Thinking that he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night due to napping all day long, Rensley, returning to his bedroom, soon fell into a deep sleep again. He had been really tired over the past week, and when he opened his eyes after a bright day, he thought about it absentmindedly. Considering it had not been long since he arrived in Aldrant, new events kept unfolding one after another, making it feel like a very long time had passed.
He felt good. Rensley stretched his body under the warm blanket, indulging in laziness. Thanks to the nap that had disrupted his sleep, his head was exceptionally clear today. He got up sluggishly, tied his now long hair into a single bundle, and washed his face. Although he had no plans to go out, he changed his clothes. Since the Duke mentioned something yesterday, he might receive a notification at any time.
“Rensley, did you sleep well?”
The always lively Lady Samlet managed breakfast that morning. Rensley showed her the note she had left.
“Lady, I’m sorry for seeing this too late. Thank you for your consideration.”
“Surely you’re not avoiding me because you didn’t want to disturb my sleep, right? Don’t think about that, and call me anytime; it’s also my job to take care of your daily life.”
“No, I really didn’t know I was hungry while sleeping soundly.”
Lady Samlet smiled kindly at the well-intended lie. Placing the tray on the table, she said, “I’ve brought a lot today, especially for Rensley, who may have skipped dinner. You need to eat a lot when your appetite is vigorous. Eat plenty and gain energy.”
“Yes, thank you….”
As someone who was familiar with the taste of the abundant food on the table, Rensley couldn’t genuinely express his gratitude. Nevertheless, to exert strength during training, his stomach needed to be filled adequately. Rensley spread butter on the bread, contemplating whether Lady Samlet always dined with food prepared in the Duke’s kitchen.
“Lady, do you always have your meals with food from His Grace’s kitchen?”
“Not always. I go outside the castle and meet people sometimes. I cook myself a lot when I do.”
“Does the taste of royal food and food outside the castle differ significantly?”
Upon hearing this, Lady Samlet’s eyes and mouth moved slowly before finally settling into a subtle expression. Looking around, as if checking her surroundings, she approached Rensley and lowered her voice.
“To be honest, the head chef Reyna has a strong personality, so I can’t say it outright… But truthfully, I prefer market food. However, it’s probably because of my poor taste buds. Perhaps the refined taste of exquisite dishes can be understood by those born as royals or nobles. I was fortunate enough to become the Lady of the Chamberlain, but I’m not of noble descent. So, I might not understand the taste of the sophisticated dishes made by the royal chefs.”
‘No. No, that’s not true!’
Rensley let out a silent outcry. Once again, it became evident that the food in the Grand Duchy lacked flavor for everyone. Even being an Aldrant native couldn’t change the fact that they had ordinary taste buds.
Wouldn’t it be better to become a real chef, serving both the Grand Duke and Aldrant? While Rensley seriously contemplated, Lady Samlet poured tea.
“His Grace asked to convey this message during the meal. He said he would come to pick you up around one o’clock this afternoon.”
“Thank you. But when is one o’clock?”
Smiling, Lady Samlet went to a clock. She pointed to the clock face with her finger and explained.
“When the long needle is up, and the short needle is here, it’s one o’clock. I’ll come earlier to help you get dressed.”
“No, I can wear it by myself now.”
He had already picked up and put on a dress several times alone, and he didn’t want to bother with dressing in formal attire every time he stepped into the corridor. Lady Samlet might scold him for his appearance, but he didn’t want to bother with the hassle of wearing formal attire for the short time he would be in the corridor.
He wanted to get out of this confinement, if only for the sake of his attire. The suffocating life of having to put on additional clothes and cover his face with a veil every time he went outside was making Rensley increasingly tired.
“Lady, I have one thing I’m curious about…”
“Yes, ask me anything.”
“Do you remember the thing you promised to look into? When I was young, you said you would send someone to find out what happened to the horse I raised.”
