Chapter 156 - DO NOT OPEN

PLEASE DO NOT OPEN: EDITING

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"I'll go first, Milady."

A man standing at least 5'10 tall step up. Expanding his broad shoulders and look at the woman smiling at him.

He bowed down as a sign of respect since she's still a noble and prepared himself for the battle to take place. He was hesitant to draw out his sword since he's afraid that he could hurt Geraldine.

The man look at the Duke to see him smiling with his eyes full of anticipation without any concern of worry at his daughter's safety. This also makes him remember the gossips surrounding the treatment of the whole family towards the only daughter.

As his eyes look closer at Geraldine, he could also see that she's confident on her own while drawing her sword out and aim it at him.

He doesn't have a choice and pointed his sword as well as they both prepare themselves to battle. The end of the battle will be determined by Geraldine as she holds the most power at that moment.

With the thought she had before, she had planned to let them see what she's made and the skills she have hidden for many years will finally shine.

Geraldine's sword glistened at the sunlight as she circled it at the side then with her other free hand, she lifted it up and gestured the man to attack first with a smirk.

The man scoff and swiftly run towards Geraldine with his sword aiming at the side of her neck for an easy defeat but Geraldine could see it way ahead and easily dodged his attack and turn to the side which makes her face his back but he was quick to face her.

As a man with a huge body, she was surprise that he could move quicker than average and that's how she understood where his confidence comes from. 

He is confident at his own skills that he volunteered to be the first to fight while the others remain silent and observed first to see if they have a chance against her.

Geraldine didn't fully gave her full strength and skill as its not a real battle but only a trial and she could see that her opponent is making sure that she's unhurt by his blade.

The crowd look closely at the swings of their swords and how it kissed each time their blades met. The man whose name has not been known showed great skill that makes Geraldine satisfied and she no longer wants to stay longer at the fight since she needs to battle a lot of incoming knights present there.

Geraldine stepped backwards and position herself for the final blow. She raised her sword at the level of her eyes and bend her knees with one leg backwards to balance her position. Then she gathered her mana and placed it on her lower half to accelerate her speed.

Her opponent sense that she'll gonna end the battle between them and in his mind, he needs to win because if he's gonna lose. Then he failed.

The man goes to position as well for his final defense and waited for Geraldine to launch her attack. 

Geraldine took a slow breath as her eyes squinted to her opponent. Gaining energy at her feet behind, Geraldine launched and attack in a speed of light. It was so fast that it looks like she got invisible with only a blur image can be seen.

Her opponent quickly put his sword in defense but his reaction is a bit late as Geraldine's sword is already at his neck, cutting a small part of the skin causing a tiny blood to trickled down.

Geraldine stepped backwards and let the blood on her sword to roll down to the ground. She looked at the man with a disappointing look while adding pressure at his neck to stop the bleeding.

"You pass."

It was the only words Geraldine said before taking another step backwards and waited for another one to step up. The man looked confused and wanted to ask as to why he passed when he definitely lose the round but Jerome escorted him back.

For the past few hours, Geraldine battled the men without breaking a sweat. Blood, sweat, pain and embarrassment has been felt by her opponent every time they fought with her and she defeated all of them with different techniques, making nobody to come prepared in advance.

Others passed, others don't even if they didn't win against her. At first they were confuse and think that she's randomly choosing them but as they watch for a long time, they noticed that she's choosing someone who isn't giving up and with a strong determination to get in the Duke's knights.

Some of them are just force since the Duke pays a huge amount to his knights and they needed the money but doesn't want to be a knight. It is known that being a knight means one of your feet is buried underground as you must protect the noble members in danger even if it means that you die in the process. 

For the total of 55 entries, only 30 of them pass the trial. Those who failed are sent back at their homes and the rest are given a room to stay in and will be assigned for their trainings. 

Geraldine passed Agen and Uso since their skill is above average as well but also she got amused by their reaction when they finally have the chance to meet her closely inside the arena and she wanted to embarrass them more as part of her entertainment. 

After the selection has been wrap up, the Duke called her back to his office after she had taken a bath to clean herself from sweat. 

Standing in front of the same old desk, Geraldine remained silent with her hands behind her back while waiting for the Duke to speak up. He is currently busy looking at the papers scattered around his table that consist of the information of the trainee knights that have hired.

"There are some noble men to the group you just fired." The Duke said as he pushed the papers forward and lean back on his chair while looking at his daughter.

"Father, I didn't fire them. Their skills are below average and because of that, they didn't pass the trial." Geraldine replied confidently to show that she didn't regret her decision.

The Duke's eyes squinted upon hearing her reply. The silence goes for a few minutes with them staring at one another until the Duke cleared his throat.

"Your swordsmanship, who taught it to you?" He asked as he was curious to know. When he was looking at her moves at the trial, he could sense that her skills doesn't belong at the amateur level.

Geraldine smiled at him, "It's self taught, father. Besides, who would teach a girl like me?" she said and giggled when she saw the Duke's expression.

The Duke gestured for her to go away and when she's about to leave, he called her back.

"Also before I forget, you will be incharge of the new knights," The Duke said as Geraldine curtsied again and went out of the room.

"Let's see the difference between you and your brother." The Duke whispered with a smirk playing in his lips as she turned her chair and look at the huge window again.

Geraldine was approached by Jerome on her way out and handed her a stack of papers. It consist the information about the new knights that she'll be training.

"Young miss, after you'll finish arranging the knights schedules, please give it to one of your servant to be delivered to me. So that I could lessen your burden at the arrangement." Jerome softly spoke with a calm face.

Even though he looked like a harmless old man. Geraldine could not forget that he's one of the killers at her death. She took the papers and pass by him without any word as she went back to her house.

As Geraldine is walking at the halls, the servants eyes are staring at their peripheral vision while minding their own business. They were old servants who has been serving their family for years. They are also there when Geraldine fired her own servants a couple years past.

They didn't dare speak as Geraldine pass by as they didn't want to taste her wrath. When she's meters away from them, the servants breath out in relief as if they were suffocated for too long.

Geraldine knows about it too but didn't bother to take notice as she needs to focus at her task as well. Upon arriving at her house she went and take the robe since it was already dry.

"I'll just return you tomorrow," She said and went back inside the house and neatly fold the robe but make sure to put natural perfume inside it.

Going at her room, she placed the papers at her table and look at it for awhile, debating whether she needs to see it now or for the following day since she's tired from the fight.