5 Reason #5: I don’t want to be a damsel in distress

Ever since I've reincarnated into this web novel world, these couple of years has been wonderfully peaceful.

I'm currently 15 this year, while Prince Leon and Sir Gregory are now 17 years old.

During these couple of years, I've spent time nurturing my two sons before meeting their female lead.

Even though both of the boys have been relentlessly fighting each other at the beginning, I could see that they've become best of friends. Prince Leon has been smiling a lot more these days, thanks to Sir Gregory.

They hung out a lot and spent time with other young knights their age. Looking back, I'm glad that Prince Leon wasn't that lonely anymore. Now he has lots of friends that he could trust and have fun with. Even if the day comes and we separated our path, I know that he will be happy.

It's nice to know that the two boys of mine had fun. On the other hand, I have been attending queen-to-be classes every day, which is such a drag.

I spend most of my days indoors in my study room. As a noble lady, it is not that appropriate to go out often, and even if I do, I must always bring an escort with me, which is so uncomfortable.

The classes that I attended mostly emphasize lessons that prepare a lady to be as marriageable as possible. The ultimate goal is to get married off and find a good man when coming of age at 17. The lessons I had were basic reading, writing, and feminine activities such as needlework and dancing. As a queen-to-be, I've also been taught basic history, politics, and management.

In the novel settings during this time in history, women were not highly regarded to contribute to society. We are not encouraged to know too much either because knowing too much was considered unfeminine. That is no good, especially when you are a noble lady with only one goal in life: to be married to a wealthy, respectable family.

However, I am grateful that I was reincarnated as the daughter of a loving father and mother. The Duke and duchess love their daughter very much and was open-minded about letting me have my own choices in life. If the previous lady Augustine could've realized how much her parents love her and appreciate them, she wouldn't have blinded herself to act rashly and harm the princess. Not only that would end her life, but it would also bring harm to her family.

Now that I'm their daughter, I would not do such a reckless act because I love my family very much right now.

Because I had higher education and ten years of working experience in my past life, the lessons taught to me in this world was quite a bore. When my mother and father learn that I had the talent to excel in my studies, they invited some of the best tutors to teach me.

I know they care, but it's actually making it a lot worse for me because I just want to take my time and relax and also ultimately make plans for my days to come after I survive my doomsday.

How very much I wanted to tell father and mother to stop adding queen-to-be lessons in my schedule because I know ultimately I won't be the one who will be the future queen. This is because I'm not the female lead of this novel. I am but just a side character - the villainess, and ever since I decided to throw away my role as the villainess, I most likely have reduced to a mob character of the story, like the unknown Villager A behind the scenes of a play.

Sigh... I at least wish they could cut down the embroidery and dancing classes. Even during my past life, I wasn't the most feminine type of person in my class. Usually, I beg some of my close friends to help me with my home economics project because I didn't have time to do such tedious work as I was running around with my part-time job.

I wasn't born in a wealthy family, but I do have parents that love me very much. I wanted to work and earn as much money as possible so that I could take care of them in return one day.

And I realize that I love working and making a living on my own because it makes me feel independent and free.

So I'm not entirely fond of the idea of depending on a man for my livelihood. I can take care of myself just fine.

~ Cling! Clang !~ the sounds of metal iron crashing into each other.

Must be my boys, training again. I usually could see them training in my study room. It makes me happy to see that my boys are growing up so well. However, there was one big problem; they grew to be more and more beautiful every day.

Both of them, now grown, a whole lot taller and muscular. It's hard to believe that these two gorgeous men were those two adorable children that I feel I had just met yesterday. It's hard for me to see them like babies anymore.

Today, the training ground looks exceptionally bright again because sweat from beautiful boys like them looked like diamonds sparkling under the sun. Even though I have tried my best to improve my defense against their pheromone attack, it can sometimes be tough. I have to admit that I'm a female at heart, after all. I couldn't help it that I admire a gorgeous man. As long as I don't fall in love, I'm safe.

I have to be careful, especially towards Prince Leon.

Although I know that we were together since he was young and was very used to having skinship with me, he is now considered a grown man. Lately, he has been getting a little bit arrogant, touching me carelessly like I'm one of his female fans who adores him. One of these days, I should teach him from refraining himself to touch me so casually.

I don't want my boy to be seen as a flirtatious player, and I have to make sure he properly learn his manners well before meeting the princess.

