CH 14

“Didn’t you attack me after you figured out my weakness?”

His eyes were cold.

“On the other hand, I had no information about Lady.”

His voice was very low.

“In this basement, no one can steal victory like this.”

I could hear every word clearly, as if he was clenching his teeth.

“Moreover.”

His mouth went up.

“Whether I hold the sword with this hand and stab a person or take their lives, Lady has no authority to command me.”

“…”

“Don’t tarnish the rules of training with such fouls.”

Even though he knew who I was, he still treated me harshly. In particular, the way he looked at me while saying ‘lady’ was very unpleasant. Even the supporting characters in this crazy novel were very hot-tempered. However,

“Rules?”

I had the same nature.

I pointed at the crumbling trainer with the tip of my chin. “Then who did this?” The trainer who was kicked by Vallentin fell to the ground.

“Is assaulting the trainer and disrupting the sparring what you considered as the rules of this basement a rightful victory?”

“…”

“Even when your life is at stake on the battlefield, do you dare to say it’s invalid because it’s against the rules?”

His words sounded like pampering to someone like me who has led battlefields with bloody warriors.

“That, Princess. As you know, Vallentin was exiled for trying to assassinate his brothers.” Maze, who was standing next to me, whispered nervously. “Look into those eyes. He will never give in. It’s better not to get involved.”

In fact, I didn’t have to deal with anyone except for Redian. However, saying hello properly since we met wouldn’t be bad.  

“In the Kingdom Decilio, how do losers honor winners?”

“What…”

I whispered, narrowing the distance so that only Vallentin could hear it. “If you want to return to your kingdom and see your brothers and father again, you must not forget the kingdom etiquette.”

Then I added lightly. “You’d better think about who will let you go back to your kingdom.”

Who was the person I meant? Of course, it was me.

“…”

Vallentin, who had been pondering over my words, lowered his gaze to the ground. Then silence filled the air.

“Praise from Decilio.”

“O-oh my god.”

In an instant, the surroundings became quiet. It was because Vallentin knelt down and kissed the back of my hand.

“Since you saved me with those hands, I will save you with these hands as well.”

“…”

His breath came and fell.

“I will obey you.”

His eyes revealed through his hair, were gently bent.

“This is the oath of surrender to the victor in Decilio.”

I silently exclaimed within myself. Ah, isn’t this a good thing? But I also knew how calculated this oath was.

“Good. Be careful not to injure that hand from now on.”

Nevertheless, I gave him a gentle smile. It was enough that many people in the lab witnessed this situation. And the day would soon come when I would use his golden hand.

Uh?  At that time, I turned my head and stopped. Redian? It was definitely Redian who was there, meeting my eyes. Above all… Wow. It feels rewarding to have pursued him relentlessly.

Standing in the sunlight in a black training suit, he looked pictorial. His hair fluttered in the wind, and his eyes were nonchalant but tenacious.

He must have been watching everything.

He looked perfect except for his slightly crooked posture of leaning against the wall and the slightly uncomfortable look in his eyes.

“Isn’t that Redian?”

“What the hell happened? Redian rarely went to training on his own.”

Even the trainers became noisy, perhaps because it was an unfamiliar sight.

“H-how did Redian come out to training on his own two feet in this broad daylight?”

“How could he even come out for training after beating him like that?”

“…What?”

Redian had put in quite an effort to deal with his own power. That was the reason why he didn’t escape the basement, even though he endured severe torture. Anyway, unlike the underground guilds, he could receive training to suppress his own power in the basement.

I heard that the duke assigned his subordinate as a Redian’s instructor. Well, he indeed used the technique he learned to cut off the duke’s neck.  

“We gave him a lot of sedatives that he couldn’t come to his senses, tortured him when he recovered, and treated him like a piece of trash.”

He couldn’t have any physical strength left as they did that every night.

“It’s more amazing that he could still walk on his own feet, right?”

“G-gosh.”

“How cowardly.” I sarcastically spoke for everyone to listen.

“Still, no one has touched Redian since Princess came. L-look at that fine thing.”

That was right. Even from a distance, he was definitely recovered.

“God is unfair. God gave us eyes, nose, and mouth, but it’s still unfair.” Maze admired him as he crumpled his unfairly shaped face.