“Ah, are you talking about Marilyn?” Mrs. Samlet’s expression showed embarrassment. It was awkward to ask, and Rensley regretted bringing it up, but the story was already out. Rensley waited for her response.
“I tried not to mention it because I thought it might hurt Rensley’s feelings… Someone told me not long ago that Marilyn was given away. It’s so regrettable; if they had gone a bit earlier, they might have been able to bring her back.”
“Oh, I see… Still, meeting a new owner means she’s gotten better, right?”
“Fortunately, she has completely recovered. They said she was so sturdy and in good condition. So, they fetched her at a high price.”
“That’s good then. If someone paid a high price, they’ll surely take good care of Marilyn.”
It was a farewell he had accepted. If she found a good owner, it was the most fortunate thing. Rensley smiled, and Lady Samlet also smiled, inviting him to finish the meal slowly. After she left the room, Rensley left the dining table and stood in front of the clock.
When the long needle points up, and the short needle points to the upper right, it’s one o’clock. Right now, the short needle is still pointing to the lower left. Since he knows how long it takes for the hands to make one full rotation… There’s still a long time to go.
Is the Grand Duke having breakfast now? He might be thinking today’s food is unusually tasteless after tasting Cornia’s dishes yesterday. It’s a pity. There are many delicious foods here that can’t be compared to just vegetable soup…
If he fails the knight exam, that might be the time to ask to work in the kitchen for real. Rensley made up his mind and reluctantly finished the remaining food. Then, with Lady Samlet’s help, he put on the dress he had prepared in advance and spent the remaining time reading adventure novels he had brought from the library.
And exactly at one o’clock, when he hurriedly approached the door at the sound of knocking, there, once again, was the stern-faced commander waiting.
“Hello, Commander.”
“Hello. I’ve come to escort you under the orders of the Grand Duke. Let’s go together.”
As soon as Anton finished speaking, he turned around and walked briskly ahead. Rensley, who hadn’t heard how the written exam went, was curious about the results, but it was already crowded with people up to the area where conversations could take place.
“He probably wants to train me since I passed the first exam, right?”
Speculating quietly, Rensley followed Anton. They headed to the long corridor in the northern part of the castle, a path Rensley had not seen before, and then proceeded to a quiet courtyard. Entering another small palace through the courtyard, there was only one person inside, and it was silent, with not even a servant present.
Veiled, Rensley walked quickly past the commander and headed towards the lord.
“Thank you again for your consideration today, Your Grace.”
“No problem. Did you sleep well last night?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Yes. I didn’t expect it, but as soon as I went to my bedroom, I fell asleep completely.”
“You must be tired from studying so hard.”
As the two of them were talking, they turned their heads at the sound of a fake cough.
The commander was standing upright, staring at Rensley. Somehow, the atmosphere felt oppressive, and Rensley felt a bit tense, meeting his gaze. Anton spoke with a low and even tone.
“Since both of you are here, I will inform you of the results of the written exam.”
The cold expression made it difficult to guess whether it was a pass or fail. Despite being confident in his answers, Rensley’s heartbeats gradually accelerated as Anton didn’t immediately disclose the results.
“Sir Rensley Maelrosen has passed the first exam.”
“Wow!”
Although he was confident that he had only written down the correct answers, his voice grew louder as he officially received notice of passing.
While Rensley was jubilant, Anton’s gaze remained dry and cold. Rensley, who didn’t notice his reaction, clung closely to Gezell. The loud voice echoed in the high-ceilinged room.
“Thanks to everyone! I didn’t even imagine I could pass in just a week. If you sincerely pray, miracles can happen.”
“It’s not a miracle; it’s the result of Sir Maelrosen’s diligent efforts. Now then, Anton, when is the martial exam?”
Anton nodded once and began to explain.
