Chapter 25: A Challenge on the Training Grounds

Princess Amelia was in a foul mood.

It was within her expectations that her request would be indirectly refused.

But swordsmanship training as an excuse?

‘Could it be that, despite claiming to be a relative, she’s actually Winterhoff’s hidden illegitimate child?’

‘But then again, she doesn’t show any of their characteristic bloodline traits, so she can’t be an illegitimate child.’

‘Rather…’

Regardless, while the documents were flawlessly perfect, they couldn’t fool Amelia.

In the lives she had repeated, a distant relative of the Ducal House was an unheard-of existence.

How many times had she repeated the same life, trying to protect the favor and love countless people had shown her?

She was tired even of counting.

In this era, even divine revelations had ceased.

Only Amelia remembered the turning hourglass, as even the voices that impulsively whispered in her head had vanished.

Buried in profound loneliness and emptiness, she had thrust everything onto her older brother, the Crown Prince.

‘In any case, this too will be reversed with the destruction.’

Just as she was about to give up everything, becoming a grain of sand flowing through time.

She became aware of the girl’s existence.

Amelia felt her flickering will, like embers, ignite.

The embers remaining in the ashes flared up, becoming a great blaze.

Her eyes sparkled with life at this newfound uncertainty.

She wanted to meet and confirm it immediately.

That first encounter with uncertainty was truly awful.

At first, she was happy.

The girl seemed to be aware of, or at least know about, the world’s impending doom, just like her.

‘Could we stop the destruction together?’

‘And could I reconnect the scattered bonds once more?’

However, the girl before her replied in a calm voice.

That it was impossible.

Amelia’s flame of hope turned to anger.

She had long abandoned the decorum of a princess.

Pressing down on the small girl’s body, accepting destruction, she unleashed the anger and sorrow she had suppressed.

Amelia came to her senses thanks to Iris’s voice, which felt like a biting frost.

Iris Winterhoff.

Amelia remembered her.

‘Was she someone who so actively shielded others?’

Even though it was more like covering someone’s head with both hands in a downpour.

‘Well.’

The Iris Winterhoff she had known was never such a warm person.

A ruler of the North fitting the term “cold-blooded.”

Like a human embodiment of that distant frozen lake.

Whether this was a good or bad change, she didn’t know.

But one thing seemed certain: that girl was the cause.

Thinking so, Amelia decided to probe the girl.

Unable to contain her heated emotions, she lashed out, but.

‘I should be able to meet her if I use my status.’

The absurd excuse she received for the declined meeting was enough to make Amelia’s veins bulge on her smooth forehead.

She couldn’t let it go; her long-abandoned pride and burning heart wouldn’t be appeased.

She dressed and left her room to find the girl.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

“Only Sir Hunt will accompany me today.”

“Are you sure, Your Highness?”

“It’s the Duke’s mansion, what could possibly happen?”

“That’s not what I meant. Taking Sir Hunt with you…”

“It will be fine. I’ll take responsibility.”

“Who would dare stop Your Highness…”

Amelia glanced back at the knight who had steadfastly protected her through several lifetimes.

“There won’t be any… need for worry.”

“Even if there is, it is our duty to protect you, Your Highness.”

“…Thank you.”

Amelia expressed her gratitude, something she hadn’t done in her past lives.

The man’s eyes widened.

“Perhaps the sun will rise from a different place tomorrow.”

“…Your mouth is the problem, Sir Hunt.”

Kicking the man’s shin, Amelia turned and left the room.

Leaving the room, Amelia recalled herself before the hourglass turned.

‘Perhaps I was like that once.’

Recalling her hazy past, Amelia headed towards the training grounds where the girl would be.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Indeed, the girl was at the training grounds.

The Duchess, who had interrupted her last night, seemed absent.

Perhaps for the safety of the nobles remaining at the mansion, no one else was present at the training grounds either.

Only the girl sat alone, motionless.

The girl, her long silver hair tied up, exuded a mysterious aura.

‘But if she gave an excuse to decline, shouldn’t it have been convincing?’

‘Sitting there on the floor with a gloomy face isn’t swordsmanship training.’

Even from a distance, those thin, white limbs seemed far removed from swordsmanship.

The moment Amelia lifted her foot to make her presence known, the girl’s head lifted, and their eyes met.

