Chapter 8 — The Princess and the Duelist [2]
I looked at Sara before me.
As her attacks kept getting blocked, she began to look increasingly frustrated.
Then at one point, she stepped back slightly and took a proper stance.
Her blade stood vertically, the hilt lifted to eye level—
The starting stance of the Isrinbloom family swordsmanship, and one I had often seen while playing the game.
'So she's going to fight seriously now.'
The swordsmanship of the Isrinbloom Ducal Family was unrivaled in duels between swordsmen, and Sara herself was a prodigy known for her exceptional talent.
The very fact that she was now fighting seriously meant my swordsmanship had been acknowledged.
'But can I handle Sara when she's serious?'
When she had fought casually, I had been able to block her with ease.
But when she got serious… I wasn't sure.
I still hadn't fully adapted to fighting in this possessed body.
And relying purely on instinct definitely had its limits.
I was deep in thought when Sara once again swung her rapier.
A red dot appeared before my eyes, and just as I was about to move my sword toward it—
"Sara! That's an order! Stop there!"
The blonde princess shouted loudly.
At her voice, Sara immediately stopped her attack.
"Put your sword away. I told you not to go around swinging your blade at people without warning."
"…But, Your Highness, anyone who harms your body must be severely—"
"I said it was my mistake! And I told you to let me finish speaking!"
"…My apologies."
"You don't need to apologize to me—apologize to Alex."
"Alex? Who—ah."
Sara turned her head toward me.
"…I apologize for my rashness."
"It's nothing, Lady Sara."
I sheathed the Mistcatcher once more.
"Rather, it was an honor to cross blades with you."
"So you know who I am?"
"There's no other family capable of wielding such refined swordsmanship except the Isrinbloom family, is there?"
I bowed my head as respectfully as possible.
Having played the game so much, I knew roughly how nobles in this world spoke.
But even though I bowed my head, I could still sense anger flickering in Sara's eyes.
No—more precisely, her pride seemed wounded.
And at the same time, she looked at me with curiosity.
"What did you say your name was?"
"Alex Vanehart."
"Vanehart… I don't recall any marquess or count family by that name."
"I am from a baron family."
"Ah, then it's possible I simply don't know. But among the barons…"
Sara narrowed her eyes.
"…Was there ever a family with such unusual swordsmanship?"
"…It's a style I developed on my own."
I answered with whatever came to mind.
Of course, Sara didn't buy my clumsy lie.
"You're saying you blocked the sword of the Isrinbloom family with a self-taught style?"
"Sara, that's enough."
"…Yes, Your Highness."
Sara took a breath, then stepped closer to me.
And in a voice only I could hear, she whispered softly,
"It's a disgrace that the sword of the Isrinbloom family was blocked. This humiliation… I'll repay it soon."
With those words, Sara stepped back.
The look in her eyes still carried anger.
Even though I hadn't done anything wrong, I couldn't help but feel unfairly treated.
'…Well, that's Sara Isrinbloom for you.'
A character who had earned the curses of countless players.
Self-centered, temperamental, and hot-blooded—that was Sara Isrinbloom.
"Sara, what did you just say to Alex?"
"Nothing at all. Anyway, Your Highness, the entrance ceremony will begin soon. Shall we depart?"
"Hmm, you go on ahead. I'll join you after saying a few words to Alex."
"But Your Highness, being alone with this man—"
"It's fine. Or should I make it an order for you to go ahead?"
"…I'll wait in that building over there. Take your time, Your Highness."
After bowing to Layla, Sara left.
But before leaving, she threw a sharp glance at me.
I sighed inwardly, but being on Sara's bad side wasn't much of a problem.
From years of playing the game, I had learned one important thing:
'It's impossible not to get on Sara's bad side.'
She had always been wary of anyone outside the few people she had known since childhood.
Her reaction now was natural—and exactly as it had been in the game.
"I'm sorry, Alex."
After Sara left, Layla approached and apologized.
"Sara can be a little overprotective. She's not a bad person, but sometimes she acts before thinking."
"It's fine. In fact, I should apologize. I should've recognized Your Highness right away…"
"No, it's okay. And Alex, you don't have to be so tense."
Layla smiled warmly at me.
"This is an academy where everyone is equal, remember? You don't need to treat me so formally—just be comfortable."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Still, from experience, I knew better than to take Layla's words at face value.
Because in the game, whenever you got too close to her, you'd always end up dragged into some disastrous incident.
"Hehe, I look forward to seeing more of you, Alex. With swordsmanship like yours, I feel we'll be meeting often."
"I will do my utmost in service to Your Highness."
I bowed my head respectfully.
Well, getting closer to the princess wasn't a bad thing.
If the family recorded in that ancient document as receiving the Record Erasure Sentence truly was the Vanehart Family, then having ties to the royal family would definitely help uncover the family's secrets.
"Thank you. Then, if you'll excuse me, I'll go now. I'd feel bad keeping Sara waiting too long. See you at the entrance ceremony."
"Understood. Please take care, Your Highness."
I quietly watched Layla as she left the garden and disappeared into the building.
And once she was completely gone—
"Phew…"
I collapsed right where I stood.
I hadn't shown it, but I had been tense the whole time.
"…Not easy at all."
It hadn't even been a full day since I had possessed this world's body, and already I was exhausted.
As expected, this kind of life was tough for a shut-in like me.
Still, crossing blades with Sara just now had confirmed one thing.
'I can do this. At least, it's not impossible.'
I looked at the Mistcatcher at my waist.
Becoming a knight, uncovering the family's secret, and restoring its honor—
With swordsmanship of this level, it seemed more than possible.
[To be Continued]