Larisa admired hardworking people. Gwynveria was like that, and so was William. Even Siod, who always seemed relaxed, was actually living diligently to others’ surprise.
Perhaps because of this, Larisa didn’t dislike the boy in front of her.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Yeah.”
“Ugh, do you know how much time I wasted because of you?”
Larisa sincerely apologized.
“Sorry.”
“Hey, you! Ugh, whatever.”
The boy, Alexander Belvero, was dumbfounded and gestured in disbelief.
“Do you know how much I’ve put up with you?”
“I know, thanks.”
He was astounded and baffled. While Larisa was attending the princess’s teatime, Alexander, assigned to the training group, was always alone.
It was irritating enough to be in the same group as Larisa, and during training sessions, he had to wield his sword alone.
After holding back for a long time, how could she be so shameless! Alexander couldn’t take it anymore and threw his gloves.
“Hey! Let’s have a match.”
Larisa picked up the gloves that fell on her face and handed them back, saying calmly, “Sure.”
Alexander was on the verge of suffocation due to her composed attitude. Nearby peers who had been watching rushed over. Inwardly, Alexander thought, ‘Am I the only bad guy again!’
The situation unfolded predictably. Peers intervened, and Alexander, feeling unjust, shouted, “Let go! If you’re a knight apprentice, respond to a duel fairly!”
“Alexander, stop it.”
“Let me go!”
The rest of the peers surrounded Larisa.
“Larisa, just apologize roughly and let it go.”
Worried glances were directed at her. Larisa appreciated the concern from her peers and smiled warmly. She had apologized, but what could she do about the challenge?
“But I’ve already accepted the challenge.”
“Huh?”
“What?”
Peers and even Alexander Belvero widened their eyes in surprise.
The result was devastating.
Larisa lay on the ground, looking up at the sky. As expected, Larisa, who lagged in both strength and magic, had no chance of winning.
Embarrassed, Alexander exclaimed, “W-why are you so stubborn!”
Larisa, holding onto her sword to avoid wobbling, got up and greeted him.
“I lost.”
“……. ”
“It was a good match?”
Peers’ disapproving glares focused on Alexander. He left the scene, irritated by the uneasy victory.
“Larisa, shall I support you?”
“No.”
Declining the peers’ kindness, Larisa returned to the dormitory. Applying ointment to her sore areas, Julia lamented,
“Why did you go to the Knight Academy? Do you have a hobby of suffering?”
Larisa chuckled and responded,
“Maybe.”
“Huh?”
“Maybe I haven’t experienced suffering.”
Juliana’s eyes widened at Larisa’s surprising answer.
“But still, you’re a girl. Isn’t it tough to be hit like this, and your peers don’t even sympathize?”
It would have been embarrassing if he had been considerate. Larisa genuinely felt grateful to Alexander. No, perhaps that was him being considerate.
The next day, Larisa requested a meeting with the instructor.
“Because of my lack of skills, I’m causing trouble for Sir Alexander Belvero. So, I would appreciate it if you could arrange an additional training group for me, allowing me to practice with my peers in turns.”
Larisa bowed politely. The instructor looked perplexed.
“Is it really okay? Of course, doing so might seem fair to other students, but…”
She was concerned that it might come across as discrimination against Larisa alone at Rodante. Larisa smiled and said,
“I would really appreciate it if you could do that.”
“Well, if that’s what Miss Larisa wants, I guess I can’t help it.”
From that day on, Larisa trained alone during the practice hours. However, she did not face isolation or harassment for training alone.
Larisa actively challenged her peers who seemed to have free time, and she could accumulate practical training experience reasonably well.
“The problem is, it’s too ‘reasonable.'”
There was no peer like Alexander, who didn’t consider or spare any mercy while practicing. Larisa felt a bit disappointed.
She didn’t aspire to excel in swordsmanship or truly become a knight, but she wanted to gain practical sword skills. However, she feared that practicing this way might only lead her to mimic others rather than truly understanding the art.
Practicing with someone’s cooperation didn’t give Larisa a sense of crisis. It was unlike the training with William or James, which never seemed to improve her skills.
One day, as Larisa’s concerns grew, Alexander quietly called her aside. Wondering what was going on, Larisa followed him, only to be taken aback by Alexander’s bright red face.
“Could it be a confession?”
It wasn’t.
“Sorry.”
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry.”
“What for?”
Alexander’s face turned red as if it would burst.
“That day…”
“Huh? That day? I can’t hear you very well.”
“I’m sorry for beating you like a dog that day!”
Alexander was a boy with a lot of embarrassment. As the second-born with two older brothers, he was not accustomed to receiving attention.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
