Chapter 53: A Sword’s Embrace and a Wolf’s Gaze

‘A sword?’

Looking at the long, sharp weapon at his waist, an indescribable flutter rose in my heart.

Swords were the most common weapons of this era, and in many stories, they symbolized courage, strength, and heroism.

When I was still a man, I had fantasized countless times about wielding such a weapon, fighting freely and gracefully on the battlefield.

However, ever since I became trapped in this frail female body, that former yearning seemed to have become utterly out of reach.

After all, my current stature was short, my hands small, and I lacked bulging muscles and abundant stamina. Simply lifting such a weapon would feel incredibly strenuous.

I had thought as much, but when I saw Aqi draw the sword from his waist and offer it to me, that deeply buried desire was reawakened.

“Miss Lilian, try holding it.”

His voice was calm and gentle, his eyes conveying a clear sense of encouragement.

I hesitated for a moment, thinking, ‘What harm could there be in trying?’

And so, I reached out, nervously taking the sword.

It was a single-handed sword, with a straight, slender blade roughly the length of my arm.

The narrow, sharp sword gleamed with a faint silver light, save for a few damaged spots.

The hilt was tightly wrapped in a layer of dark leather, offering a comfortable, non-slip grip, and featured a simple guard to protect the user’s hand.

Logically, a single-handed sword designed for speed and balance shouldn’t be too heavy. Yet, perhaps due to the meager strength of my current body, the moment I took it, the tip nearly struck the ground, startling Aqi into taking a step back.

“Careful, careful…”

He whispered a reminder, swiftly helping me adjust my center of gravity until I found a stable hold.

I tentatively swung it a few times. My movements were clumsy, but the excitement in my heart was undeniably real.

Listening to the whooshing sound of the blade cutting through the air, I felt a peculiar thrill.

‘No wonder so many people enjoy using this. It truly feels exhilarating to fight.’

“Miss Lilian, next, try these movements…”

Seeing that I had grown accustomed to the sword’s weight, Aqi began to instruct me on some common single-handed sword techniques.

These movements included basic slashes, thrusts, parries, counterattacks, and corresponding footwork—all simplified, practical versions.

According to him, mastering these initial techniques would put me above most militiamen.

After demonstrating, he began to guide my actions, step by step.

Even though I was a complete novice, he patiently pointed out my errors and shortcomings, unlike the driving instructors I’d had who would constantly scold me.

Perhaps my talent wasn’t so bad, for in no time, I was imitating his movements quite convincingly. A strange confidence bloomed within me, making me believe that if I encountered bandits again, my rudimentary skills might even allow me to counter-kill one.

However, given my current body, after wielding the weapon for so long, my stamina was nearly depleted.

I couldn’t stop panting, my entire body was hot, and I could feel my socks growing damp.

“Thank you, Aqi!”

I wiped a streak of sweat from my face, offering him a grateful smile.

“Using a sword is quite interesting, it’s just… hmm… I feel my stamina is holding me back. I can’t even last much longer than this…”

I spoke softly, my breathless tone laced with a helpless self-mockery.

The words had barely left my lips when I noticed Aqi’s expression seemed somewhat unnatural.

His eyes flickered, appearing to avoid my gaze.

“Ac… actually, for your first time, lasting this long is quite good, haha…”

His fingers nervously stroked the scabbard at his waist, trembling, as a faint blush began to spread across his cheeks.

‘Eh?’

‘Why is this guy acting so strangely all of a sudden?’

I felt a sense of bewilderment.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

“Aqi, you look a bit odd? Did I… do something incorrectly just now?”

Upon hearing my question, his embarrassment became even more pronounced; sweat began to bead on his forehead.

“No, no, Miss Lilian… I’m just… uh…”

Seeing his rather uncomfortable demeanor, I worriedly leaned closer to him, then stood on tiptoes and reached out to touch his forehead.

Despite it being a simple gesture of concern, the large man froze like a block of wood, his lips pressed tightly together, unmoving.

“You don’t have a fever…”

I found it even more baffling. Just as I wondered what to do, a boisterous voice suddenly echoed from behind me.

“Hahahaha! Little girl, don’t mind that big oaf. He always gets flustered like that whenever a beautiful woman captivates him!”

The voice was loud and unrestrained, carrying a hint of teasing laughter.

I paused, turning to look behind me, and saw a man leaning against the castle’s stone wall.

He wore no armor, only a leather jerkin and trousers, with a wide leather belt cinched at his waist. His arms and legs were distinctly muscled, exuding a raw, wild aura.

Matching his demeanor, his hair was long and messy, unlike the neat, refined styles of typical knights. It fell loosely, wild as ocean waves, fluttering freely in the wind, forming winding lines.

As he drew closer, I noticed his rugged features and thick beard. Only his eyes, bright and piercing, revealed a profound depth honed by years of hardship.

“Third Brother…” Aqi exclaimed in surprise, addressing the man. “What are you doing here?”

‘Third Brother?’

Hearing Aqi’s address, I quickly deduced that this man was one of Rodd’s formidable generals, given such a high ranking.

The man, ranked third, stood loosely before me, his chin slightly raised, his eyes casually glancing at Aqi.

“Just finished accompanying the boss to put a new tombstone on Little Six’s grave. Happened to pass by here and saw you and this woman practicing swords. Didn’t expect you, you big fool, to be quite the romantic, using such methods to hook up with women, eh?”

‘Uh… wh… what the hell?’

Hearing the man’s lewd taunt, my heart felt stung by a bee, making me tense and inexplicably embarrassed.

But before I could speak, Aqi quickly explained:

“No, nothing of the sort! I’m just repaying Miss Lilian for saving me earlier!”

“Oh?”

Third Brother’s eyes, which had been dull like a dead fish’s, widened slightly.

“So it was her who saved you!”

He cocked his head, looking at me with keen interest, his scrutinizing gaze making me incredibly nervous.

“Tsk, tsk… Allen did mention a few times that a cute little maid showed him a new method of staunching bleeding with high heat. So it was you, after all?”

He licked his lips, revealing his stark white teeth, as if he had just spotted a delicious meal.

“You truly are beautiful, no wonder the boss took a liking to you. That fair, tender skin and flesh… truly exquisite. I haven’t seen one like this in years~”

‘Ugh—’

That wolf-like gaze sweeping up and down made me incredibly uncomfortable, sending shivers down my spine. I couldn’t help but take a step back.

‘This… this guy, he seems a bit off?’

‘He wouldn’t do anything out of line, would he?’

‘No… he wouldn’t. He’s Rodd’s man, and Rodd can control his subordinates!’

I told myself not to overthink it, yet deep down, an urge to leave as quickly as possible surged within me.

At the same time, I also began to resent this vulgar body of mine. Why did it attract men’s attention so easily?

‘Such annoying charm!’

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