Chapter 51: Morning Star (8)

The sparring between the knights continued even after Noel left. Since she was just temporarily involved in their daily routine, there was no need to interrupt the sparring.

Upon observing the attire of some members, it was evident that they had been rolling on the ground, as dirt was smeared here and there.

While it was not unusual to roll on the ground during sparring, considering the person they had dealt with so far, it was truly astonishing.

I turned my head and looked at Noel. The clothes she wore resembled a knight's uniform rather than the typical attire of noble daughters, it was a pristine white color.

The decorations were not overly elaborate, but the outfit was designed to allow comfortable movement for the wearer. Just by observing her clothes, one could gather some insight into her personality.

Certainly, if she were an ordinary person, she wouldn't have joined the sparring among the knights.

Although she and those who sparred with her were knights with less experience within the order, they were still knights raised in Kraus. Just that fact alone proved their skill.

However, no matter how unique she was as a member of the royal family, it was still surprising to see her making those Kraus knights roll on the ground. After all, she was not an ordinary 16-year-old girl.

If I were to ask whether there were any normal guys among the people I had met so far, the answer would be no. But this was the first time I had witnessed it firsthand, so it felt somewhat shocking.

Even though I had memories from my previous life due to my possession, she was not like that in the novel. She was truly a genius with exceptional talent in swordsmanship.

"Wow!"

A long exclamation escaped from Noel's mouth, who was sitting next to me.

We—Alphonse, Noel, and I—were watching the knights' sparring from a slightly distant location. The seating arrangement was Noel, me, and then Alphonse. I wanted to switch seats immediately, but I couldn't move and change seats given the current situation with Alphonse already seated there.

Soon, the sparring among the regular members in the training ground came to an end, and the subsequent sparring began among the leaders of each group. Since the leaders were not ordinary knights, their exchanges, even in the form of sparring, were extremely intense, as if they could fatally wound each other.

As I watched their performance, Noel seemed eager to join them, like an arrow ready to be released. However, after briefly glancing at me, she restrained herself from leaving her seat.

'Just go if you're going to go...'

Just a while ago, she had sparred energetically with the knights in front of Alphonse, but now she inexplicably paid attention to my reaction. I couldn't understand the reason, but one thing was certain.

"Alphonse, I'm sorry. Let's postpone our promise for a little while."

"Okay..."

I couldn't fulfill my promise to Alphonse right away.

Since it was a family's swordsmanship, it was not something I could showcase to others, and leaving the Empire's princess alone and going to the training ground would be unacceptable.'

More than anything else, Noel glanced at the battle between the knights once and then turned her gaze back to me repeatedly. If she wanted to watch the sparring, she should focus on that instead of constantly sending glances my way.

However, whenever she looked at me, her gaze was so intense that it felt like I could hear some strange sound effect, as if it were from a webtoon.

It seemed like she had something to say, but she appeared to be forcibly holding back her words. In reality, apart from admiring the knights' sparring, she hardly said anything. However, due to people's perceptions, even without her speaking, I felt like she was trying to communicate with me.

-Clang!

The sound of swords clashing echoed through the space.

But Noel's gaze remained fixed on me.

She didn't spare a single glance for the knights actively sparring. Instead, she simply stared at me without uttering a word. At this point, it was becoming difficult to continue pretending that I didn't notice.

Noel's eyes, shining with a bluish light as if radiating rays, met mine. Truly, those eyes were burdensome for anyone who encountered them.

As it seemed that the sparring between the knights was reaching its conclusion, I cautiously addressed her.

"Your Highness, do you like swords?"

"Yes!"

"It seems so."

Noel confidently answered my question as if she had been awaiting it. I nodded in response. Just as I was about to conclude the conversation, she tilted her head, displaying a different expression than what I had expected.

I rose from my seat and made my way toward the area where the knights were engaged in their sparring. One of the two knights who had just clashed swords had already been determined as the victor. Seizing the opportunity, I approached one of them and extended my hand.

"Sir Carmen."

"Ah, Lord Damian.  But what's with this hand?"

"Let me borrow your sword."

"Yes? Uh... Here you go."

Without hesitation, Carmen handed me the sword she had been wielding moments ago. It was a practice sword. Though lacking a sharp edge, it matched the weight of a real sword, providing a solid and familiar sensation in my grasp.

Having sparred with the knights of Edelweiss before arriving here, I believed there would be no further occasion for me to handle a sword aside from when I taught Alphonse. Yet, here I was, once again holding a sword.

As I raised the sword, Noel quickly ran towards me. Her face was filled with anticipation like never before. However, the words I had for her were not to hold the sword but to return to her seat.

"Your Highness, would you please return to your seat for a moment?"

"Yes?"

She looked at me with a face of incomprehension. I smiled faintly and spoke.

"I also need to warm up my body."

Upon hearing those words, Noel smiled brightly and obediently returned to her seat.