“We’ve given you as much time as you wished for the written exam, considering your circumstances coming from outside. However, the situation is a bit different for the martial exam. I’ve heard that you excel in swordsmanship and horseback riding… Unlike studying, martial skills don’t improve drastically in a short period just by increasing training hours. Would half a week, three days, be enough?”
Three days? Rensley rolled his eyes lightly. Although his body might have gotten a bit rusty from not moving freely lately, the commander was right. Just as suddenly increasing training hours doesn’t make one’s skills soar, taking a short break doesn’t make the skills completely disappear. Once he regained the feel, there was a good chance.
“I’m fine with three days.”
Anton raised his chin slightly at Rensley’s response and lowered his eyes.
“You seem confident. Well, considering that Sir Maelrosen, who memorized a massive amount of textbooks in just a week, is the one I’m talking to. I can understand the Grand Duke’s words that we can’t waste such talent.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
Rensley chuckled and brushed his hair back. He felt even more delighted with this passing, thinking that he had earned recognition from Commander Sorel, who was not easy to please.
“So, here’s the thing.”
Anton’s gaze shifted from Rensley, who was laughing heartily, to the lord who stood expressionless, avoiding the smiling Rensley. Anton’s tone became firmer.
“Due to the circumstances of Sir Maelrosen, we reluctantly kept the written exam results private, but we can’t do the same for the second exam. The entrance exams for the royal knights have always been held publicly on the training grounds for the sake of fairness. This time, too, I suggest we conduct the exam openly.”
“Let’s do it that way.”
While Gezell easily agreed, Anton’s story was not yet finished.
“If that’s the case, Sir Maelrosen will officially reveal himself to the people of Roudken. You can’t continue to exist and not exist like you do now. Even if you fail the exam, it’s impossible to make someone who has been revealed to the world disappear in front of people. So, even as Sir Maelrosen, it will be very awkward for you.”
“Oh, then at that time, I could work as a cook…”
Rensley tried to provide additional explanations, but Anton didn’t give him the opportunity.
The commander’s face broke into a polite smile.
“Even if you fail the second exam, I will write a letter of recommendation for you to work in another noble estate. Of course, after the matters related to the Grand Duke are settled. I heard that Peter’s Bern Viscount is recruiting knights. It’s located to the south of Aldrant, milder in climate than here, and focuses on defending against invasions from the continental interior rather than the northern barriers. It might be a more suitable place for Sir Maelrosen, who is from outside.”
Rensley’s eyes and mouth slightly widened. Although it seemed like Gezell was considering Rensley’s position for a moment, in the end, it only sounded like a threat that if he failed the second exam, he can’t stay in Roudken anymore. Rensley glanced up at Gezell.
As expected, Gezell, who had easily permitted it, was not finished speaking.
“Alright.”
Upon hearing Rensley’s answer, Gezell turned his head. His narrowed eyes showed a hint of displeasure.
“Thank you for understanding my intentions. Sir Maelrosen, please devote yourself to training.”
Rensley called out to Anton, who was about to turn around.
“Commander.”
“Yes.”
“I have one question. How many points did I get on the written exam?”
Near Anton’s eyebrows, the thin blood vessels seemed to twitch slightly. He answered briefly.
“It was perfect.”
As Anton, with his crimson cape fluttering, moved further away, Gezell let out a light sigh after he had completely left the star palace.
“Was it necessary to go this far?”
“Don’t worry. I accepted it because I was confident I would pass. The commander made a bet.”
Gezell glanced at Rensley, seeming indifferent, and eventually nodded as if it didn’t matter.
“Right. Even if two people make a bet, ultimately, I’m the one making the final decision.”
“Your Grace, that’s not what I meant.”
“Let’s get on with it. Take off your dress. We’re not going to practice with this attire.”
“Yes!”
Rensley quickly took off his dress. Since he had worn a shirt and pants easy to move in underneath the dress, there was no need for a separate change of clothes.
While Rensley was undressing, Gezell also moved. He removed his usual black cape embroidered with the royal crest and the shoulder embellishments. Underneath, he took off the coat he had on.
