Clang!

With a sharp noise, Cassis stepped forward half a step, teasing lightly.

“You seem a bit slow today. Are you sick at home?”

“Eek…!”

The opponent who was catching his breath charged at him again upon hearing that. Rosha, who had been secretly watching Cassis, as if expecting this reaction, internally assessed the situation.

‘He’s good. I used to think he only had strength, but now I see that the tip of his sword is very sharp and accurate.’

Her main skill wasn’t the sword.

From the beginning, she learned to defend herself because her abilities alone weren’t enough to protect her body. Moreover, she was deemed more talented in magic than with a sword.

Well, that’s how it turned out.

Of course, with the experience she had over the years, she was somewhat competent. She could usually predict the path of a moving sword or the next attack. And it wasn’t too hard to find an opening to intervene during a duel.

And so, like this.

“Ah…!”

An opponent who mistakenly missed his sword let out a short scream.

Seeing the sword floating in mid-air, spinning fiercely towards Cassis’s head, Rosha instinctively threw the small shovel she held in her hand.

Whoosh!

She threw it with all her might, but it still felt strenuous, possibly due to her lack of muscle. But while she lacked strength, she still had experience. The shovel she threw fiercely deflected the spinning sword blade.

Thanks to that, the redirected sword safely lodged into the ground where no one stood.

“…”

“…”

A heavy silence fell upon the training ground.

‘Oh no…’

Seeing everyone’s gaze fixated on the fallen shovel, Rosha swallowed nervously.

She threw it without thinking because she thought Cassis was in danger, but now regretted intervening. Someone else watching the duel might have helped!

Ah… how can this be fixed?

“Kya kya, this is going to be troublesome. Hang in there!”

Koko, whispering in her ear, went up the tree branches, as if it wasn’t his problem. To think he was always with me, that traitor!

‘Should I run away now?’

If she was going to run, it’s best to do it before it’s too late. Just as she was hesitating, looking for an escape…

“You there.”

A middle-aged woman standing on one side of the training ground beckoned her.

“Would you mind coming over here?”

…I don’t know who you are, but I don’t want to come over.

However, since she was being stared at directly, she had to show herself.

Rosha took a shallow breath and timidly peeked her head out from behind the tree.

“Ah…!”

“Isn’t that Miss Rosha?”

“Then that shovel…?”

The knights, who had gathered by now, looked at her with confusion.

And for good reason, the original image of Rosha was similar to a delicately grown plant. She was quiet, had a narrow range of activities, and never set foot in the training grounds.

‘Yes, it’s hard to believe I threw a shovel and hit a flying sword.’

Fortunately, there seemed to be a way out.

Taking the opportunity, Rosha showed the basket of herbs she held and spoke with an embarrassed tone.

“I was collecting plants to plant by the window and accidentally dropped my shovel. I’m sorry if I disturbed your training.”

“Oh, no, it’s okay.”

“It’s not something Miss should apologize for.”

Honestly, the trajectory from dropping the shovel didn’t make sense, but the knights seemed to accept the explanation and dispersed to their respective tasks. It was a situation where prejudice worked in her favor.

However, there was one person who wasn’t convinced.

“Did you really just drop that shovel?”

The middle-aged woman, who had approached without Rosha noticing, asked softly.

She looked a little over forty, and her elongated and solid physique suggested she had trained for a long time.

With one eye covered by a thick blindfold, the other curved finely and sparkled interestingly.

‘Why are your eyes shining like that?’

Rosha guessed the woman’s identity in her mind and replied.

“I didn’t throw it, I accidentally dropped it.”

“I see.”

The woman didn’t particularly refute Rosha’s answer. It seemed she was more interested in something else…

“Do you ever think of learning the sword? You seem to have talent.”

Of course. By this point, it becomes clear who the woman is.

Cassis, who approached quickly, handed over the hoe and answered on her behalf.

“Rosha has never held a sword. She doesn’t like sweating and jumping around.”

He then added one word.

“Master.”

Cassis’ swordsmanship teacher was a retired captain of the imperial guard. Although this was the first real encounter, he had heard before that she was a woman.

Rosha took a fresh look at her.

Born into a noble family, she was famous for marrying the sword, not a man her age. Once she made a name for herself as an inspiration for the imperial knights, she retired for some reason and has been teaching Cassis here.

“It’s our first meeting. Call me Marian. I’m staying here for a short time, traveling to and from the village.”

“My name is Roshanak Aper.”

“Alright, kiddo. No thoughts on learning the sword from me?”

Despite hearing her name, Marian, who still called her a ‘kid’, smiled kindly. Probably because she wanted to teach someone who seemed talented in swordsmanship.

Such an offer is always welcome.

“Master, my sister has no interest in swordsmanship…”

“I’ll learn. I’d like to try.”

“…What?”

“If it’s okay, I’d like to learn. Not immediately from today, but… In the near future.”

With Cassis’ wide-eyed gaze upon her, Rosha spoke calmly.

Anyway, to use her ability smoothly, she needs to train her physical strength. Everything is based on stamina.

‘I can just moderately hide my swordsmanship skills.’

It wouldn’t be bad to get close to Marian, an outstanding swordsman.

And who knows, maybe during a trial, a latent ability might emerge and be useful.

“I didn’t expect such enthusiasm… Good, you’ve made a wise decision. There’s nothing like learning how to protect oneself in times of crisis.”

Marian said with a bright smile.

It might be just a casual remark, but Rosha, who knew the current state of the world that wasn’t so comfortable anymore, looked up at her.

Marian’s only blue eye sank peacefully like a deep lake.

And at that moment.

“Miss! Where have you been since morning!”

Oh, no.

When she turned her head at the familiar voice in the distance, Berri, holding her skirt tightly, was running towards them.

Rosha quickly ended the conversation.

“I should go now, Marian. I’ll contact you later. Brother, train hard.”

“Don’t move from there! And don’t play pranks!”

After seeing her quickly gathering her shovel, Berri warned, but Rosha just ran away without hesitation.

Without noticing the unfamiliar look from Cassis behind her.

I’m sorry, Berri. But to fill the basket with herbs, it’s still a long way to go!

“Kahaha, fun!”

As the urgent matter ended, Koko returned and flew close beside her. Seeing him enjoying the escape so much, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Yet, she also felt an ambiguous anxiety.

‘Something crappy always happens when it’s this peaceful.’

I hope it’s not this time. Rosha thought desperately as she ran.

* * *

It’s damn unfair. Despite her desperate hopes, the issue erupted that very afternoon.

“…Can you say that again, brother?”

“Heres Lycaon. The representative of the Lycaon family, who was your fiancé, is on his way here now.”

Listening to the shocking news brought by Cedric, Rosha cursed inwardly.

She half-expected the mastermind behind the scenes to be the Marquis Lycaon, and anticipated action because of the note, but the response was quicker than expected.

“He’s on his way now? So when will he arrive?”

“Tomorrow, or at the latest by the morning after if he set off right after receiving our letter.”

…Damn it!