CH 49

At that moment, the vice captain’s eyes became sharp. There was even some tension on his face.

“You have great skills at a young age.”

It’s to the extent that calling it great is an understatement. 

It’s because he’s hiding his power, in reality he’s probably not only stronger than the vice-captain but maybe even stronger than Addis.

When Blenn collected his energy, the vice-captain smacked his lips. 

As a person who especially likes talented people, he is reluctant and regretful because he doesn’t know where Blenn came from.

“I can’t give you much space because the knights have to train.” 

“I have no intention of disturbing you. I’m just going to warm up my body. Can I do it over there?” 

“Yes, go ahead.” 

The vice captain’s permission had officially been granted. 

Serdel went with Blenn to a secluded corner. 

The curious eyes of the knights followed them, but the training that had been stopped at the command from the vice-captain resumed. 

Only Siri looked at her and Blenn with an anxious look. 

“From now on, I’m going to do basic physical training for about two hours a day. So, try to attract their interest and attention while doing individual training.” 

“Are you talking about being close to each other?”

“Yeah. That would be good for you, too. You have to keep staying here, but you’ll feel lonely when you’re isolated.” 

She originally intended to keep him close, but she changed her mind because of the anxiety that Redan’s presence gave her.

As soon as possible she hoped that Blenn could naturally mend the gap between them and join forces.

“I understand.”

A smile satisfied with Blenn’s answer was naturally made.

“But even if I get close to them, I’ll be by your side. Because I’m not the Count’s man, but I’m my Lady’s man.” 

It seems that he was bothered about what she said to the vice-captain earlier. 

“Isn’t it natural that you pledged your loyalty to me?”

Blenn, who had hoped Serdel would be a little touched, nodded with a slightly disappointed look. 

“Okay, shall we get started? But what should I do first to build up my stamina?”

“….”

“I’ve never done anything other than breathing.” 

Serdel looked at Blenn who just looked at her stunned.

“—I think it’s better to warm up lightly first.”

First, she followed Blenn’s instructions.

“What should I do?”

He demonstrated it again.

“What do I do here? Arms like this? Legs here? How far should I stretch?”

“….”

Blenn, who was already speechless, just shook his head. 

*****

‘Simple is always the best.’

Blenn’s way of warming up was not suitable for her.

He was a warrior deep down, and none of his moves were easy. 

Without a potion, she would have suffered from muscle pain properly. 

Since then, Serdel has just run until her limit. Even if she was out of breath, she ran, ran, and ran more and more. 

Then, on the 5th day, as soon as physical training was finished, she went home  on horseback instead of by carriage. 

It was quite far from the Count Robbesta territory, and it was exhausting because she had to make sure to maintain her balance. 

She was stubborn and wanted to go on the expedition so she knew she could not cause any inconvenience. And to do that she had to get to a respectable level since the expedition wasa  place where only people with monster-like stamina could gather. 

Fortunately, Serdel, who is not as good at most physical activities, liked horseback riding, so her body was quite suited to riding.

Thanks to it, she enjoyed riding a horse. 

Just running fast through the cool wind seemed to open her heart.

“Lady, slow down! You’ll get hurt.”

Riding alongside her, Blenn shouted anxiously. Serdel turned her head. As she always thought, his silver hair fluttering in the wind was very pretty. 

The wall keeping his heart closed off was completely torn down and his eyes full of trust were only directed at her. 

“It’s nice.”

“Yes?”

“I like it. Because it feels like we’re alive, and I feel safe. Because you’re protecting me.”

When she sees Blenn and Laura these days, she often feels overwhelmed. That a person who had died in the past escaped from a miserable fate and even worse demise. 

And that she’s the one who saves their lives. 

It was comforting to see that they were steadily enduring the rehabilitation right in front of her eyes. 

Her confidence that she will not fail has also become stronger.

‘I can go back.’

Her hope had also grown.

Even if there’s no one who welcomes her. 

Living as someone other than herself became both depressing and frightening as time continued to pass. It was even worse because she had already experienced the ending a long time ago. 

Serdel, who turned her gaze back to the front, suddenly became bitter. 

“Giddy up!”

She sped up more. 

Blenn stared at Serdel, who was ahead. Rather than enduring the wind, the small and slender back seemed to be pushed down. As he came to his senses, he quickly approached her side and looked sideways. 

While he was disappointed that she no longer looked at him, her eyes steadfastly looking straight to the front were so beautiful. And he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. 

At the same time. 

“I like it. Because it feels like we’re alive, and I feel safe. Because you’re protecting me.“

Her words rang in his ears.

His neck turned red.

******

“You’ve been going out a lot lately, haven’t you? With that jerk too.”

After washing and having dinner Serdel was looking over some documents in her study, Redan, who came in after a few knocks, came to pick a fight.

“Brother, judging by your outfit you’ve also been out; where did you go?”

“I had something to do.”

“I also went out because I had something to do.”

“—They say you’re going to a horseback riding lesson?”

He seems to have heard from the butler about her schedule. 

“Well, you’ve been fond of riding horses since you were little. You’re afraid of a lot of things, but strangely, you’re not afraid of horses.”

Standing by the door and crossing his arms, he looked like he was reminiscing about past memories. 

He smiled. 

His tired face also brightened a little. 

“You don’t know how nervously I watched you, father, mother, and me, fearing that you might fall. Do you remember? At that time, you stumbled and lost your focus, so father was trying to catch you, but instead, you fell down, and mother saw that later—” 

His mouth, which was humming excitedly alone, closed.

What should she do if he were hurt by her words?

“I don’t remember.”

“—Huh?”

“I said I don’t remember.”

Serdel replied indifferently because she hated the silence. Of course, this was not a lie. The warm memory of the past that Redan was fondly speaking of was really not in her head. 

“Ah—You’re right, you were too young, so it’s natural that you don’t have any memory of it.”

Embarrassed, he scratched the back of his head. For a while too.

“I heard you went to the training ground. How is it? Are you building up your stamina?”

“That’s right.”

“Hey, is that all you have to say? Why are your answers always so short?”

He came closer while grumbling, then rolled his eyes and pulled a box from his pocket tossing it onto her desk carelessly.

“What is this? No way you’re going to say, ‘I just picked it up while I was coming back’?” 

As if Serdel had guessed exactly what he was going to say, Redan’s shoulders flinched. 

“Do you think your brother is such a lame and boring guy? Tsk. You drank that low-grade potion, right?” 

“It’s good for fatigue recovery.” 

“Ha. Yes, you will never build up your stamina if you keep using that. Even if you exercise your hardest using a low-grade potion will just return you to your original, weak, state. Do you drink it knowing that?”

When she opened the box, there were several round pills. 

“Is that why you picked this up so that I can use it instead of a low-grade potion?”

“I bought it! I bought it! Where can you just pick up this expensive thing? Do you know how much it costs? Damn it. You need to build up your strength. Even if you have muscle pain, you need to have more strength  to increase your stamina!” 

He, who was angry, let out a sigh as he saw her who didn’t respond at all. 

Tuk. Again, he took out another box.

When she opened it, it was chocolate.

“Because medicine is a bit bitter—take this to wash away the taste. It’s popular with Young Ladies these days—. Wow, just how long was that line? I almost spent all day in line.”

With a shallow boast, he turned around, touching his nose for no reason. 

She was a little confused because she didn’t know Redan would take care of her like this. 

“—I will leave.”

Redan, acting shy, began striding toward the door then suddenly turned again and approached with frightening momentum.

Today, he was so unpredictable.