The emotions contained in those golden eyes, the same color as hers, seemed complex.

The girl, upon spotting Amelia, rose from her seat.

‘It’s unlikely, but she wouldn’t be trying to run, would she?’

Concerned about any sudden movements, Amelia quickly approached the girl.

The girl, as if she hadn’t expected her to come all the way here, looked slightly flustered.

“Greetings, Your Highness—”

“Formalities are unnecessary.”

Amelia found receiving such empty pleasantries outside of official settings not only unnecessary but also bothersome.

The girl, lifting her head, spoke with a face filled with anxiety.

Almost enough to make her look pitiful.

“…Then what brings you here?”

“I heard you were training.”

“…As you can see.”

At Amelia’s words, the girl grasped the wooden sword lying at her feet.

Amelia felt a flicker of something strange at the girl’s sudden flinch, but seeing her regain her composure, she continued.

“I apologize for interrupting such important training that you declined the princess’s tea time invitation.”

“…Sorry—”

“I did not bring this up to receive an apology. Rather, I have a proposal.”

“A proposal?”

“You will spar with Sir Hunt here. If Sir Hunt wins, you answer my questions. A very simple proposal.”

‘You used swordsmanship training as an excuse to avoid me, but you can’t get out of this.’

As expected, the girl’s face flushed with confusion.

“A spar, you say?”

“Yes. I wish to witness the formidable skills that warranted declining my offer. Ah, you, that is… your name?”

Amelia realized, in her haste, she hadn’t even learned the other person’s name.

‘Not that it matters now.’

After a brief pause, the girl hesitantly replied.

“…Evrys White.”

‘White… House White.’

‘Again, I have no recollection. Could it be the name of a house that’s already fallen?’

‘But her documents were impeccable… which means someone helped her.’

‘In any case, my curiosity will soon be satisfied. Let’s not be hasty.’

“Very well, Lady White. If you win the spar… I’ll overlook the previous rudeness.”

The confusion on the girl’s face was replaced with bewilderment.

Even Amelia thought it was a bit petty, but hadn’t the other party provoked her first?

Therefore, the flustered girl countered with a straightforward argument.

“Didn’t you say you weren’t looking for an apology?”

However, Princess Amelia had long since transcended such things as pride.

“I meant I wouldn’t accept one.”

At the shameless assertion, the girl’s lips twitched involuntarily, but the sound was too soft to reach Amelia’s ears.

“…Some.”

“Did you have something to say?”

“No.”

“Good. Then, shall we proceed?”

The knight, who had been listening to their conversation, whispered softly to Amelia.

“…Your Highness, the reason you brought me here.”

“I’m sorry, Sir Hunt. I’ll apologize properly later.”

“I had a vague suspicion, but truly…”

“…There are reasons for everything.”

“There is no need for explanation. It is an order, so I shall obey.”

“Thank you.”

While the two spoke, the girl, having gathered her thoughts, let out a sigh.

“Must I really do this?”

“If not, the Duchess Winterhoff, who cares for you, might face some difficulties, you know?”

Seeing a reaction at the mention of the Duchess, Amelia was certain there was something between the two.

Amelia felt a little better at this early harvest.

“…Very well.”

The girl, after chewing on her lip, finally agreed to the duel.

And so, the spar was arranged, and the girl and the knight, each holding a wooden sword, took distance from each other.

The girl seemed to mirror the knight’s movements as she observed them.

Seeing this, Amelia was confident of victory.

“I’ll drop this handkerchief as a signal, and the spar begins when it lands. It can’t be helped, since there’s no one else here.”

“Okay.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

While Amelia took out a handkerchief, the knight looked at the girl, who barely reached her chest.

“How about you just forfeit, young lady?”

Advice laced with concern.

Even if it was just a spar, that small body could get hurt.

And… although it was an order, she wasn’t entirely unconcerned about her own honor.

It was a fight she wanted to avoid if possible.

“…No, it’s fine.”

However, the girl politely refused.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes… I think so.”

“I won’t ask twice.”

At the girl’s firm reply, Hunt, the knight, sighed inwardly and corrected her stance.

Following suit, the girl also took her stance.

Hunt felt a strange sense of unease at the sight, but.

Along with Amelia’s voice, the handkerchief was already fluttering in the air.