79 THE TRAINING (3)

"I was told by the knights that you were on the training grounds since I didn't find you in your room. Therefore I brought water and your breakfast if needed." Olivia said, approaching while offering her a cloth to wipe out her sweat. 

"Seriously?" Rachelle asked, her eyebrow cocked since it was too suspicious. But Olivia just smiled, her eyebrows raised twice, indicating something suggestively which made Rachelle just smirk while shaking her head. 

This cunning woman. 

"Sure, just make yourself comfortable while I'm training with my brother," Rachelle said, nodding her head as she patted her back and returned to her brother who was waiting for her. 

"Isn't today your instructor will arrive?" Alexander asked as he began to teach her how to wield a sword. Since she was already done with swinging the sword, then her muscles were ready for the steps to parry. 

"That's right. That's why I'm doing this so that I can be prepared." Rachelle answered, looking at Alexander who was displaying the stance of a knight. His body posture was fixed, straight while both his hands gripped around the handler of his sword. 

"Felicia, when holding the sword, you should not grip it tightly or too loosely. Hold it firmly, keep your elbows bent close to your body." He instructed as he looked at her, his aura became completely serious as dedication flashed in his eyes, excited maybe to become her teacher while the instructor hadn't arrived. 

"Your left foot should be ahead of your right. This stance is called being prepared to attack. With this, you'll be able to control your body in every direction."

"Let your arms be flexible for the sword to follow your command. There are 8 basic attacks when using the sword. Up to the bottom, diagonally left to right and vice versa." He instructed, showing her the pattern of the sword. 

Rachelle was amazed to see how the sword was elegantly dancing on Alexander's grip, like seeing a play where the sword wouldn't even cut her. Her eyes even widened as he performed in front of her, amusement flashing in her face which made Alexander feel very proud. 

"Do not stab your enemy using a free hand. That is a big mistake, and so is lifting your arms. It will only make you look like a feeble creature towards your opponent, risking your life even. So avoid doing that." He explained while showing what moves she should avoid making. 

"Do you want to try?" He asked, looking at her who just looked at her in awe. Oh damn, she will look so cool with it using the sword. Imagine people looking at her while she becomes a swordmaster. It's boosting her damn ego and Id.

"Alright." She accepted, copying what Alexander did earlier when it came to her stance. She stepped her left foot above her right foot, an opening for her body to stabilize her balance. 

"That's too wide, consider closing the gap a little bit more." He said, shaking his head as she stepped too far, making her stance look awkward as hell. 

"Is this correct?" She asked, correcting her posture while looking at Alexander. Oh dear, it's not as easy as it seems now. "Yes, that's the correct stance. Now, try to remember what I did earlier and follow my movements." He said, facing her and doing the stance. 

Both of them were so focused on their training that they eventually forgot the people looking behind them. The Young Miss learned so fast with the basics, showing exceptional skill over the sword. 

Yeah sure the way she would swing her sword is a bit tacky and awkward, but for a woman who had balls to work with a sword, she's already doing well. She's even better than most of the newbies of the knights. 

"I didn't know your Miss can adapt that fast." One of the knights said, his gaze straight to Felicia who was busy trying to perfect her movement. Olivia too was stunned upon learning about this. 

Sure her miss did kill someone back then but that was maybe because of lack. What more now that she's starting to practice how to use a sword? She'll become so popular at the same time being scorned by the socialites. 

"Ay-yay-yay." Olivia muttered, worried that she might hurt herself as she had been training for hours now. Does she not feel like she's hungry or thirsty at all?

"Shouldn't you be all going to train while the Young Lord is busy teaching the Young Miss?" Olivia asked, her eyebrow cocking while looking at the knights who were observing Felicia's movement. They are too focused on Felicia rather than their training. 

"The training ground is occupied so we'll just watch. Besides, this is more entertaining." One of the knights replied towards Olivia. "What makes it entertaining?" Olivia asked once again, curious as to why they were being entertained by the two of them practising. 

