
‘I need to put more strength into it.’
Halfnon gripped his wooden sword with both hands, steadying his unsettled mind. This was a spar without the use of sword energy or mana, a process to observe each other’s swordsmanship. While mastering sword energy was important, without solid sword skills, nothing else could be achieved.
‘This is my chance to broaden my horizons.’
Halfnon felt a renewed determination, returning to the mindset of a beginner. Although Zion was younger, he had reached a higher level in swordsmanship. To not only master sword energy but also become stronger, he needed to learn from anyone, regardless of age.
‘Maybe I should buy Kaltz better liquor.’
Halfnon thought about Kaltz as he took a step forward. He had jokingly mentioned buying expensive liquor, but it seemed that wouldn’t be enough. Perhaps he should get closer to Zion through Kaltz.
“……?”
Zion quickly raised his wooden sword to block Halfnon’s attack. The speed had noticeably increased. It seemed Halfnon had assessed Zion’s skills during their previous bout and was now moving in earnest.
‘Good, the faster, the better.’
Zion felt a twinge in his wrist as he parried the attack. For some reason, he found himself more engrossed in the situation. While being absorbed didn’t necessarily mean improvement, it was better than being lackluster.
‘If I lack talent, I need to at least be interested.’
* *
Duke Adelaira’s estate, Head’s Room.
Robbenz received daily reports from Hanette’s bodyguards. These included what she did, whether any accidents occurred, her behavior, and updates on Zion. Additionally, rumors about Zion and the Marquis Frandique were beginning to spread.
“…Something seems odd.”
“Is it about Zion?”
“There’s a rumor that Zion is teaching the eldest son of the Marquis Frandique.”
“What? Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?”
Originally, Zion was supposed to be learning swordsmanship from the Marquis Frandique. But now, it seemed that the relationship had completely reversed, leading to bizarre rumors.
“Since he uses sword energy, that perception is inevitable.”
“Did Zion learn swordsmanship after all?”
“He said he hadn’t touched a sword before… I might be mistaken.”
Even Marquis Laird couldn’t know everything about Zion. If Zion had secretly learned swordsmanship, it wouldn’t have been easily noticed. But assuming he had, it created some inexplicable scenarios.
“…If he’s so strong, why did he get engaged to Hanette?”
“If he didn’t just recently learn swordsmanship, there’s only one answer.”
Robbenz nodded slowly, looking at Yenid. Yenid quickly understood and fell silent.
“He must have stayed because he liked Hanette.”
“Hmm… Could they have met secretly?”
“They might have met briefly outside.”
Robbenz considered the possibility of a secret affair but couldn’t be sure. Even if they had been meeting secretly, they wouldn’t have been able to escape the bodyguards’ notice. For now, he focused on the positive outcome.
“It’s good that they’re getting closer… but it’s a bit unsettling.”
“What’s unsettling?”
“Hanette is attending the magic academy with Zion. That’s a bit…”
Yenid looked worried and couldn’t finish her sentence. While it was good that Hanette was moving with Zion, learning magic was another matter. Hanette had always been interested in magic as a child, and some mages had even remarked on her talent. But there had been instances where mana handling had led to injuries, and in severe cases, death. Some had gone insane or been executed for crimes committed through magic.
Robbenz, knowing this, had always prevented Hanette from touching magic.
“I understand your concern… but I don’t want to interfere anymore. We should leave them be until the wedding.”
“Suddenly? Being too lenient might have negative effects.”
“…I’ve been too strict. A little leniency should be fine.”
Robbenz recalled the events in his office, feeling a sense of futility. Hanette had stood up to him, voicing her pent-up feelings. It shook him, and he ended up backing down.
“Are you okay, Master?”
“Sigh… I’d like to say I’m fine, but I don’t feel that way. I don’t feel like I’ve lived well.”
“What do you mean? You’ve dedicated your life to the Adelaira family.”
“Living only for the family… I never imagined it would feel so empty.”
Robbenz spread his hands, feeling a chill in his heart. His once smooth, firm hands were now wrinkled and worn. He had tried to protect and prosper the family with these hands until they were old and tired. But for what, and for whom, had he lived so strenuously?
“I should have cared for Hanette more. She’s still my eldest. But I…”
Robbenz loved Hanette as his child but also resented her as a disappointing eldest daughter. He wished she would act as he wanted, but she always strayed. He wanted to care for her more, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. She was like a finger that bore a painful wound.
“Master…”
“It’s all my fault. It might have been better if I had let her learn magic. I should have punished the other children for mistreating her. Even assigning bodyguards was unnecessary.”
“You tried your best, Master.”
“That’s why it feels so hollow. Despite my efforts, only Hanette and I suffer.”
Robbenz calmed his agitated emotions with a deep sigh. From his perspective, he had been meticulously attentive to Hanette. From Hanette’s perspective, however, it felt like constant interference. Given her frequent acts of rebellion, he often turned a blind eye to her matters. This inconsistent attention only fostered resentment.
“It’s my fault. I couldn’t support you well, and I failed to raise Hanette properly.”
“No, you’ve had it harder. You must have followed Hanette every day.”
“It’s not too late. Like other noble ladies…”
“Better to leave her be. We have someone to take care of her.”
Yenid tried to argue but reluctantly accepted. Unlike before, Hanette now had a fiancé with her. They might fight occasionally, but she wouldn’t be lonely.
“Zion will take good care of her. I hope, though it’s selfish, that they’ll give us grandchildren soon.”
* *
Duke Adelaira’s estate, third-floor hallway.
A young man climbed the stairs to the hallway. His orange hair reminded one of her, but his expression was unique. Overall, he resembled her a lot, with slight differences in his eyes and demeanor.
‘Sister hasn’t visited me lately.’
Dyn Adelaira, the second son of the Adelaira family, glanced around the hallway. He quickly found his sister’s room and noticed the room next to it.
‘She’s probably busy with her fiancé.’
Dyn felt a pang of disappointment but took a step forward. His sister rarely got close to people and often spent time alone. He used to be her companion, but now someone else was there.
‘Could my sister finally be happy?’
Filled with anticipation, Dyn knocked on the door. Upon opening it, he was greeted by his charming and distinct sister.
“Huh? What brings you here?”
“I wanted to catch up with you.”
“…Oh.”
Hanette, realizing her mistake, glanced around nervously. Dyn entered and gently closed the door.
“You seem to be getting along with your fiancé.”
“Well… not exactly getting along, just… getting used to it.”
“Looks like you’re getting along well.”
“Y-You must be mistaken.”
Hanette denied it, showing a displeased expression. Dyn, hesitating, asked the question he was most curious about.
“So, have you held hands with your fiancé? Have you hugged? Or… kissed?”