C.150

Chapter 150. Rich Mans Drink (3)

Why did he have to go back to that time

Leslie sighed and looked at her husband in front of her.

He came to pick up the sword. Seeing what he was doing, it was as if he had gone back to his nineteen-year-old days.

Its really hard to go back to being a teenager after turning forty.

The lights in the room were off, and only the occasional flash of lightning and the moonlight, which poked its head through the clouds, illuminated them.

Maybe that was why, in Bradens drunken eyes, Leslie also looked like twenty-one.

But it must have been difficult to come to my bedroom. Im sorry, but Im underage.

Leslie sighed deeply at Bradens sarcastic remark.

He claimed to be a minor while he was desperate to see his son get married.

Its different, really. Just this morning, he was making a fuss saying he wanted to see his grandson

It was this variable that made her dislike Bradens drinking.

Braden had mistreated her until Leslie suffered an injury and withdrew from the swordsmanship contest.

Again, I Why the hell did I get married?

Normally, she had completely forgotten about her life, but when this happened, she had no choice but to remember her old thoughts.

Ah, back then

Leslies expression, reminiscent of an underage Braden, began to wrinkle more and more.

~*~

Leslie competed in her first swordsmanship contest when she was 17.

And there she first met the fifteen-year-old Braden in the final.

Of course, she often heard rumors about Wades master swordsman, but she never encountered him as a daughter living in a shabby inn in the corner of the capital.

He looks like a pompous person. Hes a little cuter than my brother, maybe because hes wearing a good color.

That was her first impression of Braden in the final.

15-year-old Braden grew slower than his peers and was shorter than Leslie.

At that time, she was beaten by Braden in the final.

Before he even lifted the pointed sword from Leslies neck, Braden looked into her eyes and spoke as if he had done her a great favor.

Come into the Knights of Wade. In a few months, Ill give you the lieutenant position.

Leslie was stunned by the scouting before she could even feel defeated and was unable to speak for a while.

But since then, a subtle sense of humiliation crept in.

You seem to have a lot of talent, so why dont you train properly?

It was a tone of giving a great favor, and in fact, it was a huge favor.

The Knights of Wade were flooded with knights that they even said that they could not easily enter without going through the training during their childhood.

However, it was even more shocking that he promised at once the position of lieutenant.

He was also perhaps the best scout for Leslie, who was born into a difficult family and learned the sword directly from her grandfather, a retired mercenary.

In fact, before the swordsmanship contest, she was completely unknown in the world of swordsmen.

Nevertheless, Leslie politely greeted him and answered calmly.

Thanks for the great offer. But that seems to be difficult.

Leslies sudden rejection of Bradens great offer was probably due to her high self-esteem.

She didnt like his tone that seemed to deny her training from the past, as if her training so far was not real training.

Although her grandfather wasnt a very good teacher, he did his best to teach her.

What?

The face of the arrogant little boy, who had no doubt that she would accept his proposal immediately, shriveled.

It was a good match, Duke. I learned a lot. Congratulations on winning.

Leslie greeted him politely and turned around lightly.

Yet she felt a little better as she saw the shock on the cheeky young boys face.

Born all-in-one from his childhood, Wades handsome young heir would never have seen his favor turned down.

That was why he was making such an absurd expression.

But a week later, Braden came to Leslies house, hoping to see her face at the next swordsmanship contest, which was four years later.

Braden, who was accompanied by an escort in his luxurious attire, shone strangely alone in front of the shabby inn.

Why do you think it would be difficult?

The question the boy spat out at Leslie was absurd.

Being in the Wade Knights allows for a much more systematic training than you have now.

So it was in response to her rejection of his scouting offer in the finals, saying, Its going to be a bit difficult.

Leslie hurried out from helping the inns kitchen, wiping her apron with water and politely answering.

I have my own life. I have to help my parents with the inn. Its run by my family, so if I leave, theyll be short on hands.

At those words, Braden asked as if he couldnt understand even more.

Do you know how much the Wade Knights salaries are? Besides, if you become my lieutenant, you can hire five or six people at this inn with that salary. Cant you do the math?

As you can see, its small, so I dont need five or six people.

Leslie had no choice but to bow her head politely, thinking that the cheeky little bastard would have had a few points nailed down.

And I just dont want to. Its not a logical reason, so you dont have to persuade me. I like my life now.

Actually it was true.

Leslies life had not been prosperous until now, but she had lived as she pleased, within her limits.

Although her parents couldnt do a lot, they raised her by teaching, Dont do anything you dont want to, since you live your life once.

Leslie began learning swordsmanship from her grandfather in order to deal directly with the rogue guests at her inn, and she somehow managed to ignite her crazy talents that she didnt even know she had in the contest.

Of course, she was born into a poor commoners family, so it was true that she wanted a title.

In fact, she wouldnt change her life just because she got the title, but if she did, it would be because sometimes she wanted to retaliate with the blasphemy of the aristocrats, who sometimes had nothing to say, like, You act expensively on the subject of being a lowly commoner.

It would be nice to receive a lot of money, and she also craved proper training, but then, wont she have to bow like this all day to that boy?

But thank you so much for the great opportunity you have offered. It is an honor.

The last thing she said with politeness was not only her natural position as a commoner, but also meant as a goodbye.

And Braden stared at her with his still disbelieving face, and asked in a voice as he had just reached puberty.

You, do you know what that means now? Arent you going to go to the swordsmanship competition in 4 years?

I will. Even then, I will do my best to defeat the Duke.

Do you think you can beat me with that cheap sword if you help out with the inn and train with an old, retired mercenary in your spare time?

After investigating her, Braden seemed to know that she had learned swordsmanship from her grandfather.

It was only then Leslie asked a sharp question that made his mouth, which had been questioning her, shut. Read only at pm tl.

If I join the Knights of Wade, will I be able to defeat the Duke after 4 years?

Braden hesitated at her question, and she spoke without hesitation.

You cant say for sure. I will train harder to defeat the Duke over the next four years, but I will just choose the way I like it.

Braden didnt respond, and Leslie thought to herself that she had finally subdued a teenage boy whose scouts were going on a rampage for the first time.

Thank you again for taking interest in someone who lacks a lot, Duke.

Of course she couldnt say it the way he thought she would, so Leslie politely smiled and bowed her head once more.

Saying thank you for your interest was telling him to stop paying attention.

If thats the case, then

Braden said nothing, but raised his chin up as if he was in a bad mood.

Four years later, the swordsmanship competition, even if you dont give up and do your best, you will lose from an overwhelming skill difference.

What?

And you will regret this decision today.

His engrossing counterattack didnt do much damage to her.

To Leslie, who has been through all sorts of guests, the murmurs of a young teenage boy was nothing.

Yes. I will do my best. It would be a great honor if we could meet again in the finals in 4 years. Thank you.

Leslie said politely and sent Braden away without any fuss.

Then she went back to the inns kitchen without any regrets.

She hated seeing those in power shake up her life from the beginning.

She wanted to avoid it unless she could bump into it due to various circumstances. She didnt want to live with being tired and overcoming something.

Well, the world we live in is different, so it is not like there will be any chance we will meet until the next swordsmanship competition. Its enough to just let it go.

But Leslies rational prediction of the future was completely wrong.