Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Every time Riena swung the wooden practice sword, her slender body swayed with it.

"Your Highness, you're doing well!"

Her vision occasionally went dark, but the movement of the blade cutting through the air was becoming clearer and clearer.

However....

"......"

Melance was so busy following every one of Riena's movements that he barely seemed to breathe.

He didn't show it openly, but he looked as restless as a parent who had left a baby beside the water.

"Your Highness, this is enough. You have many other things scheduled besides swordsmanship."

His voice sounded deliberately calm, but his violet eyes trembled.

Riena firmly shook her head and narrowed her eyes.

Her palms burned as though they'd been scalded, and her entire body ached.

Even so, swordsmanship was the one thing she didn't want to give up.

In her previous life, she hadn't even dared to dream of learning it.

"Continue."

"Your Highness! At this rate, you'll faint...!"

Kanter circled around Riena, even biting anxiously at his nails.

Eventually, after watching both boys, Ruth slowly shook his head.

"Then we'll stop here for today."

"Follow the schedule."

When Riena flatly refused, Ruth gave a firm nod.

"I-I can't watch anymore...!"

Kanter finally covered his eyes with both small hands.

Riena ignored him.

Once again, the wooden sword shot forward and sliced sharply through the air.

As the tip of her sword grew fiercer and fiercer, even the boys fell silent.

I have to become stronger.

Her golden eyes darkened.

Magic studies? You're going to live as Duchess Cartes anyway. I don't understand why you're wasting your time on something like that.

Francio had always been reluctant to let Riena learn anything.

He merely dressed up his nagging with polite words, telling her that an Imperial Princess should behave like one.

Should she at least have been grateful?

At least he'd allowed her to keep the title of Imperial Princess.

Grateful? He only did it to save face.

Francio had lived and died by appearances.

That was why he couldn't completely neglect his sickly daughter.

There had even been a time when Riena mistook that behavior for fatherly love.

Perhaps that was why she'd felt such overwhelming betrayal toward Kanter on the day he usurped the throne.

But in this life, all the truth had come to light.

And as a result, Francio had died.

"Sixty-six! Sixty-seven!"

His death was the consequence of everything he had done.

A heart that changed as easily as thin parchment being flipped over.

Indecisiveness.

And even an inferiority complex toward the Empress.

As Riena went back over Francio's actions, her brow tightened unconsciously.

I'll never live like that.

For an Emperor, few abilities were more important than knowing when to wait and when to make a sharp decision.

There was only one person Riena knew who possessed both.

Emperor Chernuier.

Her precise and swift judgment had earned praise from countless people.

To the late Emperor Francio, however, that ability had probably been anything but welcome.

With his personality, an Empress more capable than the Emperor himself would have been both an obstacle and a useful chess piece.

"Eighty-one! Eighty-two!"

That was probably why he had driven Chernuier all the way to death.

It was something that could never be forgiven.

Was that why even the Goddess had punished him?

Is that why I was reborn?

Was it the Goddess?

Or black magic?

What did it matter?

She was living like a real person now.

Sweat gathered across her pale forehead, but the sword in her hand showed no sign of stopping.

A walk? It's raining, so you should go another time.

For a blind Imperial Princess, even taking a walk had been considered a luxury.

She couldn't even go outside without enduring cruel remarks from her maids.

And then there had been this.

Does Duke Kanter really intend to marry the Imperial Princess? What could he possibly be lacking that he'd settle for someone like her...?

It's obvious. He'll marry the princess properly, then take a mistress. Just wait. I'm sure I'm right.

Even when countless rumors clung to the Imperial Princess, Francio had remained silent.

He probably couldn't even be bothered to make excuses for her.

Riena planted her feet firmly on the ground and put her entire body behind the sword as she cut through the air.

Never again.

I'll never beg for my life again.

The sword stopped in midair.

"One hundred."

"Your Highness, why don't you rest today?"

"Why?"

"I'm worried you overdid it."

He was half right.

The muscles in her calves and arms were twitching violently, so she'd definitely pushed herself too far.

But every time she swung a sword, it felt as though the fog in her head cleared.

She was becoming addicted to that refreshing sensation.

Her newly cleared mind seemed to beg for more knowledge.

Feeling strangely pleased, Riena opened her Ancient Language book.

A pale cheek appeared through the gap in the door.

Then it slowly opened.

"Um... I'm sorry I'm late!"

Kanter hurried inside, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"Wait."

Melance's long finger stopped Kanter's steps.