"I haven't seen any women like the young Lady to hold a sword. Women these days are afraid to even touch it but her? Look at her! She didn't even use her wooden sword now. Imagine how heavy it is for her frail body?" Another knight answered, having fun. 

"Wow, you guys are assholes."

"What? It's the truth. Look at her physique, it looks like she'll not be able to lift a damn fork. But look at her, effortlessly holding the iron sword as if it wasn't even that heavy. Look at the young Master's appalled expression, doesn't it scream that he took it in disbelief?" 

"The young Lady is full of surprises. I thought every woman's hobby was just to do needlework and such. She's the rarest out of everyone."

"Then shouldn't you be all sparring to spark or ignite our Lady's determination to learn more while looking at you all sparring? Who knows, she might be able to learn through observing you all." Olivia muttered upon hearing all of their suggestions. 

It looks like in the Knight's eyes, she's a woman who is similar to an unpolished diamond. They were complimenting her and praising her. These muscle heads clearly aren't that friendly. 

"That's a great idea!" Owen smiled and started to jump away from his seat, picking up his sword. "Come on guys! It's time for us to show our Lady our skills as the Dukedom's knights!" Owen called every one, making them yell in cheerful unison, charging towards the training ground like wild bulls. 

Olivia just shrugged, smirking as he continued to observe his young Miss who was practising hard together with Alexander who was glaring at those rugged men who started to spar in front of them, attracting Felicia's attention. 

Seems like her Mistress likes learning it by heart now. 

—

Felicia was lying on the ground under the scorching heat. In her guest, maybe it's already 10 in the morning and she's damn exhausted. She's been doing nothing but training and has been trying to learn each attack through the dummies that were prepared. 

And every time she would fail to execute the movement, Alexander would punish her with either a push-up or a squat, making her muscles so damn sore. He was ruthless and merciless when it comes to failing and punishing her. 

He was even glaring at her if she started to beg to let her off the hook. 

"Are you okay?" Alexander asked, looking down at her while she was lying on the dry ground, panting heavily. This is the worst. And here she thought that it was so damn easy to learn swords but here she is now, every muscle feels so damn sore that the only thing that he could lift is her head. 

"D-do you think?!" She exclaimed, still breathing heavily while Alexander just mockingly laughed at her, making her roll her eyes. He then began to pick her up, carrying her towards where Olivia was waiting for them, under the cool shade. 

She could feel her whole body trembling. Shit, it'll be hard to move together especially since she just started everything with Alexander. "Why are you laughing?" She asked, hitting Alexander on his shoulder, making him grunt and glaring at her. 

"That's damn painful." He complained, placing her on the seat while Olivia started to attend to her, wiping her face covered in sweat. 

"And you're a crybaby. It wasn't even that hard yet You're already complaining." She retorted, rolling her eyes. "But thank you for teaching me. I actually learned a lot and it's because of you, Alexander. Thank you for not being blinded by the societal rule." She earnestly said, filled with sincerity as she expressed how thankful she was towards Alexander. 

Her whole perception is beginning to change towards Alexander yet she will suppress it as she cannot afford getting betrayed once again. She had already experienced it first-hand, so she would not trust him despite his change. 

What he did to the original Felicia is still painful and keeps on looming in her heart. It's because of them that Felicia was suffering through the years of abandonment, with no one else to turn to. 

She was left alone. Cast aside by her own family. Left to die. 

"I actually had fun because I always wanted to have a brother whom I could teach..." He said, smiling sadly at Felicia. He didn't even start to blame her now. "But I guess, I don't need a brother for me to teach someone how to use the sword." He added, staring at her. 

"Because you're already here... And I don't need anyone else." The sadness in his eyes left, completely changed into a contented expression, smiling towards her while he ruffled her hair. 

"You should rest. Muscle sore is painful." He said, looking away as she didn't respond and continued to look at him, filled with emotions that were hard to determine. "Take care of her, Olivia."

"Yes, young Master," Olivia replied, bowing his head while Alexander just turned his back and left Felicia alone with Olivia, still

wasn't able to reply or talk about something and just continued to stare into oblivion.