TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: N/A
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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"Was it okay to say it like that?"
"What?"
"Your older brother I was curious if it was okay for him, as the eldest son of the family, to be treated that way."
"Oh."
Celine responded with her usual stoic expression.
"If he ostracizes or resents over sothing like this, he's simply proving that he's not fit to be the head of our family. It doesn't matter to ."
I had forgotten that she had taken my side just now.
Celine has always been this cool and detached.
Thinking that she was still the sa, I continued walking, but suddenly, a bombshell of a remark reached my ears.
"Do you like ?"
"What? No!"
"See? You dont."
So there was no problem with my previous statent.
"..."
Overwheld by Celines direct way of speaking, Eugene stumbled his way into the training ground.
"Co here."
He followed Celine to a secluded corner of the training area.
It was better to do this away from prying eyes since it was a personal matter.
"Haaa!"
"Huhap!"
Soon, the training grounds were bustling with mbers beginning their independent practice.
Keeping a safe distance from them, both Celine and Eugene unsheathed their swords.
"You wanted to examine your swordsmanship?"
"Yes."
"Well, then swing it once."
"Alright."
Celine nodded and took a few steps back.
"I'll display the sword techniques of our family. Point out any shortcomings you see."
"Understood."
Celine grasped her sword, her expression turning serious.
She assud a balanced stance and began to demonstrate the family's sword techniques.
Hwoong!
Starting with the foundational moves, she sequentially showcased more advanced techniques.
Mana infused her blade, releasing a vibrant sword aura, tracing dozens of lines in the thin air.
The trademark of the Luberuta Ducal family's swordsmanship was its lack of flaws in all aspects.
Its greatest strength was its 'completeness'.
The technique Celine displayed had no flaws or openings.
'From the perspective of an average swordsman, that is.'
How could he put it into words?
It was challenging to judge accurately after just one look.
"Do it once more."
"Sigh... Okay."
Displaying the techniques had drained Celine, but at Eugene's request, she began her demonstration again.
Eugene watched closely, observing her grip, the minute movents of her muscles, and the harmony between her stance and blade.
"Are we done now?"
Without rest, after two rounds, Celine was panting heavily.
Eugene responded seriously, "Once more."
"...Alright..."
Celine clenched her teeth and raised her sword again.
Though it wasn't easy to repeat the techniques with full strength, Eugene's earnest gaze made her feel there was a reason behind his request.
"Huuu..."
Brushing her silver hair away from her eyes, Celine began another round.
After the third demonstration, she was drenched in sweat.
"...Is it over now?"
Her clothes were damp, subtly revealing the hue of her skin underneath.
Depending on the observer, it could be seen as dangerously revealing.
However, Eugene wasnt interested in that.
He was pondering over the afterimage of Celines swordplay that still lingered in his eyes.
After a brief pause, he finally spoke.
"Its hard to put into words."
"...What?"
Celine looked puzzled.
She had demonstrated her sword technique with full strength three tis, and this was the vague feedback she received?
Had it been any other swordsman than Eugene, she would have pressed for clearer feedback.
But given Eugene's remarkable achievents, she contained her frustration and asked,
"What do you an by that?"
"Well..."
Eugene's genuine feeling was this:
Celines sword technique was outstanding.
She had long surpassed those in her grade and will even struggle to find a match among seniors a year above.
However, that assessnt was from a conventional perspective.
She didn't ask to watch her swordplay just for obvious praise.
Eugene evaluated Celines swordsmanship from his own viewpoint.
Her technique...
Had nurous flaws everywhere.
He couldn't pinpoint one exact thing to comnt on.
It wasn't about making a specific correction here or there.
It was about overall adjustnts across her entire technique.
He had intended to summarize and guide her by picking out a few key points, but it seed impossible.
I did ask her to demonstrate three tis...
Words could only convey so much about swordplay.
Demonstrating it personally was much more effective than explaining verbally.
So, he decided to show her directly.
"I can't quite articulate it, so just watch. I'll show you by imitating your sword."
"What?"
Imitate?
Her sword technique?
Celines sword technique, from the Luberuta family, was notoriously intricate.
It was sothing she had devoted her life to mastering.
It wasnt sothing that could be mimicked just by observation.
'What's he trying to say?'
Celine looked at Eugene with wavering eyes.
He had already assud a ready stance.
"Watch and think. See how my technique differs from yours."
Eugene began to move, drawing his blade.
His motions mirrored Celines exact moves.
