“Test what?”

Eric asked with a puzzled expression.

However, Alicia picked up a wooden sword lying on the ground without replying, just grinning.

“Can I use this wooden sword?”

“Sure. What for?”

“Edward!”

Edward, who was talking with a few knights, spotted Alicia and rushed over.

“Sister, what’s going on?”

“I was just curious how you’re doing. Mind if I take a look?”

“Yes.”

Edward took the wooden sword, seeming accustomed to Alicia’s words.

Both Eric and Allen, along with other knights, watched the two with bewildered faces, not knowing what was going on.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Alicia and Edward took their stances with wooden swords.

Edward’s stance was a basic swordfighting stance commonly used in the Imperial Knights, but Alicia’s was a bit different.

‘What’s this? A stance I’ve never seen?’

Just as Eric was puzzled by Alicia’s stance, she swiftly dashed towards Edward and stabbed him with her wooden sword.

“Ah!”

“Sisterinlaw?”

Edward quickly parried the attack, attempting to counter.

“You’ve gotten weaker than before.”

“I’ve been practicing too.”

“Really?”

Alicia resisted Edward’s sword, then quickly sidestepped and attacked from the flank.

Her movements were fast and graceful, almost like she was dancing.

“Ugh!”

Edward barely blocked the attack.

“Sister is too fast.”

It wasn’t easy to block Alicia’s fast and light swordsmanship. The best strategy was to find an opening and overpower her, but that was easier said than done.

After several attempts to create an opening, Alicia quickly moved in.

“Ah!”

Edward was taken aback, stepping back and trying to parry Alicia’s sword, but he lost his balance and fell flat on his buttocks.

Alicia took a step towards Edward and swung her sword, but Eric blocked it with his wooden sword, and the other knights protected Edward.

“Wait, wait. Alicia, calm down.”

“What is it?”

As Eric hastily stopped Alicia, Allen and a few knights lifted Edward, shouting,

“Why did you do this to our child!”

“Our child?”

Eric looked back in disbelief.

“You didn’t even hit him with a flower!”

“When did Edward become your child?”

“What is the commander doing, not stopping this?”

“What?”

“Why are you all doing this.”

Edward gave an awkward smile amid the knights’ complaints, and Alicia pouted her lips.

“What did I do wrong?”

“You were too harsh on the kid.”

“I’ve always done it like this, and Edward should be used to it.”

“What? You mean, you knew how to handle a sword?”

“Yes, a bit.”

“Then why didn’t you say so?”

“You didn’t ask.”

Stunned, Eric stared at Alicia’s nonchalant face.

“Is there anything else I should know?”

“Hm? I don’t understand the question?”

“Don’t you also know magic? You said you like math.”

“Eric, really. That’s inherited, you know.”

Although that was the case, Alicia somehow gave the impression that she could also do magic.

“Really can’t let my guard down around you. Always hitting a sore spot.”

“Hm?”

“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”

As Eric spoke with Alicia, Allen helped Edward up.

“Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“It’s not that bad.”

Unable to bear it, Alicia spoke, and Allen and the knights glared at her.

Alicia grumbled unhappily.

“Isn’t this too much overprotection? I took him to train.”

“I can’t argue with them thinking like that.”

“Are you really okay?”

“Of course. I have my own training methods, so respect that, okay?”

“But you said it wasn’t hard? You only said it was fun.”

“You have to enjoy learning at first so you don’t get bored later. And the basics may be boring, but they have to be established early on.”

“That’s true, but…”
“Anyway, isn’t this my domain? Can’t you just trust me? You decided to leave it to me, didn’t you?”

“……Alright.”

“Why the face?”

“Fine.”

Looking at Alicia’s reluctant response, Eric grinned and adjusted the wooden sword he was holding.

“How about having a spar with me since we’re here?”

“Spar with you?”

“Yes.”

Frankly, Eric was curious about Alicia’s skills.

He was even more intrigued because her techniques in swordsmanship and magic were unfamiliar. What could her skill level be?

“I won’t attack, so let’s give it a go.”

“Isn’t that too much of a handicap? It’s demeaning.”

“Isn’t it inappropriate to go full force against you?”

“Oh, is it?”

Alicia seemed convinced and took her stance, closing her eyes momentarily before opening them.

Her suddenly focused gaze caught Eric’s liking.

‘Here it comes. Ah!’

Alicia’s movements were faster than he’d expected.

When Eric blocked with his sword, Alicia swiftly sidestepped and struck.

Although Eric only defended and didn’t attack, his movements were fast and precise.

Compared to his spar with Edward earlier, her fighting style was becoming clearer as the match lengthened.

Her steps were light and her strides shorter than traditional swordsmanship, resembling a dance.

“Wow.”

“Amazing.”

Even the watching knights were impressed.

“Our sisterinlaw is amazing.”

“Go on, go on!”

“Give the Captain a good hit!”