Having neatly folded the dress in one place and stood up, Rensley blinked busily. Various weapons were displayed from the east wall to the floor of the star palace, and Gezell was standing in front of them.
“What weapon will you use?”
“Oh, a weapon. Right, I have to choose a weapon. What would be good…?”
Even though he was verbally deciding on a weapon, Rensley couldn’t take his eyes off Gezell Jivendad the Grand Duke, who had taken off his cape and coat.
People from Aldrant were generally tall, regardless of gender, and the Grand Duke was among the very tall. He always covered his body with a robe or a long and thick cape, but even without seeing him without these clothes, it was easy to guess that he had a good physique.
However, Gezell, who had removed all his outerwear, was not just large in size. The black upper garment covering up to his neck fully revealed the well-defined contours underneath. Muscles as solid and even as a shield were firmly in place.
The massive shoulder embellishments and the long cape adorned with embroidery are commonly worn by lords to establish authority and emphasize dignity.
However, strangely, Gezell Jivendad looked much more intimidating without those two, which were now discarded.
‘What are those shoulders? What about the back? Playing cards on the Grand Duke’s back would work. No, how can a person who sits in front of the fireplace reading books every day have such a body…?’
“How is that fine too?”
“Magic?”
To Gezell, who seemed completely puzzled by what Rensley was saying, Rensley gathered his scattered thoughts and cautiously asked, “Do you usually engage in physical training or martial arts training…?”
“It’s essential to succeed the throne of Aldrant. I don’t particularly like it, but I do it every day. Did you think I would volunteer to be Sir Maelrosen’s sparring partner without any qualifications?”
Rensley rarely encountered the Grand Duke during the day, and in the past week, he had only taken the time to help with his studies due to an emergency situation. It was natural that there were far more things unknown about the Grand Duke than those he knew.
The man, whose thoughts were unclear, swept his hair back with his hand and tied the long black hair flowing down into a single bundle. After wearing a simplified armor to protect his heart, he handed it to Rensley as well. He casually examined the weapons and then picked up a longsword that looked lengthy and weighty.
“The knights of the Grand Duchy commonly use this sword. Let’s go with this.”
“Oh, then I’ll go with this.”
Still feeling somewhat dazed by the feeling of falling for a trick, Rensley approached the wall and chose his weapon. The sword he picked was relatively short, a dagger and a shortsword.
“You use dual-wielding?”
“Not always, but today…”
It was a simple idea, but facing the Grand Duke, who had a body that seemed like it was clad in armor, Rensley felt a desire to focus more on defense. If the opponent were of a similar caliber, one sword might be sufficient, but not today.
Rensley held the two swords in both hands. Upon closer inspection, the blades and tips seemed to be meticulously crafted for training purposes. They stood facing each other, maintaining some distance in the wide hall.
After hearing that he would be the sparring partner for the Grand Duke, a different awkwardness compared to when he first heard it filled Rensley. He tightened his grip on the sword hilt in his hand.
Without knowing what Rensley was thinking, the man combed through his hair with his hand, tied the long black hair into a single bundle, and then handed Rensley his outerwear. He examined the weapons with an indifferent face and finally picked up a longsword that seemed lengthy and weighty.
“Attack first.”
Upon hearing those words, Rensley nodded slightly in greeting and assumed a starting stance, then immediately moved his body. Swiftly running forward, his foot suddenly struck the floor, propelling him upward. Rensley’s body soared high.
Attacking from above with force is advantageous. Since he was shorter than Gezell, Rensley had to leverage the power of the leap. The side sword swung down vigorously with a clear metallic sound, but as expected, Gezell effortlessly blocked it with his sword.
Landing lightly, Rensley attempted to thrust without giving him a chance, but Gezell’s counterattack was faster. Gezell deflected Rensley’s sword and immediately swung the longsword diagonally. In a hurry, Rensley raised the dagger to block his sword, but the powerful impact made the hand gripping the hilt tingle with pain.