I couldn't help but wonder if it truly brought enjoyment, but unfortunately, at least for now, I held no desire to engage in swordplay with her. As mentioned earlier, my body had already been warmed up through training and sparring with the knights, and my joints moved smoothly as if well lubricated.

There was only one thing I could discern clearly from her gaze.

'How strong is Damian Kraus?'

She must have been curious about Kraus' swordsmanship, but what struck her the most wasn't Kraus' sword skills; it was my strength as a swordsman of the same age as her.

As one could see, Noel Estelia was a genius.

A knight existed in a realm beyond the reach of ordinary people. Of course, Noel was far from ordinary. As the Empire's princess, she carried the bloodline of the gods, placing her firmly in the category of the extraordinary.

However, defeating a knight was an entirely different matter. Knights honed their martial arts over extended periods, earning their place among the extraordinary through their own efforts. Thus, their greatest weapon wasn't their robust physique as extraordinary beings but the skills they had refined through years of training.

Divine power and Aura. If she couldn't use these two, all Noel had left was her skill. Judging purely by physical attributes, fully developed knights surpassed sixteen-year-old Noel in terms of physical prowess.

Nevertheless, Noel emerged victorious in the sparring.

Even if her opponents had shown some leniency due to her status as a princess, they wouldn't have been defeated if they possessed superior skills.

She possessed the ability to nullify the efforts of those who had trained for years. That was why Noel was a genius.

When someone is said to lack talent, regardless of age, they inevitably become curious about where they currently stand. This curiosity has nothing to do with their inherent personality or character. It's simply a natural response.

And so, Noel was also curious.

Where does Arthur Kraus's son stand? How vast is the difference between him and herself?

In the future, things may change to some extent. But thus far, if people were asked to choose the greatest genius in swordsmanship, Arthur Kraus would be selected among the Five Sword Masters. After all, he became a Sword Master at the youngest age among them.

It was a sin to be born as the son of a talented father.

I wasn't entirely sure if I was a genius myself, but I had heard enough to know that I possessed considerable talent. In my current reincarnated state, I could imitate well enough to appear as a genius to others.

Hence, the method to avoid sparring with Noel was simpler than one might think. I just needed to cleverly demonstrate my superiority to her. The reason she was excessively interested in me right now was simply due to her curiosity about my skill level.

I didn't have to purposely diminish my skill level. Considering future events, it would be better if she developed some admiration for Kraus. I just needed to exhibit a level of difference that would naturally make her back off.

To be honest, I didn't have absolute certainty that she would retreat.

Even if I had read about her in a novel, she was nothing more than a supporting character who made an early appearance and exited the stage, not a protagonist or a major supporting role like Elena or Richard. Moreover, that portrayal was merely a fragmented part of her. From my perspective, I could only speculate and act accordingly.

For now, I was thinking, "No." If that were the case, Noel wouldn't be observing the Knights here; instead, she would be receiving one-on-one tutoring from my father.

"Sir Gwen."

"Yes. Lord Damian."

At my call, a knight who had been silently watching the sparring among the surrounding members walked out. Unlike the other knights, he wore the Knights Conquest uniform with four golden lines on his sleeves, indicating his leadership as the head of the Black Dragon Knights.

Even without me uttering a word, he already held a practice sword in his hand. After spending several years together, it had become a habit, so it wasn't strange anymore.

"You mentioned wanting to warm up. How may I assist you?"

He spoke to me with a polite face but an inappropriate tone. I snickered and laughed, then turned the sword in my hand and adjusted my grip before answering.

"Just as usual."

"Yes."

Sir Gwen positioned his sword towards my horse and assumed the distinct rider style of the Black Dragon Knights.

In that moment, the atmosphere around us began to shift. The playful mood among the others as they passed the sword back and forth suddenly became incongruous with the warm spring day, replaced by an eerie presence that settled upon the place.

Noel, who had been watching the scene continuously, displayed astonishment at the changing atmosphere. However, she was the only one among the people present who felt that way.

Even the youngest Alphonse was looking at me and Sir Gwen with a calm face.

Seeing Noel in such a state gave me a slightly fresh feeling. Now that I think about it, it was a normal reaction. Since everyone here had become accustomed to it, they couldn't possibly have such a reaction.

'Elena.'

When she first witnessed this scene, she was slightly taken aback, but quickly composed herself. Both of them should be equally exposed to this way of life, but perhaps it was because she was the protagonist that she adapted faster.

Well, it didn't really matter. What significance did it hold? She seemed a bit—no, quite—surprised, but oddly enough, it seemed to fit better with my current perspective.

I assumed my stance, holding the sword just as I always did.

Was this a change that felt different from before? Even in the midst of that, Sir Gwen, who had always remained silent towards his opponents, slightly parted his lips.

"You've grown."

I nodded my head at those words.

That was the end of it.

Using it as a signal, we both struck the ground simultaneously.

--- END OF CHAPTER ---

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