A New Path Beckons

"Lady, did you fall?" I could feel his laugh.

"Not till now," I said, and I came forward faster, trying to get my sword to clash with his again. This time I pressed the sword with him for a few seconds, which was quite impossible a second ago. And the more surprising thing is that this is my first time holding a sword. This is my first time fighting with someone.

"Lady, focus!!!" His voice finally sounded deep, as if I had riled him up.

Yeah, he is no longer mocking me but gritting his teeth tighter, letting me have the chance, which I was not sure about a moment ago.

"Sir Xylon, I think you should be the one to focus," I said.

We clashed our swords again and again, pushing each other's limits. It had already been five minutes, and we were still fighting. He hadn't shed a single tear, but I was sweating as if I had just returned from the bath.

Even the length of my dress was making me feel weak. It had been five minutes, but still, we had not concluded. It was not like I was a master in this, but he had the thought that I would drop my sword in any way. Even if he made it fall or I dropped it out of tiredness. And he was kind of right.

I kept having second thoughts. I kept thinking, "Yeah, I can't hold on anymore," but still, I hung on.

Until I again thought of the night. I felt those swords moving in front of me like lights in the dark. They looked so sharp, but I instantly landed in reality when his sword was about to hit my face. To thank my consciousness, my hand went up on its own to defend me.

But in a second, he dropped his sword.

He was breathing as hard as I was.

"Lady, you could have died now," he said, sounding worried.

"I know it is my fault." I agreed.

"I don't know what has gotten into you, but if you hadn't raised your hand, then it could have injured your head, and it could even lead to brain hemorrhage," he said. Yeah, I took it too seriously because of my severe anger issue.

"I ask for forgiveness," I said, lowering my head.

They all looked shocked, but yeah, if it is my fault, then I should be the one to lower my head and ask for forgiveness. This is what my mother always taught me.

"Lady, no, it is not your fault," Xylon said.

"It is…"

He stopped me.

"No, it was my ego that led to this. But I now understand you have the talent to hold a sword," he said.

I couldn't believe he was praising me even though I was only defending myself.

"I will talk with the Lord to be able to teach you swordsmanship." I never thought about this. Good, he remembers that if my father won't agree, I can't.

"But Lady, you can…"

Nanny was still standing there. She was trying to stop me, but why couldn't she? I loved it. Yeah, this is what I wanted to do in my previous life too, but because of my feelings, it was an obstacle for me, but not anymore.

I have no goal of marrying anyone. I have decided I will learn swordsmanship and be a knight.

Maybe the first female knight in this empire.

"Lady, think carefully. If you do this, then the duke…"

I knew she would say this. I had forgotten about this matter, but I still had those papers stuck to my wall. Yeah, I have to get rid of it immediately.

I will do it.

"Nanny, let me give you an answer," I said, pulling her toward my room.

While walking, I was no longer looking so delicate, but I was walking so fast. My dress got in my way, but I stopped, ripped the length of my dress, and dropped it somewhere. I no longer had a soft expression either, but my eyebrows were so furious.

I pulled her harshly. Yeah, my grip on her wrist was so tight that she couldn't even let go of my hand unless I wanted.

In a few minutes, I reached my room. I finally let go of her hand.

"Lady, what are you doing?" She again asked the same thing.

I didn't answer her anything. I went near my cupboard, opened it, and ripped out those papers I stuck once. It kind of broke my heart. I kept on having aches, even though the hatred I have for the man is infernal. Still, there is someone in his corner who loves him.

"Lady, why?"

I looked at her while my tears were already falling.

I wasn't aware, but yeah, they were falling faster than I could process. Nanny ran toward me and hugged me. My tears came out even faster when I felt the warm sensation. I'm still holding those crumbling papers under my palm, but slowly my grip is loosening.

"Lady, what is going on?"

"Why are you behaving this way?"

"Tell me what is happening with you."

"I can feel there is something wrong, but you are hiding it."

Yeah, she knows it well, but I can't. It is not something I can explain to everyone. This is not something everyone can believe.

"It is nothing."

"But I have decided not to love him anymore," I said.

"Lady!"

"Yeah, from now on, I will continue putting a strong face on being a knight," I said.

I could feel Nanny's expression changing, but she no longer asked me a thing but agreed with whatever I said.

"Lady, the marquis has asked to meet you," a maid informed me.

"Okay, tell him I will be there," I said as she left.

I knew Sir Xylon had already talked with my father about today. And this will decide if I get to learn swordsmanship or not.

"I'm going," I said to Nanny, walking toward my father's study.