"Yes...?"

"That's my seat. Why don't you sit over there?"

The place he pointed to was none other than the corner of the room.

In other words, the punishment corner.

Kanter's eyes widened.

He slowly shook his head in disbelief.

"B-but...."

"There is no but."

"Come on, isn't that a little much? It's not like you're punishing him."

Kanter's drooping eyes became even more pitiful.

He rolled them toward Riena, silently asking her to take his side.

"Either way, we can't actually take the same lesson."

That was true.

The difference between Riena's and Kanter's abilities was bound to be obvious.

Studying together probably wouldn't help either of them.

So that's why Melance agreed so easily.

Riena finally understood and let out a short sigh.

Of course.

She'd thought he'd accepted it far too easily.

Regardless, Kanter kept glancing at Riena like a kitten, refusing to move.

"Young Lord, didn't you hear me?"

"I-I'll go...oo."

Kanter's dejected back looked almost tragically pitiful.

Scrape.

Only after hearing the chair drag across the floor did Melance finally sit down.

He had to settle everything properly before taking his own seat.

It was very much like him.

But there was one thing Melance had overlooked.

"Um, Young Lord? I don't understand this."

Melance sighed deeply and walked toward Kanter with an expression that screamed how annoying this was.

His violet eyes glared fiercely at Kanter.

Kanter merely looked back with complete innocence.

"This... I don't understand this."

"Young Lord, this is the author's greeting at the beginning of the book."

Melance's low voice trembled with irritation.

"I-I didn't know.... I thought it was something important."

"You should be ashamed that you don't know something like this at your age."

He had only said it because he couldn't believe Kanter genuinely didn't know.

But when Kanter's face went pale with embarrassment and his gaze dropped to the floor, Melance's brows tightened.

"Both of you, come here."

The two boys, who had been bickering, flinched and looked toward Riena as though they'd done something wrong.

"Are you coming or not?"

The moment the command fell, Kanter hurried over first.

The reason he was weak at reading was entirely Duke Cartes's fault.

Obviously. After abusing him like that, would he really have bothered teaching him properly?

Riena swallowed a sigh and looked at Kanter gently.

"Kanter is diligent, so if you learn something, you'll become good at it. Right?"

Tears immediately gathered beneath his long eyelashes.

"I'm sorry.... Something got in my eye.... Sniff."

Kanter struggled desperately not to cry as the sadness surged up.

Watching him, Melance closed his mouth.

Even he couldn't bring himself to say anything more.

"I... I'll work hard! I'll really work hard and become someone useful to the Empire."

"Good. Hearing you say that makes me feel very reassured."

Kanter wiped at his wet eyes and smiled softly.

It was a completely pure smile.

"Young Lord Kanter."

The low voice drew Kanter's attention.

"I'm sorry."

Melance apologized in a serious, respectful tone.

The formality was almost excessive.

Kanter's shoulders jumped.

Even if Melance had done something wrong, he was still the heir to a Grand Duchy.

He didn't need to lower himself this much.

Kanter quickly jumped down from his chair and bowed deeply.

"Y-you don't have to do this! Really...."

Melance didn't move.

He simply waited for Kanter's answer.

"I understand! Really! Truly! It's okay!"

Kanter answered so loudly that the room rang.

Only then did Melance straighten.

"Young Lord, from now on, whenever someone owes you an apology, accept it without hesitation. You are someone worthy of receiving one."

At Melance's words, Kanter desperately bit his lower lip.

Old memories flashed through his mind.

His nose stung, and his heart ached painfully.

Day and night, he'd been beaten while being called stupid and lowborn.

He'd been abandoned again and again.

The terrible memories made his hands tremble.

He clenched them into fists with difficulty.

"It's embarrassing... but I've never studied before.... Count Heyrun has been teaching me a little, but...."

Melance's violet eyes shook visibly.

Riena already knew.

She merely let out a small sigh, showing no shock.

Inside, however, she swallowed a curse.

"So... I'm stupid."

Riena and Melance both took a deep breath and squeezed their eyes shut.

Stupid?

Even now, Kanter was still blaming himself.

"Kanter, that's not your fault. That rotten Duke Cartes...."

Riena abruptly stopped.

Was it all right to curse his father in front of him?

What if Kanter was hurt?

She carefully studied his expression.

He was already a deeply wounded child.

Badmouthing his father directly in front of him didn't exactly seem like the best idea.

"I know now too."

"!"

"I know Duke Cartes abused me."

Riena's eyes widened sharply.