“What kind of family is he from? There’s nothing known about his identity.”

The owner of the Rixon family. He’s the nephew and the successor that the emperor is secretly looking for. The ninth emperor of the Meteora Empire and the male lead in <Summer Night’s Dance>… I knew who he was, but I couldn’t bear to say it.

“He recovered at once. John was so angry that day, so I thought it would take quite a while for him to recover.”

“Oh gosh!” As if Maze remembered the words said to the certain instruction, he clasped his hands together. “Princess, even if it’s not the case, it is said that Redian has fallen asleep without waking up once since you left.”

“Really?”

“Yes. That day, John was too scared to give Redian a sedative.”

It looked like he had eaten the candy I gave him.

“Of course, he should.”

Before I knew it, Redian was walking across the training ground.

“If he touched him again this time, I was going to make both his wrists unusable for the rest of his life.”

“G-gasp.”

I approached Redian. “Hi. Long time no see.”

“…”

“How are you feeling?”

I was getting closer and closer to the unrealistic figure.

“The candy I gave—”

But, a cold wind blew. It was because Redian ignored me and passed by. The moment we passed each other, I could feel the coldness.

If you don’t want to eat it, then don’t.

I didn’t see any reason to bother confronting him twice if he came out like this. As I tried to turn my back again.

“Princess.” Redian caught me. “Is it Vallentin this time?”

His eyes met, and he recited with a cold face. “You must be busy taming all those slaves.”

What are you talking about?

After saying that, Redian turned again and walked away.

“If you’re looking for a toy to please you, I’m not the one.”

Ah, don’t tell me… Does he still think I’m looking for a toy to play with?

“Princess! What happened with Redian? When did you become so close?” Maze, who ran beside me with a parasol, blinked his eyes.

Do we look close to each other?

“I-I’ve been in the basement for a long time, but it’s the first time I’ve seen Redian speak first.”

“Who will be in charge of training Redian?”

“Yes? Ah, Sir Nevil.”

I said, taking the parasol from Maze’s hand. It looked like Redian still misunderstood me. “I’ll have to watch the training.”

I hated being misunderstood. So I have no choice but to show it to him.

* * *

“Don’t lose focus until the end, and stay focused.”

How long has it been?

“Again. Do it again, Redian. Don’t miss the sword until you can handle your power with your fingertips!”

Even though the sun was setting, Redian’s training didn’t end. Only the heat that rose from the blade of the swords clashed endlessly, fluttering.

“Maze, what time is it?”

“It’s almost five o’clock. It’ll be dinner time soon.”

Sitting on a nearby chair watching the training, I got a little upset. “Training is good, but don’t you have to feed the kid? He needs to take medicine soon.

“Yes? K-kid? Who is…” He seemed to be wondering where you could find such a big and scary kid.

“But it seems that Redian follows that trainer quite calmly.”

“Ah, Sir Nevil was said to have been the duke’s most cherished subordinate when he was in charge of the army.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I heard that he came to this lab only on the condition that he teach Redian.”

“Hmm…”

Nevil. Nevil.

“He’s the only trainer that Redian follows. Sir Nevil is also the only trainer who can deal with Redian.”

I watched the training with a nod.

“Do it again. Do it again until you can feel the power you have and control it, Redian.”

The wind that touched my skin felt a little chilly. However, the training showed no signs of ending. Rather, it only went more extreme.

“Again!”

“Gasp, gasp.”

As if reaching the limit, Redian bent his back and breathed hard. However, his eyes that were revealed through his sweaty hair, were getting fiercer little by little.

“Don’t take a break and hit!”

In an instant, Redian swung his sword at Nevil. Clang, clang! Redian and the trainer’s sword collided fiercely in the air.

Then.

“Uugh!”

“Oh my god! Sir Nevil!”

With a sharp sound, Nevil’s sword rolled across the ground. Even his body, which had been pushed roughly, was thrown far away.

“…Ha.”

Redian was there, holding his sword, lowering his hand. I could feel his blood-stained hands trembling. At the same time, a strange air was rising around him.

What’s going on? I got up quickly from my seat. Somehow, I have a bad feeling about it.