He aimed for the waist without giving any time. However, Gezell effortlessly avoided Rensley’s attacks with just a few steps. Rensley attempted to find openings several times but ultimately failed to create an effective attack. He quickly executed a mid-air somersault and widened the distance.
Observing the Grand Duke in front of him while catching his breath, Rensley considered the advantages and disadvantages of sparring with an opponent of different stature. The Grand Duke surpassed him in strength, but Rensley found it easier to identify his vulnerabilities.
Yet, he still couldn’t figure it out. Even with a large body, the Grand Duke’s movements were precise, with no wasted motions—almost like a master swordsman. It seemed impossible for someone so dedicated to scholarly pursuits. Rensley sincerely admired him, saying, “The world is indeed vast. Your excellence, as you say, is truly perfect.”
“How about I take the lead this time?”
The man, who always moved calmly and gracefully, approached with the sound of footsteps. The growing proximity filled Rensley with exhilaration rather than fear. A shiver ran down his spine, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
Clang! The sound of sword clashes and the scraping of metal against metal became increasingly frequent. The cold of the north had long since retreated from the fiery collisions. Sweat began to lightly bead on Rensley’s forehead.
Rensley’s swordmaster and the owner of the Celestine Market’s tavern, Pedro, lost his right arm on the battlefield and managed both offense and defense with only his left hand. He emphasized the technique of controlling the opponent’s strength when blades clashed in a binding state.
How he missed the grumbling of the old drunkard, who would occasionally yell, “Dance like you’re holding a lady’s waist! A scoundrel like you, who dances until the soles of your shoes wear out, can’t do this? Sometimes resist, sometimes push and pull, and keep your steps close together. Good, lead the force trying to cut you!”
The two bodies became tightly close. The two locked swords continued to slide off each other without falling. In close-quarters combat where even a small mistake was unacceptable, one couldn’t afford to blink. Purple eyes relentlessly followed the man’s face in front of him. The man’s pumpkin-colored eyes also met Rensley’s provocation without evasion.
In the midst of the prolonged confrontation, as the Grand Duke attempted to change direction, Rensley crossed the dagger and shortsword, trapping his longsword between them. In an attempt to disarm him, Rensley twisted his arm to the side.
“Ugh.”
Rensley frowned slightly. The attempt was good, but it wasn’t easy, perhaps due to the difference in strength.
The unpleasant sound of scratching echoed between the entangled swords, the uncomfortable noise of metal against metal. As Gezell attempted to change the direction, Rensley, using the dagger and shortsword, blocked his longsword. He then twisted his arm to disarm him.
With his weapon constrained, Gezell, instead of evading the attack, pushed against Rensley, advancing. Rensley, stepping backward, defended against his counterattack. Rensley’s back touched the wall.
The grating sound of swords clashing and the unpleasant noise of resisting swords emanated between them. Gezell, in a low voice, suggested, “Do you surrender?”
“Ah… no.”
When Rensley responded with a smile, Gezell swiftly unsheathed his sword. Rensley skillfully avoided the subsequent thrust, finally finding an opening. Lowering his body, he aimed for the Grand Duke’s ankle, taking advantage of the disrupted balance and attempting to strike with his sword…
“…Sir Maelrosen?”
However, the intense flow of their sparring abruptly halted. Gezell adjusted his sword so that the blade pointed toward the ground. Rensley, frozen in a crouched position, stopped all movement. Gezell, who had been standing there without attacking or defending, soon lowered his body.
“Sir Maelrosen, are you all right?”
Rensley, still seated, looked up at Gezell, who had reddened and lowered his gaze while bending down to meet his eyes. It was questionable if he had been injured somewhere, but luckily, he didn’t seem to express any pain. Rensley rose from the ground, using the tip of his shortsword to push himself up.
“I’m fine.”
