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Chapter 64
In a way, it was an opportunity to clearly teach who had the upper hand.
Does she happen to know?
If Liliana is seen with a devastating defeat, will the Heir Apparent of Valois also give up on his fiancee who was only vain?
“Why, do you have something else to say?”
Peter said to Elliot with a brazen face. “What I’m saying is right, Liliana is nothing unless she is in the Duchy of Valois…!”
“What?!”
Sparks bounced off Elliot’s eyes.
Meanwhile, Liliana glared at Peter with her face sunken in stillness.
“…Lord Tornian’s words are also true in a way.”
“Liliana!”
Elliot raised his voice to her.
However, Liliana was sincere. Ever since Anriche rescued her from the terrifying orphanage, she had lived under the protection of the Duchy of Valois.
Just this time, isn’t Elliot trying to protect her as well?
She was very happy with the kindness the Valois family had shown her… So happy that she sometimes wondered if she was living in a dream.
…However.
“I can’t live forever and rely solely on Valois.”
Liliana, who took a deep breath, spoke in a clear voice.
“The people of Valois give me a lot of affection. So…”
The pale green eyes that looked fragile like freshly bloomed sprouts now harbored a sharp spirit.
“…I want to prove myself worthwhile and live up to that affection.”
“Proof of worth? You’re talking funny, what are you doing…!”
“Since me and Lord Tornian are both students learning swordsmanship.”
At that moment, Liliana made a clear statement.
“So, let’s talk with swords.”
“Are you talking about fighting me with a sword right now?”
A laugh crossed Peter’s lips. It was a clear ridicule.
“A new girl like you?”
“Yes.”
Despite his ridicule, Liliana only nodded her head calmly.
A fire blazed in Peter’s eyes.
“Okay, I’ll see you today!”
Peter thumped and headed to the training ground. At the same time, Elliot grabbed Liliana with her desperate look.
“Liliana, what are you thinking?!”
“Trying to compete with swordsmanship…”
“And what if you get hurt?”
At his cry, Liliana shrugged her shoulders and gave a gentle smile while answering him.
“Don’t worry too much, Elliot said I looked the strongest, right?”
“Still…!”
Elliott, speechless, only flapper his lips.
But, then.
Other children swarmed and surrounded Liliana.
“Are you really okay?”
“Peter is the strongest of us…”
“Thank you all for your concern.”
Liliana shook her head and answered in a clear voice. “I can’t help it, because I can’t just keep listening to Lord Tornian intimidating me.”
Elliot gazed at her.
The Liliana, who was always shy and withdrawn… For some reason, the girl in front of him looked a little different than usual.
Now, she…
‘I think she’s trying her best to confront Peter.”
Although she can’t hide her nervous face, Liliana straightens her shoulders nonetheless. Liliana, trying to somehow overcome her long-feared opponent.
‘Liliana, aren’t you cool?’
And Elliot really liked her appearance like that.
Children flocked to the training ground. It was because the rumors spread that Liliana was fighting Peter.
Of course, Anita was among those students.
“Anyway, won’t Peter win?”
“Yes, Peter is the strongest among us.”
“As the instructors said, Peter might be appointed as the next imperial knight.”
The students seemed to think that victory had already been captured by Peter. In such an atmosphere, Anita raised her nose and showed off.
“Of course, my brother will win. Isn’t it obvious?”
Then, Elliot widened his eyes to Anita.
“Don’t be rude. You won’t know victory or defeat unless you try it out.”
“Heir, Heir Apparent of Valois?”
“I think Liliana will win unconditionally.”
Elliot, who fired like that, turned his head toward Liliana to cheer.
“Liliana, cheer up!”
He clenched her fists and cried. At that, Liliana, who was tense, loosened her whole body only after hearing his shout.
“Whoo.”
Liliana, who exhaled a short breath, gazed quietly at Peter opposite her.
In the past, Baron Rondini and the Tornian family were scary for her and her whole body was hardened.
However, now…
‘It’s okay.’
The pale blue eyes sank coldly.
‘The Duke told me that I had a talent for swordsmanship. Me…’
With that thought, her hand gripping the wooden sword tightened.
“The Duke accepted me as his disciple.”
It was the first time.
She found something she could be good at, and that others recognized Liliana for her talent. She thought she would never get used to the word confidence all her life.
Though…
“I can do it.”
Liliana comforted her heart.
‘…What?’
Meanwhile, Peter looked at Liliana with a suspicious look. Before she was on the training ground, Liliana bowed down a lot.
‘As soon as she held the wooden sword in her hand… Did her eyes change all at once?’
At the same time, Peter bit his teeth.
’…Am I nervous now?’
His opponent is Liliana, who has been struggling under his feet all this time?
‘…No, no way.’
To shake off his anxiety, Peter deliberately bluffed Liliana.
“Because ladies first, I’m going to yield the first attack.”
“Thank you.”
Liliana did not refuse the concession. Holding the sword, she swooped down on Peter like a beam of light.
Terrified, Peter took a couple of steps back.
Kang!
A sharp blow struck the wooden sword, and his eyes widened as he felt his wrists tremble.
‘What, what…?!’
Is this just a sword attack by a seven-year-old girl?!
However, Liliana’s movements did not stop yet.
Kang, kakang, kang!
At the constant barrage of blows, Peter hurriedly raised his wooden sword to stop it. He then clenched his teeth.
“Hiik!”
Kiik—tung!
Giving the power to take off Liliana’s wooden sword, she flexibly retrieved her wooden sword and retreated behind her.
Peter stepped back and took a deep breath.
A cold sweat ran down his back.
‘How the hell did this happen?!’
As for the rumors circulating about Liliana, even Peter knew it. That the Duke of Valois accepted Liliana as his apprentice, or that she endured the training that the strong male students were exhausted until the end.
But, he all thought it was just a rumor.
In the first place, such a small and slender girl, what kind of swordsmanship is for her?
However…
‘…Has that kid really mastered swordsmanship?’
Calm, pale green eyes stared at Peter softly.
It was like a beast looking at its prey…
“Because I was given the first attack a while ago…”
Liliana slowly raised her wooden sword. The tip of her wooden sword was aimed precisely at Peter.
“This time I will yield.”
“Yes, it’s up to you…!”
Peter’s eyes flickered.
She was just the maid of his fiancée! This kid yields the attack to him, who is a promising talent in the swordsmanship class?!
A little girl that can be crushed with just the tip of his finger!
Thinking that, Peter clenched his teeth and grabbed his wooden sword.
“You will regret that!”
Peter moved in front of Liliana and swung his wooden sword wide.
“Hooh!”
“Uh, what to do!”
“If they get hurt like that…!”
Moans erupted from the mouths of the students who were watching. The wooden sword was going to pierce Liliana’s chest fiercely. The move was not a fight, but an attack to actually injure the opponent.
Elliot clenched his teeth and shouted.
“Liliana!”
Kakang!
At the same time, the sound of the wooden sword and another wooden sword sliding against each other rang out.
Liliana, who had avoided the attack by taking a step to the side, reached out her wooden sword to break Peter’s attack.
Her sequence of movements was as smooth as flowing water.
And…
Kang, kang—Kakang, Kang!
One foot, and another foot.
Liliana walked forward, wielding the wooden sword, and started slashing and stabbing. It was a trajectory that was too fast to catch up with one’s eyes.
Peter stopped with his wooden sword, biting his lip until it bled.
“Kugh…!”
Liliana was just expressionless.
As if aiming her sword at Peter’s neck was the only goal.
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