37 Helena Kurt Vanforth.

Helena took out her rapier and pulled her arm back charging up for a thrust.

Knowing this, I dashed backwards avoiding the strike range.

[She's your sparring partner so I won't help alright?]

'I know!'

She then went to a stance, her eyes filled with a flare of determination.

"I don't like weak men!"

Yelled Helena.

"Okay, I'm a boy anyways!"

I said so shamelessly, knowing that I'm older than a 10 year old. Giving me no time to act she dashed forward and trusted her Rapier. It came in swift as it left for another strike.

I couldn't even pull out my sword, her swift attack keeps coming like a wave of thunder.

But that doesn't mean I couldn't see nor react to it, as I kept dodging as she thew her barrage of attacks.

I kept thinking she would only show me her pure skill in swordsmanship but then she suddenly disappeared in front of me and appeared behind me.

'She used dash!"

"Hup!"

She trusted forward, not letting her make a hit. I spread my legs to a split, she didn't expect that either and looked down as I swept my feet towards her legs.

"ack!"

She fell on her butt but when she was about to stand, I used my flexibility and mobility like a snake and went on top of her, pinning her down and raising a fist, threatening to hit her if she moved.

"Did I win?"

I said playfully.

"ugh… why didn't you punch?"

"Do you want to or…?"

"I'm not weak enough not to take a hit!"

Helena yelled in anger. She thinks I'm underestimating her just because she's a girl.

"I won't hit a laying enemy what is wrong with you"

I said in disbelief as she took my action as an offence. She looked at me confused then looked away with a 'hmph!'

Getting off her I walked a couple meters away, being involved with Royals is not a good thing as I recalled my experience with the prince.

"Tsk… managing to defeat me without a weapon…"

She seemed bummed out as I took her down without a weapon. Well I think it's just that what she did is quite predictable.

I mean I've seen a lot of people appearing behind people. How could I not learn from that?

"What did you do just now though?"

She asked curiously, like she just didn't try to kill me, I looked at her with a questioning look like she's absolutely shameless.

"Unless the princess asked me for forgiveness I would talk"

I said with an arrogant tone, Helena didn't like that as she gave me a death glare and stood up.

"How dare you! After acknowledging you as a strong man!"

"I didn't ask for any acknowledgement from you!"

Helena knowing she's being bested in words came to the nearest thing why this whole ordeal happened in the first place.

"y-you proposed to me so I have to!"

She yelled without a care.

"Oh my~"

And before I even clear the misunderstanding, Ozana came in with a hand on her lips, Lennon on the other looked at me with a troubled face.

"W-wai—"

"So you're acknowledged you better take responsibility for your words!"

Now there are witnesses, I can't escape this…

***

"..."

"..."

The whole carriage ride is awkward as Lennon and I was going home.

"I didn't you were ambitious"

"It's not it! I've been framed!"

I protested that I've been framed, it was clearly an insult really! I didn't mean to say I was proposing!

And all of that they only listened to the princess's testimony dammit!!

{Take responsibility lmao}

[Haha true]

'Not you too Markus!'

[Luna successfully dragged me to the dark side]

{Wahaha!}

'Luna!'

Without even knowing it my brows started furrowing, which didn't go unnoticed by Lennon.

"Well if your ambitious might as well become a noble, after all this isn't the first time you've interacted with a princess"

"Eh? This isn't the 'first' time?"

Hearing my words Lennon stiffened and avoided my gaze.

"Marquis"

I can see the sweat forming on his head.

"Marquis."

I said with a stern tone.

"The… the Emperor knows that you're that 'Dark Prince' that gave Yelena the Legendary Treasure"

"What…"

"Look Samuel," he looked at me and cleared his throat "You got caught by a peak 2nd class swordsman, so we know"

"Ah…"

I do remember being caught but was let go, I didn't expect it to get on the ears of the Marquis though.

"But how does that relate to me becoming a noble?"

"You…don't know?"

"..?"

"Samuel, you saved the princess from a certain illness not even the Physician nor the priests have ever cured, making you the first to relieve Yelena of her severe headaches.

Saving a royalty is enough to grant you a noble title, if not for you trying to cover up saving the princess then they might have taken your motive in a different route. They think you just wanted to save the princess as you saved my daughter.

Do you know how hard I tried to fend them off because they also knew how talented you are?"

"oh"

Hearing Lennon's story made it clear to me, the Royal family wants me! And that's why I was told not to lose back then! They think I'm aiming for Ophelia!

Sheesh! If I didn't cover my face back then they would have thought I was aiming for Yelena too! Giving them an excuse to get engaged to Yelena!

With those thoughts connected I have a thankful look towards Lennon, I don't want to be a part of royalty simply because every move you do there is political!

And I just wanted a life free of troubles. But yet again, if I did get engaged to the Royal family I could use the resources to find my sibling…

"You have that look again" Lennon looked at me with a soft smile.

"H-huh?"

"You always have that expression when you think of your little sister"

"A-ah…"

"Don't worry, you'll find her one day"

Lennon's word of support may be unfounded but I'm thankful nonetheless.

"oh by the way once you get to the age of 12 you'll be going to the Asella Academy."

"Eh? But isn't that for nobles and very intelligent commoners?"

"... You think you aren't intelligent?"

"..."

"And besides… The Emperor allowed me to keep you if you enter the Asella Academy… "

"Eh?"

Lennon just avoided my gaze again.

"EHH?????"