“What happened all of a sudden?”
Despite Rensley’s determination not to surrender, his expression now looked subdued, unlike before. Gezell, who was unaware of the smooth flow of their sparring, couldn’t understand the situation.
“…It seems that sparring with you might not be suitable.”
“Is there a problem?”
“Just now… I noticed a flaw in your posture and attempted to kick your ankle, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
Rensley frowned, lifting his gaze to look at Gezell.
“Indeed, I couldn’t attack your ankle. We can’t continue the sparring like this.”
Gezell blinked as their eyes met. Bewildered, he had no choice but to provide a conventional response.
“Alright.”
“I thought you would say that.”
“…I can instruct someone else to spar with you, but… If I want to call the martial arts instructors from the royal family, I’ll have to start with this special entrance exam and explain various things.”
So, it would be less troublesome for him to personally take on the role of a training partner. Rensley understood his words and was aware that he didn’t have the authority to choose his opponent.
Realizing he was making presumptuous remarks, his face turned red, but what should he do about the reflexively stopped movement of his limbs? Lost in thought, Gezell raised his head as if a good idea had occurred to him.
“If I appear to be someone else, would it be easier to deal with me?”
“What?”
“So that I look like a comfortable sparring partner to your eyes, let me use a bit of magic for a moment. If Sir Maelrosen wins, the spell will be lifted as a condition.”
“Is that possible?”
“There are spells that induce illusions or delusions. You don’t need to worry about side effects like with medicine.”
Gezell gestured to the air, drawing a sigil. A faint light appeared and disappeared with each movement of his hand. Following the pattern with his eyes, Rensley felt a strange sensation, as if invisible heat was piercing through his body.
The effect manifested quickly. To the still Rensley, Gezell asked, “How is it? Who do I look like to you now?”
Although everything seemed like an illusion, even the voice had changed miraculously. The dignified tone of the Grand Duke and the lively voice didn’t suit each other at all. Rensley burst into laughter, a vague laughter mixed with tears, but even knowing it was an illusion, he found it welcoming.
“The person who brought me here.”
“The King of Cornia?”
“No. Ivet who fled before the wedding. I think I can spar against her because we learned swordsmanship together.”
Though he wanted to ask how he was doing, it would be foolish. The person standing in front of him was not the long-lost half-sister but rather the Grand Duke of Jivendad, whom he had never met.
The human senses are truly fragile and easily deceived. Even knowing it’s not real, when someone you miss is standing right in front of you, you feel the urge to greet them. You want to ask how they’ve been, even embrace them. A surprising and unexpected gift. Auburn hair and gray eyes that were so real. Rubbing his nose that had become ticklish in the face of such a convincingly deceptive illusion, Rensley adjusted his grip on the sword. Gezell also smoothly rotated the sword, facing his opponent who stood with determination.
“Shall we begin? Once you get used to the attacks, I’ll lift the magic again.”
“Alright.”
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Gezell showing displeasure and Rensley checking him out , can it get any less cute ?
The fight’s going awesome , I can feel the thrill , even the se*xual tension that’s brewing there. 😆
Gezell will not let Rensley leave. Anton gonna eat mud lol try whatever you can 😂 !!
And ouhhh~~ 2 regular updates ! Such a surprise , I really enjoyed it . Who wouldn’t miss these two love birds 💛
*more cute!!! Stupid me 😭
Lmao i didn’t notice it until u mentioned it. my brain just auto-corrected it😂💛
Anton is a douche 🙄 I can smell your hatred from miles away, his intentions are so obvious, he dislikes the foreigner who’s suddenly standing next to his master and doesn’t want him anywhere close to Gezell.
Thank thank 🗣️💕🗣️💕🗣️💕🗣️💕🗣️🫂💕
ur welcomeeee💛💛💛💛💛
Rensley so ready to prove Anton wrong~
It’s sweet how Rensley can’t bring himself to hurt Gezell