Though he was noticeably slower than her, there was no doubt he was emulating the Luberuta family's technique.
'How is this even possible...!'
To execute the Luberuta familys sword techniques like that, one would need at least five years of practice, assuming their talent was on par with hers.
'How on earth?'
What Eugene demonstrated now was astounding.
Celine was rendered speechless, simply staring at Eugene's swordplay with wide eyes.
Naturally, she recalled sothing he had said earlier.
He had told her:
Watch the technique and think about the differences between his and hers.
What Eugene showed was strikingly similar to her own moves.
It was shockingly accurate.
Yet, subtle nuances differentiated his from hers.
Celine watched in awe, realizing the profound nature of what she was witnessing.
That sword was more complete than her sword.
Wielding it as he did would surely elevate not only the mastery of the sword technique but also its practicality to a different level.
It was a sight so valuable, she wished to engrave it into her mory for a lifeti.
With widened eyes, she intently observed Eugene, not even blinking, afraid to miss the slightest movent.
She had to rember and replicate his swordsmanship, confident it would enhance her own skills.
Although it seed to last a while, to Celine, Eugene's demonstration felt like it ended in the blink of an eye.
"Did you gain sothing from it?"
At his question, Celine found herself unable to answer.
How could he casually ask as if it was nothing?
'Gain sothing?'
She felt so overwheld, it was almost to the point of tears.
It felt almost shaless to ask for more.
However, as a swordswoman striving for mastery, she set aside her pride and pleaded.
"Just once! Could you show it again? I'll give you anything you want!"
"It's fine. Just watch."
It wasn't a big deal to him.
Eugene raised his sword again.
Celine swallowed hard, making sure to capture every detail of his movents.
This was a level the previous owner of his body, who had been lazy, would never achieve.
Only Eugene, who devoted everything to the sword, could do this.
Thus, Eugene's second demonstration ca to an end.
"Was that good?"
"Yes!"
With an enthusiastic nod, Celine knew she had to practice imdiately while Eugene's techniques were still vivid in her mory.
She lifted her sword with a serious expression, and as she began to imitate what Eugene showed, she delved into her practice.
"I'll be on my way."
Eugene said his farewells, but Celine was too focused to notice.
She wasn't exactly in a trance, but she was so focused that she'd probably not hear anyone, even if they spoke right beside her.
'If you disturb her now, you might even get slashed.'
Having shown her his sword technique as she had requested, Eugene felt his duty was done.
Quietly and unnoticed, he left the training ground.
'That man...'
A female student observed Eugene's retreating figure.
It was Eustia von Reisen.
From a distance, she had been discreetly watching Celine and Eugene, hiding her presence as she conducted her own individual training.
She knew it was inappropriate to secretly watch soone else's sword instruction, but her interest in Eugene made her take the risk.
Neither Celine nor Eugene was aware of her due to their mutual imrsion in their training.
Eustia watched Celine's swordsmanship and then Eugene's mimicry of it.
'I was so shocked.'
The sight deeply moved Eustia, so much so that she was still trying to close her gaping mouth.
While her sword skills might have been inferior to Celine's, being of royal blood, Eustia was certainly considered a prodigy.
Eugene's achievents and the depth of his talents were evident to anyone with discerning eyes.
'With skills like his, he would definitely be of assistance...'
To eliminate the detestable forces in the palace that had driven her mother to death, she would need to beco the empress.
And Eugene seed like soone who could aid in that endeavor.
'If I can capture his heart...'
When he grows stronger in the future, he will bring her trendous power.
That idea ca to her mind.
She was well aware of her own limitations; she couldn't achieve her goals on her own.
Had she been born in the main palace, it might have been different, but she was like an orphan, lacking even a mother.
Though her swordsmanship skills were exceptional, she was practically an outcast within the palace walls.
The emperor's protection was the only reason she had survived until now, but in reality, her own power was minuscule.
Even though she had a claim to the throne, the likelihood of her becoming the empress was slim.
'But with that man's support, things might change.'
A smile graced Eustia's face, radiant as if an angel had descended.
Of course, the thoughts swirling in her head were anything but angelic.
She knew her strengths, and it wasnt her swordsmanship.
In her eyes, her most potent weapon was the unparalleled beauty she inherited from her gorgeous mother.
She was confident that if she wished, she could have any man in the world wrapped around her finger.
'Should I try to win his heart?'
The na 'Eugene' was firmly etched into Eustia's heart.
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