Ever since that day, after Prince Leon lost that match with Prince Edgard, he has been training vigorously with Father and hasn't lost a match ever since.

~clang!~

In an instant, the sword flew above the air, and Prince Leon won the match against Sir Gregory.

"Ok, now it is my turn."

The master swordsman slowly pulls out his sword, getting ready to face Prince Leon.

It is true that ever since that day, the crown prince lost the sword match with prince Edgard. After that, he has never lost any sword match except when he is fighting against Father, of course.

At least father can still keep Prince Leon in his place. If not, he will definitely not be able to stop thinking so highly of himself.

But I guess looking at the Prince now, a lot has changed. The little boy I used to know, who used to think that he is a worthless and useless tool, now grown to become a confident young man.

Although I don't know what made him so gung-ho to improve his swordsmanship, he has been relentlessly challenging father for a sword fight for the past nine years, and no matter how hard he tried, he hasn't won a single match with father. I guess my boy just hates losing, but from the way it looks, I don't think that winning against father would come anytime soon. Hehe.

*********

Prince Leon POV

Today I will win.

I've trained under my Master for nine years, and I haven't won a single fight against him.

Ever since Gregory join on that day, both of us have been training hard to win against Master.

But God Damn it! Not a single win at all for the past nine years! I still can't believe how strong the Master is.

But today will be the day. I'll make Master approve and make her mine.

********

~~~What happen nine years ago~~~

It was Sir Gregory's first day of training under Duke Augustine.

"Since Gregory is the same age as Leon, he will be joining us and train together. During my training, we are equal. So there are no ranks and formalities here. Both of you need to learn that you need to be aware of whoever you may face when you are on the battlefield, and you also must pay your respects to those who work hard to master the sword. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Master" x2

"Father!"

Ms. Ivy came running over towards Duke Augustine.

"Ivy, My sweet daughter, did you come to see your father work?"

"I came to see all of you, and I know that today is also Sir Gregory's first day in training, and I wanted to welcome him."

"It's my utmost pleasure to see you again, Ms. Ivy. You look even lovelier since I last remember."

"Oh my, Sir Gregory, thank you so much, and you are as charming as I remember as well."

Prince Leon suddenly stood between them.

"you don't have to welcome or greet someone like him. You should be getting back to your classes now."

<what's with him? Acting so immature... he should play nice Gregory since they will be together a lot from now. My baby is still child, and got to learn sigh...>

Ivy let out a sigh inside her heart, thinking that the road to nurturing the Prince is going to be a tough one.

"Ok, your highness, I shall bring lunch for all of you later. Both of you, please do take care when you train."

Then Ms. Ivy kisses her father on the cheek.

"See you later too, Father. You look the coolest when you're waving the sword."

"Hahahahaha .... of course, my daughter. Your father is the best in the world!"

Then Ms. Ivy left them and went inside the mansion.

The Duke noticed that both boys looked green with envy when his daughter showed affection to him.

"I see both of you are interested in my lovely daughter. Do you wish to attain her?"

Both of the young boys became bashful, but young Prince Leon answered without hesitation.

"Yes, Master, I wish to have your daughter as my own"

"and so do I, Master. I wish to win your daughter's heart."

Both of them glared at each other as if they are ready to fight physically.

"I see. However, I've no intention of giving away my daughter to anyone of you. Even to you, Leon."

"What?!"

The Master's words shook Prince Leon, as he would have never thought that the Duke would say such a thing since the Duke has agreed with their engagement.

"Even though you are officially betrothed to my daughter, I only agreed to your majesty because I thought that it would be good to get you out from the castle and have a friend of your age. Your mother was a kind woman who took great care of my wife when I was at war and wanted to repay her by taking care of you. But my daughter is an entirely different matter. If my daughter does not wish to be queen, I will do whatever it takes to annul this engagement, and you know that I also have the power to do so."

The Duke's voice deepens, and he gave Leon a serious look, and it made the Prince flinch in fear.

But the Prince mustered up his courage and stepped forward.

"What can I do to seek your approval?!"

The Duke smiled and laughed out loud.

"Hah! Then Defeat me in a sword match! There are no ranks in the way of the sword. Only through power and honor can help you gain my favor. If you can win against me, I shall give you my approval to win my daughter. Show me that you are worthy."

Ever since that day, the Prince vowed to become the man that's worthy of her.

And so the two boys went through a horrendous journey, training with the demon swordsman.

Nine years later ~ 3285 loses, 0 wins