“Oh, sorry for being late, master.”

Evelia, who had shouted ‘Follow me!’ in front of Edin just last night, was quite respectful as soon as she started her swordsmanship training.

At least in the practice arena, she knew well that it was not a relationship between the lady and the servant, but a relationship between the student and the master.

“It’s fine. After all, I came out early.”

Edin smiled contentedly, looking down at Evelia who was acting politely.

When did our little lady grow up so much?

The crowd felt a twinge in their hearts seeing her, not in a butterflylike dress, but dressed in a martial uniform, firmly holding a wooden sword and respectfully greeting her master.

They were torn between the opposing emotions of wishing she wouldn’t grow up any more and wishing she would grow up beautifully.

“Now, little lady, what is the most important thing in swordsmanship?”

Edin asked Evelia the very basics of swordsmanship.

Physical strength. Physical and mental strength.

All the knights silently recited. Little lady, it’s physical and mental strength!

“Sword!”

…… Sword. It’s not wrong. You need a sword to do swordsmanship. Our little lady is smart!

“A sword…… is important, but the physical strength to hold a sword, and the mental strength not to let go of the sword even in lifethreatening situations are important.”

As Edin told the correct answer to Evelia’s unexpectedly naive response,

“Oh. Physical strength, mental strength.”

Evelia nodded as if she understood, and repeated after him.

“Now, put down your wooden sword.”

Why would she put down the wooden sword when she was about to learn swordsmanship? Evelia gingerly put down her wooden sword with a wry smile.

“Run. Think of a forest monster running after you from behind.”

“Run…… Run? Forest monster?”

“Forest monster is coming! Three laps for the first day!!”

At Edin’s command, adjusted to fouryearold Evelia’s eye level, Evelia ran forward with a puzzled look.

However, it was near impossible for still tiny Evelia to run three laps around the practice arena, which was wide enough for two teams to play soccer inside and still have room left.

Edin, too, certainly did not expect Evelia to actually run all three laps.

He just wanted to check her enthusiasm, willpower, and basic physical strength.

When Evelia, who ran lightly like a rabbit with her hair tied high, finished a lap around the practice arena,

She was a little out of breath, unlike her fresh start, and her breathing was rough.

The second lap.

Her chubby cheeks were so red they looked like they would burst if you poked them, and a whimpering sound kept leaking from her mouth.

“Stop, you did well.”

Two laps were enough. She had more stamina and willpower than expected. Edin stopped Evelia, thinking that was enough.

Arkan and Cedric, proud of their little sister who ran such a long distance for the first time, each brought water and a towel and walked over.

But,

“You said three laps.”

Evelia, who spoke firmly, started to run another lap.

It was very unexpected.

It was proud, and pitiful. Edin was also annoyed with himself for saying three laps instead of two.

The knights, Arkan, Cedric, and even Hugo glared at Edin.

Two laps would have been enough. He should have said two laps from the beginning. Two laps would have been enough for our baby girl, who’s just a cookie crumb.

The scapegoat for tomorrow’s duel is the leader!

While the family and the knights glared at Edin and cold sweat dripped down his forehead, Evelia eventually completed three laps.

There wasn’t a single whine about it being hard. Even as she breathed heavily, she seemed to be showing off, ‘Look, I’m good, aren’t I?’ with a proud and confident smile. Her smile looked just like her brothers.

“……You did very well, little lady. Shall we pick up the wooden sword now?”

After looking at Evelia’s smile for a while, Edin reciprocated her smile and sincerely praised her.

Evelia hefted her wooden sword and took a deep breath.

She thought she understood why her elder brother loved training time the most.

The sharp air piercing her lungs felt good. The refreshing feeling as her sweat dried was invigorating.

Her rapidly beating heart provided an inexplicable sense of excitement.

“Swordsmanship is about points and lines. It’s all about stabbing and slashing. The most basic thing, slashing downwards, we will start with that. Try it ten times.”

One demonstration is better than a hundred explanations. Edin gave a brief explanation and slashed downwards.

With her eyes shining brightly, Evelia, who was barely able to hold half of Edin’s sword, tightly grasped her wooden sword with both hands and lifted it above her head.

Hugo, Arkan, Cedric, and all the knights sent hopeful looks.

Being of the Empire’s foremost martial family, Arkan and Cedric learned ten times for each lesson they were taught.

Arkan, who added effort to talent, was now not pushed back even when fencing with most knights.

Cedric’s swordsmanship, which lacked effort but had talent, instead shined in sense.

Cedric’s swordsmanship, which constantly changed like dancing to the opponent’s swordsmanship, was not easy for anyone to see through.

How about the youngest lady of such a family?

Once, twice, three times, four times. Evelia gritted her teeth and slashed her sword to fulfill the ten times Edin asked for.

As the count increased, the knights’ mouths gradually opened.

“Good heavens…”

Herold unconsciously let out a groan.

“…Our lady.”

Arkan and Cedric’s pupils also greatly expanded.

Hugo, who usually doesn’t get surprised, also swallowed his saliva.

“What should we do…”

Even Elysia couldn’t help but marvel, covering her mouth with her delicate hand.

Edin also lost his words and blankly stared at Evelia.

Other than the sound of Evelia swinging her sword, no other sound grazed the training ground.

It was not an ordinary skill.

If one were to claim they’re from the Artina family with such skill, they would be arrested for impersonating nobility.

“…I’ve never seen anyone do it like that. Our lady really can’t.”

The courage to speak the truth when everyone is silent. Alec spoke quietly in his usual tone.